A-League Men

A-League Men, known before the 2021–22 season as the A-League, is a soccer league which is the top division in Australia and New Zealand. It was established in 2004 as a replacement to the National Soccer League and started in August 2005. Unlike professional soccer leagues in most of the rest of the world, A-League Men has what is called a "franchise" system—the same teams play in the league each year, unless a team drops out of the league on its own, or the league decides to add one or more new teams. This system is normal for pro sports leagues in Australia, as well as in the United States and Canada.

Since the beginning of the league in 2005, fourteen teams have competed in the league with Western United becoming the last club to join the league in the 2019–20 season. From those fourteen teams, six have taken the title while seven have taken the minor premiership. The current champion is Melbourne City FC, who defeated Sydney FC in the 2021 Grand Final.

The word "Men" was added to the league name after the 2020–21 season when the country's men's, women's, and youth leagues were brought under the "A-League" brand.

History
Before A-League Men was founded, the top division of Australian soccer was the National Soccer League which ran between 1977 and 2004.

 Current clubs 

 List 

 Adelaide United
 Brisbane Roar
 Central Coast Mariners
 Macarthur FC
 Melbourne City
 Melbourne Victory
 Newcastle Jets
 Perth Glory
 Sydney FC
 Wellington Phoenix
 Western Sydney Wanderers
 Western United

 Map 

 Former clubs 
 Gold Coast United (2009–2012)
 New Zealand Knights (2005–2007)
 North Queensland Fury (2009–2011)

 Champions and premiers 
A-League Men, like other professional leagues in Australia, crowns its champion at the end of a knockout playoff series involving top teams on the regular-season table. The final match is called the Grand Final, a term used in several other Australian sports. The team that finishes on top of the regular-season table is called the "Premiers". Media sometimes incorrectly call the Premiers the "minor premiers", a term used in other football codes in the country.

Season ChampionsPremiers 2005–06 20px Sydney FC 20px Adelaide United 2006–07 20px Melbourne Victory 20px Melbourne Victory 2007–08 20px Newcastle Jets 20px Central Coast Mariners 2008–09 20px Melbourne Victory 20px Melbourne Victory 2009–10 20px Sydney FC  20px Sydney FC 2010–11 20px Brisbane Roar 20px Brisbane Roar 2011–12 20px Brisbane Roar 20px Central Coast Mariners 2012–13 20px Central Coast Mariners 20px Western Sydney Wanderers 2013–14 20px Brisbane Roar 20px Brisbane Roar 2014–15  20px  Melbourne Victory 20px Melbourne Victory 2015–16 20px Adelaide United 20px Adelaide United 2016–17 20px Sydney FC 20px Sydney FC 2017–18  20px Melbourne Victory  20px  Sydney FC 2018–19  20px  Sydney FC  20px  Perth Glory 2019–20  20px  Sydney FC  20px  Sydney FC 2020–21  20px  Melbourne City  20px  Melbourne City 2021–22    Western United  20px  Melbourne City

Rivalries
 Common name Full name The Big Blue Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FC The Distance Derby Perth Glory vs Wellington Phoenix F3 Derby Central Mariners vs Newcastle Jets Mariners–Wanderers Derby Central Coast Mariners vs Western Sydney Wanderers Melbourne City–Sydney FC Derby Melbourne City vs Sydney FC Melbourne Derby Melbourne City vs Melbourne Victory The Original Rivalry Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory Sydney Derby Sydney FC vs Western Sydney Wanderers Wellington Phoenix–Western United Derby Wellington Phoenix vs Western United Westgate Derby Melbourne Victory vs Western United

References


Category:Football leagues
Category:Soccer in Australia
Category:Football in New Zealand
Category:Sports organisations of Australia
Category:2005 establishments
Category:2000s establishments in New Zealand
Category:2000s establishments in Australia