List of Australian soccer champions
The Australian soccer champions are the winners of the highest league in Australian association football, which is currently the A-League. As is the case in most Australian sports, the winners of a post-season playoffs competition, known as the finals, has traditionally been crowned champion, unlike the first-past-the-post system used in many other countries. The team that finished first-past-the-post was often referred to as the Minor Premiers while the finals winning team was awarded the Premiership. In an attempt to create more prestige around the first-past-the-post title, it was renamed the Premiership and the finals winning team is now awarded the Championship. Both the Champions and Premiers are awarded direct entry into the Asian Champions League each season.
Background
In 1962, the national governing body for association football in Australia was established, known as the Australian Soccer Federation (ASF). The ASF organised the first national club tournament that same year when a knockout cup competition named the Australia Cup was first held. The Australia Cup was abolished in 1968 when the growing issue of interstate travel became untenable. A national league was first discussed in 1974 when the Australian national team made its inaugural World Cup appearance. In 1977, the Australian Soccer Association established the National Soccer League (NSL) of Australia,[1] which included teams from Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. The competition ran a promotion-relegation system for its entire lifespan as well as a knockout cup competition.
For the first seven seasons, the NSL awarded the championship to the team that finished first-past-the-post and was dominated by Sydney-based teams. By the mid-80s, the league had introduced a post-season playoffs competition that would crown the champions and the title was shared more evenly around the nation. Seasons initially ran over the winter months until 1989 when it was changed to the summer months to avoid conflicts with Australian rules football and the two rugby codes. By 2000, each major capital city had secured at least one NSL title outside of Perth. The Perth Glory made history in 2002–03 when they were crowned champions and the victory meant the five major cities of Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney had all secured at least one NSL title over the duration of the league's history.
The National Soccer League was disbanded in 2004 and an 8-team A-League competition was established in 2005, which included a salary cap and no promotion-relegation. Adelaide, Newcastle and Perth were the only NSL teams retained in the new competition. It included one team from each of the major capital cities, two regional teams and a team from New Zealand. As is the case in many sporting leagues in Australia, a New Zealand-based team has been allowed entry into the top tiered Australian league since 1999. The decision to retain a New Zealand-based team in the top league has proved problematic in recent years due to Football Federation Australia's decision to move from the Oceania Football Confederation to the Asian Football Confederation in 2006. As a result, a New Zealand-based team can be crowned Premiers and/or Champions of Australia but is ineligible to compete in the Asian Champions League.[2] In 2014, Football Federation Australia reintroduced a knockout cup competition known as the FFA Cup.
Marconi Stallions, Sydney City and South Melbourne hold the record for most Championships with four while the Melbourne Knights and South Melbourne hold the record for most Premierships with four. Of the current A-League teams, Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory have won three Championships, the most of any A-League team while the Victory also hold the A-League record for most Premierships with three. Out of the three iterations of national cup competitions in Australia; Adelaide City, APIA Leichhardt and Sydney City hold the record for most national cup titles with three.
National League Champions
National Soccer League
A-League
- 1^ No finals competition was conducted in these years.
- 2^ The finals competition was not considered the overall winner of the NSL season. It is historically viewed as a post-season exhibition competition.
Bold indicates Domestic Double winners – i.e. League Championship and League Premiership OR League Championship and Australia/NSL/FFA Cup winners OR League Premiership and Australia/NSL/FFA Cup
Bold and Underlined indicates Domestic Treble winners – i.e. League Championship, League Premiership and Australia/NSL/FFA Cup winners
Italic indicates Continental Double winners – i.e. League Championship and OFC/AFC Champions League winners OR League Premiership and OFC/AFC Champions League winners
Total Championships won
Teams in bold compete in the A-League as of 2015–16 season.
Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning seasons |
---|---|---|---|
Marconi Stallions | |
|
1979, 1988, 1989, 1992–93 |
Sydney City | |
|
1977, 1980, 1981, 1982 |
South Melbourne | |
|
1984, 1990–91, 1997–98, 1998–99 |
Adelaide City | |
|
1986, 1991–92, 1993–94 |
Melbourne Victory | |
|
2006–07, 2008–09, 2014–15 |
Brisbane Roar | |
|
2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14 |
Sydney Olympic | |
|
1989–90, 2001–02 |
Melbourne Knights | |
|
1994–95, 1995–96 |
Perth Glory | |
|
2002–03, 2003–04 |
Sydney FC | |
|
2005–06, 2009–10 |
St. George | |
|
1983, 1987 |
Wollongong Wolves | |
|
1999–2000, 2000–01 |
Central Coast Mariners | |
|
2012–13 |
Adelaide United | |
|
2015–16 |
Brisbane Strikers | |
|
1996–97 |
Brunswick Zebras | |
|
1985 |
Newcastle Jets | |
|
2007–08 |
West Adelaide | |
|
1978 |
By State/Territory
Region | Number of titles | Clubs |
---|---|---|
New South Wales | |
Marconi Stallions (4), Sydney City (4), St. George (2), Sydney FC (2), Sydney Olympic (2), Wollongong Wolves (2), Central Coast Mariners (1), Newcastle Jets (1) |
Victoria | |
South Melbourne (4), Melbourne Victory (3), Melbourne Knights (2), Brunswick Zebras (1) |
South Australia | |
Adelaide City (3), West Adelaide (1), Adelaide United (1) |
Queensland | |
Brisbane Roar (3), Brisbane Strikers (1) |
Western Australia | |
Perth Glory (2) |
Australian Capital Territory | |
|
Northern Territory | |
|
Tasmania | |
|
New Zealand | |
By City
City | Number of titles | Clubs |
---|---|---|
Sydney | |
Marconi Stallions (4), Sydney City (4), St. George (2), Sydney FC (2), Sydney Olympic (2) |
Melbourne | |
South Melbourne (4), Melbourne Victory (3), Melbourne Knights (2), Brunswick Zebras (1) |
Adelaide | |
Adelaide City (3), West Adelaide (1), Adelaide United (1) |
Brisbane | |
Brisbane Roar (3), Brisbane Strikers (1) |
Perth | |
Perth Glory (2) |
Wollongong | |
Wollongong Wolves (2) |
Gosford | |
Central Coast Mariners (1) |
Newcastle | |
Newcastle Jets (1) |
Total Premierships won
Teams in bold compete in the A-League as of 2015–16 season.
Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning seasons |
---|---|---|---|
Melbourne Knights | |
|
1990–91, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1994–95 |
South Melbourne | |
|
1992–93, 1997–98, 2000–01 |
Sydney United | |
|
1986, 1996–97, 1998–99 |
Marconi Stallions | |
|
1989, 1989–90, 1995–96 |
Melbourne Victory | |
|
2007–08, 2008–09, 2014–15 |
Perth Glory | |
|
1999–2000, 2001–02, 2003–04 |
Adelaide United | |
|
2005–06, 2015–16 |
Central Coast Mariners | |
|
2007–08, 2011–12 |
Brisbane Roar | |
|
2010–11, 2013–14 |
Sydney City | |
|
1984, 1985 |
Sydney Olympic | |
|
2002–03 |
Sydney FC | |
|
2009–10 |
Western Sydney Wanderers | |
|
2012–13 |
Wollongong Wolves | |
|
1988 |
APIA Leichhardt | |
|
1987 |
By State/Territory
Region | Number of titles | Clubs |
---|---|---|
New South Wales | |
Marconi Stallions (3), Sydney United (3), Central Coast Mariners (2), APIA Leichhardt (1), Sydney City (2), Sydney FC (1), Sydney Olympic (1), Western Sydney Wanderers (1), Wollongong Wolves (1) |
Victoria | |
Melbourne Knights FC (4), South Melbourne FC (3), Melbourne Victory (3) |
Western Australia | |
Perth Glory (3) |
Queensland | |
Brisbane Roar (2) |
South Australia | |
Adelaide United (2) |
Australian Capital Territory | |
|
Northern Territory | |
|
Tasmania | |
|
New Zealand | |
By City
City | Number of titles | Clubs |
---|---|---|
Sydney | |
Marconi Stallions (3), Sydney United (3), APIA Leichhardt (1), Sydney City (1), Sydney FC (1), Sydney Olympic (1), Western Sydney Wanderers (1) |
Melbourne | |
South Melbourne (3), Melbourne Knights (4), Melbourne Victory (3) |
Perth | |
Perth Glory (3) |
Adelaide | |
Adelaide United (2) |
Brisbane | |
Brisbane Roar (2) |
Gosford | |
Central Coast Mariners (2) |
Wollongong | |
Wollongong Wolves (1) |
National Cup winners
Australia Cup
Season | Champions (number of titles) |
Score | Runners-up | Number of clubs participating | Higgest placed non top-division club (NSL 1977-2004 / A-League 2005-present) |
Top goalscorer | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1962 | Sydney Yugal (1) | 8–1 | St. George Budapest | 16 | N/A3 | Tiko Jelisavcic (Yugal) [3] | 6 |
1963 | Slavia Melbourne (1) | 0–0 3–2 |
Polonia Melbourne | 24 | N/A3 | Des Palmer (Slavia Melbourne) [3] | 6 |
1964 | George Cross (1) | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | APIA Leichhardt | unknown | N/A3 | John Giacometti (APIA Leichhardt) [3] | 7 |
1965 | Sydney Hakoah (1) | 1–1 (13–13 p) 2–1 (replay) |
APIA Leichhardt | 13 | N/A3 | Hugo Rodriguez (St George Budapest) [3] | 6 |
1966 | APIA Leichhardt (1) | 2–0 | Sydney Hakoah | 16 | N/A3 | John Giacometti (APIA Leichhardt) Herbert Ninaus (Sydney Hakoah) [3] |
4 |
1967 | Melbourne Hungaria (1) | 4–3 | APIA Leichhardt | 16 | N/A3 | Attila Abonyi (Melbourne Hungaria) Johnny Watkiss (APIA Leichhardt) [3] |
6 |
1968 | Sydney Hakoah (2) | 3–0 3–1 |
Melbourne Hakoah | unknown | N/A3 | unknown |
NSL Cup
FFA Cup
Season | Champions (number of titles) |
Score | Runners-up | Number of clubs participating |
Higgest placed non top-division club | Top goalscorer | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Adelaide United (1) | 1–0 | Perth Glory | 631 | Bentleigh Greens (2) (Semi Finals) |
Sergio Cirio (Adelaide United) | 6 |
2015 | Melbourne Victory (1) | 2–0 | Perth Glory | 648 | Hume City (2) (Semi Finals) |
Aaron Mooy (Melbourne City) | 6 |
2016 | Melbourne City (1) | 1–0 | Sydney FC | 704 | Canberra Olympic (2) (Semi Finals) |
Total Cups won
Teams in bold competed in the 2015 FFA Cup competition proper.
Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning seasons |
---|---|---|---|
APIA Leichhardt | |
|
1966, 1982, 1988 |
Adelaide City | |
|
1979, 1989, 1991–92 |
Sydney City | |
|
1965, 1968, 1986 |
Sydney Olympic | |
|
1983, 1985 |
Parramatta Eagles | |
|
1990–91, 1993–94 |
South Melbourne | |
|
1989–90, 1995–96 |
Brisbane City | |
|
1977, 1978 |
Heidelberg United | |
|
1992–93 |
Marconi Stallions | |
|
1980 |
Melbourne Knights | |
|
1994–95 |
Sydney United | |
|
1987 |
Adelaide United | |
|
2014 |
Collingwood Warriors | |
|
1996–97 |
George Cross | |
|
1964 |
Melbourne City | |
|
2016 |
Melbourne Hungaria | |
|
1967 |
Melbourne Victory | |
|
2015 |
Newcastle Rosebud | |
|
1984 |
Queensland Lions | |
|
1981 |
Sydney Yugal | |
|
1962 |
Slavia Melbourne | |
|
1963 |
By State/Territory
Region | Number of titles | Clubs |
---|---|---|
New South Wales | |
APIA Leichhardt (3), Hakoah Sydney City East (3), Sydney Olympic (2), Parramatta Eagles (2), Marconi Stallions (1), Newcastle Rosebud (1), Sydney United (1), Sydney Yugal (1) |
Victoria | |
South Melbourne (2), Collingwood Warriors (1), George Cross (1), Heidelberg (1), Melbourne City (1),Melbourne Hungaria (1), Melbourne Knights (1), Melbourne Victory (1), Slavia Melbourne (1) |
South Australia | |
Adelaide City (3), Adelaide United (1) |
Queensland | |
Brisbane City (2), Queensland Lions FC (1) |
Australian Capital Territory | |
|
Northern Territory | |
|
Tasmania | |
|
Western Australia | |
|
New Zealand | |
By City
City | Number of titles | Clubs |
---|---|---|
Sydney | |
APIA Leichhardt (3), Hakoah Sydney City East (3), Sydney Olympic (2), Parramatta Eagles (2), Marconi Stallions (1), Sydney United (1), Sydney Yugal (1) |
Melbourne | |
South Melbourne (2), Collingwood Warriors (1), George Cross (1), Heidelberg (1), Melbourne City (1), Melbourne Hungaria (1), Melbourne Knights (1), Melbourne Victory (1), Slavia Melbourne (1) |
Adelaide | |
Adelaide City (3), Adelaide United (1) |
Brisbane | |
Brisbane City (2), Queensland Lions FC (1) |
Newcastle | |
Newcastle Rosebud (1) |
Continental Champions
Oceania Club Championship
Season | Champions (number of titles) |
Score | Runners-up | Number of clubs participating |
---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | Adelaide City (1) | 1–1 (4–1 p) | University-Mount Wellington | 9 |
1999 | South Melbourne (1) | 5–1 | Nadi | 9 |
2001 | Wollongong Wolves (1) | 1–0 | Tafea | 11 |
2005 | Sydney FC (1) | 2–0 | Magenta | 13 |
Asian Champions League
Season | Champions (number of titles) |
Score | Runners-up | Number of clubs participating |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Western Sydney Wanderers (1) | 1–0 0–0 |
Al-Hilal | 47 |
Multiple trophy wins
The Double
See The Double
Continental Double OFC (1966-2004) / AFC (2005-present) | ||
---|---|---|
Club | Season | Titles |
South Melbourne | |
NSL Premiership, Oceania Club Championship |
Wollongong Wolves | |
NSL Premiership, Oceania Club Championship |
Domestic Double | ||
---|---|---|
Club | Season | Titles |
South Melbourne | |
NSL Minor Premiership, NSL Premiership |
Adelaide City | |
NSL Premiership, NSL Cup |
Melbourne Knights | |
NSL Minor Premiership, NSL Premiership |
South Melbourne | |
NSL Minor Premiership, NSL Premiership |
Perth Glory | |
NSL Minor Premiership, NSL Premiership |
Melbourne Victory | |
A-League Premiership, A-League Championship |
Melbourne Victory | |
A-League Premiership, A-League Championship |
Sydney FC | |
A-League Premiership, A-League Championship |
Brisbane Roar | |
A-League Premiership, A-League Championship |
Brisbane Roar | |
A-League Premiership, A-League Championship |
Melbourne Victory | |
A-League Premiership, A-League Championship |
Adelaide United | |
A-League Premiership, A-League Championship |
The Treble
See The Treble
Domestic Treble | ||
---|---|---|
Club | Season | Titles |
Melbourne Knights | |
NSL Minor Premiership, NSL Premiership, NSL Cup |
Note: In the 2008-09 season Melbourne Victory won all three pieces of A-League silverware on offer, the Pre-Season Challenge Cup, the Premiership, and the Championship.
Pre-Season Cup winners
A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup
Season | Champions | Score | Runners-up | Number of clubs participating | Top goalscorer | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | Central Coast Mariners | 1–0 | Perth Glory | 8 | Bobby Despotovski (Perth Glory) Nik Mrdja (Central Coast) Sasho Petrovski (Sydney FC) |
3 |
2006 | Adelaide United | 1–1 (5–4 p) | Central Coast Mariners | 8 | Danny Allsopp (Melbourne Victory) Alex Brosque (Sydney FC) Sasho Petrovski (Sydney FC) Carl Veart (Adelaide United) |
3 |
2007 | Adelaide United | 2–1 | Perth Glory | 8 | Cássio (Adelaide United) Bruce Djite (Adelaide United) Joel Griffiths (Newcastle Jets) Simon Lynch (Queensland Roar) Shane Smeltz (Wellington Phoenix) |
3 |
2008 | Melbourne Victory | 0–0 (8–7 p) | Wellington Phoenix | 8 | Cássio (Adelaide United) Sergio van Dijk (Queensland Roar) |
2 |
Note: All seasons were exclusive to A-League clubs only.
Multiple title winners
Team | Champions | League Premiers | Cup Winners | Continental Winners | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
South Melbourne | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
Sydney City | 4 | 2 | 3 | - | 9 |
Marconi Stallions | 4 | 3 | 1 | - | 8 |
Melbourne Victory | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | 7 |
Adelaide City | 3 | - | 3 | 1 | 7 |
Melbourne Knights | 2 | 4 | 1 | - | 7 |
Brisbane Roar | 3 | 2 | - | - | 5 |
Perth Glory | 2 | 3 | - | - | 5 |
Sydney Olympic | 2 | - | 3 | - | 5 |
Wollongong Wolves | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 4 |
Sydney FC | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 4 |
Adelaide United | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | 4 |
Sydney United | - | 3 | 1 | - | 4 |
APIA Leichhardt | - | 1 | 3 | - | 4 |
Central Coast Mariners | 1 | 2 | - | - | 3 |
St George | 2 | - | - | - | 2 |
Western Sydney Wanderers | - | 1 | - | 1 | 2 |
Brisbane City | - | - | 2 | - | 2 |