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.
| Founded | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia and New Zealand |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Most championships | Sydney FC (5) |
| Website | keepup.com.au |
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.
Before A-League Men was founded, the top division of Australian soccer was the National Soccer League which ran between 1977 and 2004.
- As of the 2023-24 season
List
Map
| A-League Men clubs |
|---|
| As of 2023/2024 |
| Clubs in Australia |
Location of clubs in Australia for the 2023 A-League Men season |
| Clubs in Sydney |
Location of clubs in Sydney for the 2023 A-League Men season |
| Clubs in Melbourne |
Location of clubs in Melbourne for the 2023 A-League Men season |
| Clubs in New Zealand |
Location of clubs in New Zealand for the 2023 A-League Men season |
- Gold Coast United (2009–2012)
- New Zealand Knights (2005–2007)
- North Queensland Fury (2009–2011)
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 | Champions | Premiers | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 |  | Sydney FC |  | Adelaide United |
| 2006–07 |  | Melbourne Victory | | Melbourne Victory |
| 2007–08 |  | Newcastle Jets |  | Central Coast Mariners |
| 2008–09 | | Melbourne Victory | | Melbourne Victory |
| 2009–10 | | Sydney FC | | Sydney FC |
| 2010–11 |  | Brisbane Roar | | Brisbane Roar |
| 2011–12 | | Brisbane Roar | | Central Coast Mariners |
| 2012–13 | | Central Coast Mariners |  | Western Sydney Wanderers |
| 2013–14 | | Brisbane Roar | | Brisbane Roar |
| 2014–15 | | Melbourne Victory | | Melbourne Victory |
| 2015–16 | | Adelaide United | | Adelaide United |
| 2016–17 | | Sydney FC | | Sydney FC |
| 2017–18 | | Melbourne Victory | | Sydney FC |
| 2018–19 | | Sydney FC |  | Perth Glory |
| 2019–20 | | Sydney FC | | Sydney FC |
| 2020–21 |  | Melbourne City | | Melbourne City |
| 2021–22 | Western United | | Melbourne City | |
| 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 |
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