1. Overview
Aurelio Vidmar (born 3 February 1967) is an Australian soccer manager and former player. He is widely recognized for his extensive playing career as a forward, particularly in the National Soccer League in Australia and various European leagues, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Spain, as well as a stint in Japan. Vidmar was a long-serving member and captain of the Australia national team, known as the Socceroos. Following his playing retirement, he transitioned into coaching, notably leading Adelaide United to the 2008 AFC Champions League Final, an unprecedented achievement for an Australian club at the time. His managerial career has since spanned various roles, including coaching Australian youth national teams and clubs in Thailand and Singapore, and he is currently the manager of Melbourne City FC. Vidmar has been honored for his significant contributions to Australian soccer, including being inducted into the Football Federation Australia Hall of Fame.
2. Early Life
Aurelio Vidmar was born on 3 February 1967, in Adelaide, Australia. He is the elder brother of Tony Vidmar, who also became a professional soccer player and coach, including a role as coach of the Australia U23 national team. The Vidmar brothers both pursued careers at the highest levels of Australian and international football.
3. Playing Career
Aurelio Vidmar's playing career spanned two decades, during which he became a prominent figure in Australian soccer, both at club and international levels.
3.1. Club Career
Vidmar began his professional career with his hometown club, Adelaide City FC, in 1985. He spent six seasons with the club in the National Soccer League before moving to Europe in 1991.
His European journey started in Belgium with KV Kortrijk for the 1991-92 season. He then moved to KSV Waregem, playing there from 1992 to 1994. In the 1994-95 season, while playing for Standard Liège, Vidmar was the league's top scorer, netting 22 goals. This period marked a significant peak in his individual scoring prowess.
Following his success in Belgium, Vidmar moved to the Netherlands to play for Feyenoord in the 1995-96 season. Later in the same season, he transferred to FC Sion in Switzerland, where he contributed to the club winning the Swiss Cup in 1995-96. From 1996 to 1998, he played for CD Tenerife in Spain.
In 1998, Vidmar moved to Japan, joining Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the J1 League. He remained with the club for two seasons before returning to Australia in 1999 to rejoin Adelaide City FC. During his second stint with Adelaide City, he continued to be a key player.
In 2003, when Adelaide United took over Adelaide City's spot in the National Soccer League, Vidmar joined the newly formed club and was appointed captain by then-coach John Kosmina. He played for Adelaide United in the 2003-04 National Soccer League season. Although there were plans for him to play in the inaugural A-League season, he announced his retirement in 2005, concluding a 20-year playing career. Over his career, he played in 517 games, scoring 127 goals.
3.2. International Career
Aurelio Vidmar was a dedicated member of the Australia national team, commonly known as the Socceroos, for 12 years, from 1991 to 2001. During this period, he participated in three unsuccessful FIFA World Cup qualification campaigns.
A notable moment in his international career came in 1993 when he played and scored against Diego Maradona's Argentina in Australia's final World Cup qualifying play-off. He also featured in the crucial 1997 match against Iran at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where Australia conceded a 2-0 lead, ultimately missing out on qualification. In 2001, Vidmar played in the historic match where Australia defeated American Samoa 31-0, scoring two goals himself.
Between 1995 and 2001, Vidmar frequently captained the Socceroos. He accumulated 44 international caps and scored 17 goals for the national team. Additionally, he was selected as an overage player for the Australia Olympic soccer team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
4. Managerial Career
Following his retirement as a player in 2005, Aurelio Vidmar quickly transitioned into coaching, embarking on a varied managerial career that has seen him coach at both club and national team levels across different countries.
4.1. Adelaide United
Vidmar began his coaching journey as an assistant coach at Adelaide United in 2005, working under former mentor John Kosmina. He was appointed head coach of the club on 2 May 2007. His initial season, the 2007-08 A-League campaign, proved challenging as Adelaide United finished sixth out of eight teams, failing to qualify for the finals for the first time in the club's history. His AFC Champions League campaign that year also saw the team finish third in their group, failing to advance.
Despite early struggles, Vidmar gradually regained the support of the club's fans. He made key player acquisitions, including Cristiano and Sasa Ognenovski, significantly strengthening Adelaide's defense and attacking options. Under his leadership, Adelaide United created history by becoming the first Australian team to reach the 2008 AFC Champions League Final. This remarkable achievement led the club's CEO, Sam Ciccarello, to re-sign Vidmar and his assistant Phil Stubbins for another three years in November 2008.
However, his tenure was not without controversy. Following a significant 4-0 (6-0 on aggregate) loss to Melbourne Victory in the semi-final of the 2008-09 A-League season, Vidmar made a controversial public statement, claiming that Adelaide was a "piss-ant town" and blaming internal club politics for the defeat. He later apologized for these remarks. The subsequent 2009-10 season saw Adelaide United struggle, finishing last on the league table. Vidmar also faced disciplinary action in November 2009, receiving a two-match touchline ban and a 10.00 K AUD fine from the club for comments he made at a media conference about "beheading his players like they would do in Saudi Arabia" if they did not perform well.
4.2. National Team Coaching
After departing Adelaide United in June 2010, Vidmar was appointed as a coach within the Australian national team setup. He took on the role of coach for the Young Socceroos (U20 national team) and also served as an assistant coach for the senior national team. Concurrently, he managed the Australia U23 national team, aiming for the 2012 London Olympics. However, the team failed to qualify for the tournament.
In 2013, Vidmar briefly served as the caretaker coach of the senior Socceroos team following the termination of Holger Osieck's contract.
4.3. Other Club Roles
In 2018, Aurelio Vidmar returned to Adelaide United FC as the Director of Football, but he resigned from this position after five months on 6 February 2019.
His career then took him to Southeast Asia. From 2019 to 2021, he managed Lion City Sailors FC in the Singapore Premier League. In April 2021, he resigned from his role with Lion City Sailors to return to Thailand, joining BG Pathum United FC, where he had previously managed when they were known as Bangkok Glass from 2016 to 2017. In his second stint with BG Pathum United, he led the team to victory in the 2021 Thailand Champions Cup and guided them to the Round of 16 in the AFC Champions League 2021. However, in November 2021, he declined an offer to transition to a technical director role and subsequently left the club.
In March 2022, Vidmar was appointed as the coach of Bangkok United FC in Thai League 1. He resigned from this position on 28 December 2022, citing personal reasons.
On 1 November 2023, Aurelio Vidmar was announced as the new manager of Melbourne City FC in the A-League, signing a contract until the end of the 2023-24 season.
5. Personal Life
Aurelio Vidmar is the older brother of Tony Vidmar, who also had a distinguished career as a professional soccer player, primarily as a defender, and played for the Australia national team. Tony Vidmar has also pursued a coaching career, including managing the Australia U23 national team, paralleling his brother's path in football management.
6. Honours
Aurelio Vidmar received numerous awards and titles during both his playing and managerial careers, recognizing his significant contributions to soccer.
6.1. As a Player
- Adelaide City
- National Soccer League Championship: 1986
- FC Sion
- Swiss Cup: 1995-96
- Australia
- FIFA Confederations Cup: Runner-up, 1997; Third place, 2001
- OFC Nations Cup: 2000
- Individual
- Belgian League top scorer: 1994-95 (22 goals)
- Oceania Footballer of the Year: 1994
- Football Federation of South Australia Hall of Champions: 2008
- Football Federation Australia Hall of Fame: 2008
- South Australia Sports Hall of Fame: 2019
6.2. As a Manager
- Adelaide United
- A-League Men Championship: Runner-up (2009)
- A-League Men Premiership: Runner-up (2008-09)
- A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup: Winners (2007)
- AFC Champions League: Runner-up (2008)
- BG Pathum United
- Thailand Champions Cup: 2021
- Individual
- A-League Coach of the Year: 2008-09
- Thai League 1 Coach of the Month: August 2022
7. Assessment and Controversies
Aurelio Vidmar's career, while marked by significant achievements, also includes periods of controversy and public criticism. One notable incident occurred after Adelaide United's decisive loss to Melbourne Victory in the 2008-09 A-League semi-final. In a post-match media conference, Vidmar controversially claimed that Adelaide was a "piss-ant town" and attributed the team's poor performance to internal politics within the club. This outburst sparked considerable backlash, for which he later issued an apology.
Another contentious episode took place in November 2009, when Vidmar made a comment during a press conference about "beheading his players like they would do in Saudi Arabia" if they failed to perform. This statement led to a two-match touchline ban imposed by Adelaide United and a 10.00 K AUD fine, highlighting a disciplinary issue that drew significant public attention. These incidents reflect challenging periods in his managerial career and were widely reported at the time.
8. Legacy
Aurelio Vidmar's lasting impact on Australian soccer is commemorated in several ways. In recognition of his decorated national team career and his significant service to Adelaide United, the southern end of Hindmarsh Stadium, the home ground for Adelaide United, is officially named the 'Vidmar End'. This tribute stands as a permanent acknowledgment of his contributions to the club and the sport in South Australia. His induction into both the Football Federation Australia Hall of Fame and the Football Federation of South Australia Hall of Champions further solidifies his status as a key figure in the history of Australian football.
9. Career Statistics
Aurelio Vidmar's career statistics provide a comprehensive overview of his playing and managerial record.
9.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||||
| Adelaide City | 1985 | National Soccer League | 10 | 2 | 10 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1986 | 26 | 2 | 26 | 2 | ||||||||||
| 1987 | 23 | 2 | 23 | 2 | ||||||||||
| 1988 | 22 | 5 | 22 | 5 | ||||||||||
| 1989 | 25 | 5 | 25 | 5 | ||||||||||
| 1989-90 | 23 | 9 | 23 | 9 | ||||||||||
| 1990-91 | 28 | 4 | 28 | 4 | ||||||||||
| Total | 157 | 29 | 157 | 29 | ||||||||||
| Kortrijk | 1991-92 | Belgian First Division | 30 | 10 | 30 | 10 | ||||||||
| Waregem | 1992-93 | Belgian First Division | 32 | 18 | 32 | 18 | ||||||||
| 1993-94 | 25 | 7 | 25 | 7 | ||||||||||
| Total | 57 | 25 | 57 | 25 | ||||||||||
| Standard Liège | 1994-95 | Belgian First Division | 32 | 22 | 32 | 22 | ||||||||
| Feyenoord | 1995-96 | Eredivisie | 15 | 2 | 15 | 2 | ||||||||
| Sion | 1995-96 | Nationalliga A | 14 | 7 | 14 | 7 | ||||||||
| Tenerife | 1996-97 | La Liga | 25 | 1 | 25 | 1 | ||||||||
| 1997-98 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Total | 25 | 1 | 25 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1998 | J1 League | 15 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 5 | ||||
| 1999 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 3 | ||||||
| Total | 24 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 29 | 8 | ||||||
| Adelaide City | 1999-2000 | National Soccer League | 34 | 8 | 34 | 8 | ||||||||
| 2000-01 | 21 | 4 | 21 | 4 | ||||||||||
| 2001-02 | 23 | 3 | 23 | 3 | ||||||||||
| 2002-03 | 32 | 6 | 32 | 6 | ||||||||||
| Total | 110 | 21 | 110 | 21 | ||||||||||
| Croydon Kings (loan) | 2001 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||||||||
| Adelaide United | 2003-04 | National Soccer League | 27 | 2 | 27 | 2 | ||||||||
| Career total | 494 | 125 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 499 | 127 | ||||||
9.2. International Statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 1991 | 6 | 1 |
| 1992 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1993 | 5 | 2 | |
| 1994 | 4 | 2 | |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1997 | 16 | 8 | |
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 4 | 4 | |
| Total | 44 | 17 | |
List of international goals scored by Aurelio Vidmar
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 May 1991 | Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia | New Zealand | 2-0 | 2-1 | Friendly |
| 2 | 6 June 1993 | Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne, Australia | New Zealand | 2-0 | 3-0 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 31 October 1993 | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia | Argentina | 1-1 | 1-1 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 22 May 1994 | Hiroshima Park Stadium, Hiroshima, Japan | Japan | 1-1 | 1-1 | Friendly |
| 5 | 8 June 1994 | Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia | South Africa | 1-0 | 1-0 | Friendly |
| 6 | 12 March 1997 | Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, Macedonia | Macedonia | 1-0 | 1-0 | Friendly |
| 7 | 2 April 1997 | Népstadion, Budapest, Hungary | Hungary | 1-0 | 3-1 | Friendly |
| 8 | 3-1 | |||||
| 9 | 13 June 1997 | Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta, Australia | Tahiti | 1-0 | 5-0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10 | 17 June 1997 | Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta, Australia | Solomon Islands | 6-2 | 6-2 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 11 | 28 June 1997 | North Harbour Stadium, North Shore, New Zealand | New Zealand | 2-0 | 3-0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 12 | 1 October 1997 | El Menzah Stadium, Tunis, Tunisia | Tunisia | 1-0 | 3-0 | Friendly |
| 13 | 29 November 1997 | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia | Iran | 2-0 | 2-2 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 14 | 11 April 2001 | Coffs Harbour International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia | American Samoa | 4-0 | 31-0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 15 | 26-0 | |||||
| 16 | 16 April 2001 | Coffs Harbour International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia | Samoa | 1-0 | 11-0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 17 | 4-0 |
9.3. Managerial Statistics
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Adelaide United | Australia | 2 May 2007 | 3 June 2010 | 35|26|33|37.23 | ||||
| Bangkok Glass | Thailand | 13 August 2016 | 10 July 2017 | 16|6|8|53.33 | ||||
| Lion City Sailors | Singapore | 18 December 2019 | 30 April 2021 | 13|5|4|59.09 | ||||
| BG Pathum United | Thailand | 1 June 2021 | 15 November 2021 | 14|2|4|70.00 | ||||
| Bangkok United | Thailand | 11 March 2022 | 28 December 2022 | 15|5|5|60.00 | ||||
| Melbourne City | Australia | 1 November 2023 | Present | 13|8|11|40.63 | ||||
| Total | 106|52|65|47.53 | |||||||