Gold Coast United

Gold Coast United – Quick Stats

Most Apearances: Michael Thwaite (34)
Top Goal Scorer: Shane Smeltz (21)
A-League Championships: 0
Best Regular Season Finish: 3rd (2009-2010)
Best AFC Champions League Result: N/A

About the Gold Coast United A-League Football Club

After two years of waiting in the wilderness, Gold Coast was finally granted a licence by FFA in August 2008 to join the A-League the following season. Having stated their intention to expand the A-League from eight teams to 10 for the 2008-2009 season, FFA entertained a bid from the Gold Coast Galaxy consortium in late 2006. The game’s governing body appeared certain to include the Galaxy in version four of the A-League, along with a club from North Queensland, before a key financial backer withdrew his support from the North Queensland bid in early 2008. Reluctant to go ahead with a nine-team competition, FFA rejected both bids for 2008-2009 and put their expansion plans on hiatus until the following season.

In mid 2008, a new Gold Coast bid headed by local mining magnate Clive Palmer was put forth to FFA and was quickly accepted. Gold Coast United was announced as the name for the new club, with their home ground to be Robina Stadium (now named Skilled Park) and their colours to be yellow and blue; a representation of the long stretch of sandy beaches on the Gold Coast. The club wasted little time in preparing for their debut season as Palmer announced the appointment of former Queensland Roar manager Miron Bleiberg – who had previously been linked to the Gold Coast Galaxy bid – as head coach.

United then set out to compile a strong roster for 2009-2010 with the likes of former Juventus reserve keeper Jess Vanstrattan, goal-scoring ace Shane Smeltz and former Socceroo defender Michael Thwaite all agreeing to terms with the club. Palmer then shocked the league in January 2009 by announcing that Jason Culina had signed as the club’s marquee player. At the time, Culina was a regular starter for Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven and had been a key member of the first-team Socceroos side for the past three years. He was viewed by many as the best signing in the A-League’s short history.

As the kick-off for the 2009-2010 season grew nearer, Palmer boldly declared that his star-studded side would not only be crowned A-League champions in their first try, but that they would go through the entire season undefeated. Whilst that prediction proved to be wildly over-ambitious, Gold Coast’s third-place regular season finish was still a major success for a new club. Going into the finals, they were one of three teams (along with Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory) considered to be a genuine chance of winning the title. However, a penalty shoot-out loss at home to sixth-placed Newcastle Jets ended United’s season prematurely. A few months later, speculation arouse that Palmer was set to severe his financial ties with the club as he was reportedly frustrated by appallingly low crowd attendances, despite the on-field success. This led to Palmer fronting the media alongside Bleiberg and Culina, the club captain, to assure fans and the media that he intended to stay committed to the club.

Gold Coast endured an unsettling start to the new season after star striker Smeltz requested a release from his contract, before signing a new contract with Chinese club Shandong Luneng just three weeks out from the A-League’s opening round. Smeltz then promptly returned to Gold Coast after walking out on his deal with Shandong just days after arriving in China. He played in both of United’s first two games, but has now departed again – seemingly for good – after signing on to play in the Turkish league. He has since been replaced by former Adelaide United striker Bruce Djite.

Current Key Players: Jason Culina, Michael Thwaite, Joel Porter, Anderson, Zenon Caravella.