2009–10 Adelaide United FC season
Name Position Moving to Fee
Angelo Costanzo Defender Newcastle Jets -
Jonas Salley Midfielder Shaanxi Neo-China Chanba F.C -
Jason Spagnuolo Midfielder North Queensland Fury -
Michael Valkanis Defender Retired -
Paul Agostino Striker Retired -
Diego Midfielder Wellington Phoenix TBA
Saša Ognenovski Defender Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma TBA
Robert Younis Striker APIA Leichhardt -
Isyan Erdogan Defender Hume City FC -
Daniel Beltrame Goalkeeper Retired -
Out
The 2009-10 Adelaide United FC season was the club's fifth A-League season. It includes the A-League 2009-10 season as well as any other competitions of the 2009-10 football (soccer) season. After a stellar season in the A-League and internationally, Adelaide United began its pre-season without a financial owner; Nick Bianco relinquished his A-League licence back to Football Federation Australia (FFA). Regardless of this situation, the FFA ensured that Adelaide would have the funds available to recruit in the off-season and to maintain the club, whilst they would negotiate the new ownership deals. Adelaide United managed to secure major sponsors Modern Solar as well as Jim's Plumbing for their 2009-10 season. At the end of the 2008-09 regular season Adelaide United released veteran Angelo Costanzo as well as Jonas Salley, Isyan Erdogan and Jason Spagnuolo, with Diego Walsh moving to New Zealand club Wellington Phoenix
Adelaide made a number of signings to replace the players which left in the off-season, most notably former Sydney FC defenders, Iain Fyfe and Mark Rudan, Korean youngster Inseob Shin and former Drogheda United midfielder Adam Hughes. Arguably the biggest off-season signing was former Cheltenham Town and Brentford striker, Lloyd Owusu, a capped Ghanaian international. The Reds also elevated a handful of players from their Youth squad to the senior team, namely Francesco Monterosso, Michael Marrone and Joe Costa. After making a rather average start to the 2009-10 season, the Reds made their final signing in promising young Bulleen Lions winger, Mathew Leckie prior to the Round 5 clash against Wellington Phoenix. Leckie made an immediate impression, and scored his first goal in his second game off the bench against North Queensland Fury and would soon become a fan favourite. With two rounds to go, and Adelaide sitting at the base of the table, the Reds made a surprise announcement that Argentine playmaker, Marcos Flores, who had signed on for 2 years starting with the club's third AFC Champions League venture, was to make his debut as an injury replacement for fellow import Cristiano. The South American made his presence felt in the final two games of the regular season, and helped Adelaide United finish the season with two consecutive wins.