President Angelo Carrozza says the former NSL powerhouse wants to reclaim its place among Australian football’s elite – and believes the right competition structure could make it possible.
Adelaide City wants to play in Australia’s top flight again one day.
That’s the ambition of club president Angelo Carrozza, who has declared the former National Soccer League powerhouse’s return to the national stage is just the beginning of its footballing rebirth.
Twenty-three years after last competing in a national league, Adelaide City made its Australian Championship debut against Avondale on Friday night, marking an historic milestone for one of Australian football’s most successful clubs.
And while Carrozza is delighted to see his club back competing against some of the country’s biggest names, he’s already dreaming of something considerably bigger.
An eventual return to the A-League.
Speaking on the latest episode of Building Blocks, Carrozza said Adelaide City would embrace the opportunity to climb to the highest level of Australian football, provided there was a financially sustainable pathway to get there.
“Our club is 100 per cent devoted to being at the highest possible level afforded to us,” Carrozza said.
The iconic Adelaide City strip. Photo: Football Australia
“If there was a model that was sustainable, affordable, gave us the opportunity to promote our (club) … the sky is the limit.
“In our heart of hearts, we’re ready. In my opinion, we could be asked tomorrow. Providing it’s affordable.”
And frankly, why shouldn’t they be dreaming?
For those unfamiliar with Adelaide City’s considerable contribution to Australian football, we’re not talking about some ambitious suburban outfit with delusions of grandeur.
We’re talking about a three-time NSL champion. A foundation member of the national competition in 1977. A club that reached the national finals in 11 consecutive seasons.
A club that helped develop some of Australian football’s greatest names, including Aurelio Vidmar, Alex Tobin, Carl Veart, Damian Mori, Milan Ivanović and Ross and John Aloisi.
Adelaide City won national championships in 1986, 1992 and 1994. It was, quite simply, one of the giants of Australian football.
And yet, like so many of the clubs that built the sport in this country, City found itself effectively locked out of the national league system following the NSL’s demise.
Young faces enjoying Australia’s new second tier. Photo: Football Australia
For more than two decades there has been no meaningful pathway back.
Until now.
The Australian Championship, which commenced its second season last weekend, has provided Adelaide City with its first sustained national competition opportunity since leaving the NSL.
The club qualified by winning the 2026 NPL South Australia Championship, having twice previously explored becoming a foundation member of the new national second-tier competition.
Both attempts ultimately fell over.
Carrozza is understandably determined not to jeopardise the future of an 80-year-old institution chasing an opportunity that could prove financially unsustainable.
But there’s an important distinction between being financially responsible and being content with your lot in life.
When the A1-A2 concept championed by Building Blocks was put to Carrozza, the Adelaide City president was particularly receptive to the prospect of a genuine pathway back to Australia’s top flight.
His enthusiasm was tempered, however, by an understandable appreciation of the financial realities.
“We all need to be sustainable,” Carrozza said.
“I don’t want to be that guy that’s come in 80 years and … the bricks have tumbled because we bit off more than we can chew.
“But without ambition and without risk, there’s no reward.”
It’s a sentiment that goes to the heart of Building Blocks.
And if that ambition were to one day win out, imagine the possibilities. Like, an Adelaide derby for instance?
We got a taste of it during the 2022 Australia Cup when the two sides met in the Round of 16 at a packed Service FM Stadium, with United triumphing on penalties after scores were locked at 2-2 after extra time.
A regular derby at A-League level could drive unparalleled levels of interest in the game in South Australia.
For now, we have United in the A-League and City making its push in the Championship.
This week’s Building Blocks episode coincides with the commencement of that competition’s second season, with 16 clubs again competing across a group stage and knockout finals series.
To explore what might come next, we spoke to three people approaching the competition from different perspectives.
Great scenes in Adelaide. Photo: Football Australia
Carrozza, Luke Wilkshire (Wollongong Wolves coach) and Adrian Vlastelica (Sydney United 58 captain).
Three different perspectives on what the Australian Championship currently offers, what it could become in 2027 and beyond and ultimately how it might fit into a more connected national football structure.
For Carrozza, the preference is clear: an expanded, permanent national second division offering ambitious clubs greater certainty and a meaningful pathway forward.
“I think year three, with a 10-team comp, because that sounds quite probable, if better a 12-team comp, hopefully with four states involved, not just three,” he said.
“And I think everyone’s screaming for promotion and relegation. It’s everyone’s dream. The question is how?
“How do you go to someone who’s just dropped $20 million … on a licence to be in the A-League and say … there’s no coming back if you do get relegated. What does that look like?
“And then what does it look like for a club such as Adelaide City to get to that point and now you’re forced into greater costs?”
Building Blocks is also available on Football360’s YouTube Channel.
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