Adelaide United legend Aurelio Vidmar has returned to the club on the Reds’ 15th anniversary as Director of Football, it has been announced.
In a press conference at Coopers Stadium, Vidmar was unveiled alongside Nathan Kosmina, who has been confirmed as the Chief Executive Officer having previously served as acting CEO.
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Vidmar coached the Reds from 2007 to 2010, taking Adelaide to the 2008 Asian Champions League final, becoming the first Hyundai A-League team to achieve that feat. He also reached the 2009 Hyundai A-League Grand Final after finishing as runners up in the the regular season.
The 51-year-old will be working with head coach Marco Kurz and the senior players as part of his role organising the day-to-day running of the Reds’ men’s, women’s and junior teams, as well as the youth academy.
“Let’s bring this club back to the heights it was in the past, almost even higher,” said Vidmar, who was the Reds' first ever club captain for the inaugural match 15 years ago.
“In football there are always things that can improve, but what’s important is maintaining great relationships with everyone in the South Australian football community across male, female, and youth participation.
“Some of these improvements are going to take more time than others, but I think the future is definitely looking bright for Adelaide United and football in this state.”
Chairman Piet van der Pol said explained there was nobody better suited to overseeing United's football operations.
“Not only was he an exceptional player, but he also has a wealth of experience as a coach locally, nationally, and internationally,” said van der Pol. “All of which will be invaluable in helping our Club continue to move forward.”
