Livida Sport: A Global Guide to Football Transfers - Second Edition - Manual / Resource - Page 79
Australia
A-League
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The A-League is the top tier of professional football in Australia. Known for its fastpaced, physical style of play, the league attracts a mix of experienced international
players and young Australian talent, contributing to the growth of football in the region. It
has welcomed several high-profile signings in recent years, including Juan Mata
(Western Sydney Wanderers) and Douglas Costa (Sydney FC).
What are the foreign player rules?
A-League clubs can have up to five overseas players, all of whom are eligible to start.
Players that are born in New Zealand are exempt from this rule insofar as it relates to
Wellington Phoenix, as they originate from New Zealand. Clubs can also sign 8guest9
players on short contracts for a maximum of 14 games.
The A-League employs a salary cap system, typically set at $2.6 million per team, to
promote fair competition. Guest players and up to two marquee players whose salaries
fall outside the cap are exceptions to this rule. Notable marquee players in the past
include Alessandro Del Piero, Dwight Yorke, Nani and William Gallas. Additionally, each
club can have two 8designated players9 whose salaries range from $300,000 to $600,000
and are also outside the salary cap.
Clubs contribute approximately 11% of a player9s salary, capped at $27,000 per year, to a
pension fund known as superannuation. This amount may be adjusted annually by the
government, and international players can access it after leaving Australia.
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