Ahead of this weekend’s Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final, Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has announced its annual A-League Men Team of the Season, as selected by the players.
The 2022-23 side features four players from Premiers and grand finalists Melbourne City, with Golden Boot winner Jamie Maclaren, Mathew Leckie, Aiden O’Neill and Jordan Bos – who has been named captain of the side as he farewells the competition to move abroad – all selected.
Their opponents Central Coast Mariners have two players in the side, with Josh Nisbet named in midfield and Brian Kaltak rewarded for a remarkable first season in professional football with a spot in the back line.
Also in the XI are Western Sydney Wanderers’ Brandon Borrello, Calem Nieuwenhof and Marcelo, while Adelaide United boast Craig Goodwin and Joe Gauci.
A strong bench features Lawrence Thomas (WSW), Jason Cummings (CCM), Marco Tilio (MCY), Jay O’Shea (BRI), Marco Tulio (CCM), Curtis Good (MCY) and Nectar Triantis (CCM).
Since 2009, the PFA has revealed the side in Grand Final week, collating votes from their members who are asked to select their best XI from the campaign. The composition of the team is based on the number of votes tallied for each player in each position, with the substitutes bench comprising players who finished below those in the starting XI.
The player with the most votes is named captain of the Team of the Season.
This year, that honour goes to Bos, who has been a standout for Rado Vidosic’s side throughout a campaign where he has announced himself in a big way, earning a maiden Socceroos cap and also a record-breaking $2 million move to Belgian side KVC Westerlo.
The 2022-23 PFA Team of the Season:
