Following Carl Veart’s appointment as an Assistant Head Coach to Gertjan Verbeek, we take a look at his footballing journey and his time with Adelaide United as a player.
Veart had a successful playing career which began at Adelaide City in the old National Soccer League (NSL) before moving abroad to England and then returning to his home state until retiring professionally from the game with the Reds in 2007.
He since moved into coaching and has worked with the FFSA, predominantly as a development coach.
The 49-year-old spent the first five years of his career at City between 1989 and 1994, scoring over 50 goals in 130 matches while winning two NSL championships.
His strong performances saw him springboard a move to England where he would join First Division (now Championship) side Sheffield United. During his time with the Blades he was perhaps best remembered for dumping Arsenal out of the 1995-96 FA Cup after scoring the only goal in a 1-0 third round win.
Welcome back, Carl! 😍 #AUFC
📰 Read more: https://t.co/fokTwbiYfq pic.twitter.com/OP83ASnoHp
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) June 28, 2019
After his stay in South Yorkshire, he moved to London and signed with Crystal Palace where he would help the Eagles gain promotion to the Premier League via the playoffs, ironically at the expense of his former team of Sheffield.
He then moved to fellow London outfit Millwall halfway through the 1997/98 campaign and following a brief six month spell his career went full circle as he returned to City, remaining with the club until they could no longer support a team and had to withdraw from the NSL in 2003.
Indeed, Adelaide United was subsequently formed as the 2003/04 season proved to be the final iteration of the competition.
Veart would make history in the Club’s inaugural match in front of a sell-out crowd, scoring the team’s maiden goal on route to a 1-0 triumph over Brisbane Strikers.
The attacker finished the season with an impressive 12 goals in 27 matches.
The then 35-year-old would remain with United as it entered the Hyundai A-League and lightening would strike twice for the natural goal-scorer.
He scored the Hyundai A-League’s first-ever goal, in addition to becoming the first Red to score in the competition as well.
Veart ended the 2005/06 season with seven goals and bestowed the Aurelio Vidmar Club Champion Award.
Veart scored five goals in the following season which included opening the scoring with a stunning snapshot finish against Newcastle Jets in the Preliminary Final.
He announced his retirement from professional football at the end of Adelaide’s 2007 AFC Champions League group stage.
Veart amassed a total of 79 appearances while scoring 24 goals for the Reds.
He returned to Adelaide City for one last swansong as a semi-professional before venturing into coaching, and holds an AFC Pro Licence.
Veart has been an Assistant Coach with the Australia U-20 side as well as at United under Aurelio Vidmar’s guidance. His most recent role before returning to Adelaide was at the Football Federation of South Australia where he was the NTC Head Coach.
