Adelaide United is delighted to announce the return of former captain and club legend, Craig Goodwin, who has signed a three-year contract with the Reds.
After a second stint abroad with Saudi Arabian side Al-Wehda, where he scored 12 goals and 10 assists in 49 appearances, Goodwin is returning home to the Club where he carved his name into South Australian football history.
The 33-year-old remains Adelaide United’s all-time leading goal scorer, with 60 goals from 168 appearances across all competitions. He also holds the title of all-time leading A-League goalscorer for the Club, with 53 league goals to his name.
Reflecting on his return, Goodwin said:
“I’m just really excited to be back home at the club I love the most. There’s still unfinished business – I want to win another Championship, and another Australia Cup here,” Craig said.
“Nothing means more to me than bringing success to Adelaide United. Playing in front of a packed-out Coopers Stadium has always meant the world to me, and I’ll give everything I have to deliver silverware again,” Goodwin concluded.
Goodwin was a key figure in the Club’s maiden Championship win in 2016 and starred in the 2018 Australia Cup Final, scoring a match-winning brace and earning the Mark Viduka Medal in the process.
In the 2022/23 Isuzu UTE A-League season, Goodwin enjoyed a stellar campaign, netting 15 goals in 28 appearances and becoming the only player to record double digits in both goals and assists. His outstanding performances were recognised with the Johnny Warren Medal, awarded to the league’s best player – only the second Red in history to win the honour after Marcos Flores in 2011.
That same season, Goodwin was selected in Australia’s 2022 FIFA World Cup squad, where he scored against France and played a crucial role in the Socceroos’ Round of 16 match against Argentina, cementing his place as a World Cup Socceroo while wearing the red shirt.
A proud South Australian who began his junior football with Munno Para City and Para Hills Knights, Goodwin’s return marks a full-circle moment for our beloved winger.
Adelaide United Head of Football, Marius Zanin, welcomed the news, saying:
“It’s fantastic to welcome Craig back home. He knows the Adelaide United DNA inside and out and will immediately be a leader both on and off the pitch. Craig is a true great of our Club, and having him back with us is a huge moment for everyone involved – our players, our staff, and most importantly, our fans,” he said.
“We’ve always stayed in contact since he left, knowing deep down that we’d bring him back home eventually. Now felt like the right time – not just sentimentally, but strategically. We’re bringing him back to help strengthen the squad and play a key role in our push for more silverware,” Zanin concluded.
Technical Director, Ernest Faber, echoed Marius’ sentiments.
“This is great news for our club. Craig brings top-level experience, leadership, and a winning mentality that will help us all go to the next level. He knows what it means to wear the Adelaide shirt and has already proven he can make a difference at the highest level. We are very happy to welcome him back home,” said Technical Director, Ernest Faber.
Goody; welcome home.
