“It’s disappointing, but I must look ahead: Carl Veart’s heartfelt thoughts on concluding his time with the Reds”

Carl Veart, the outgoing head coach of Adelaide United, has expressed his disappointment regarding the club’s choice to terminate his position at the end of the current Isuzu UTE A-League season. Nevertheless, he aims to ensure his remaining months in charge are memorable as the Reds strive for a place in the Finals Series.

This week, Adelaide confirmed their decision not to extend Veart’s contract beyond the current campaign, having “exercised a contractual option”.

Having taken the reins as the interim head at the conclusion of the 2019/20 season, Veart was officially appointed as head coach for the subsequent season, leading the Reds through 138 matches in the Isuzu UTE A-League. He will conclude his tenure as the longest-serving head coach in the club’s history within the competition.

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Speaking to the media on Friday morning, while emphasising his focus on the remaining four matches of the regular season and aiming to break back into the top six before the finals, Veart admitted he was disheartened by the club’s decision and the timing of the announcement.

“Yes, I’m fine,” he remarked. “That’s the nature of football. I am disappointed, though. I love this club, and I’ve always endeavoured to give my best for it.

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“We still have four games left, and my sole focus now is on those matches to secure a finals spot and hopefully have a successful run in the finals.

“The timing of the announcement wasn’t what I envisioned. Our priority as a team and as a playing group is to simply perform our roles. We have four crucial matches ahead, and that’s where our focus should be — on accumulating as many points as possible to qualify for the finals.”

When asked if he had wished to continue in the role beyond this season, Veart replied, “Absolutely.”

“This club holds immense significance for me… I’m not pleased with the decision, but I need to move forward.

“The club believes this is the best course of action, and that’s the reality. I’ve always stood by this club and will always want what’s best for it.”

Reflecting on his five years as head coach of Adelaide, the former Reds player took pride in his commitment to nurturing young South Australian talent within the senior team — a core coaching philosophy that has unveiled several emerging stars over the years, leading to significant transfers to international clubs.

The transfer of Nestory Irankunda to Bayern Munich exemplifies Veart’s trust in teenage South Australian talent; the 19-year-old made his Isuzu UTE A-League debut at the mere age of 15 and is now a Subway Socceroo.

Earlier this year, the Young Socceroos made history by winning the Under-20 Asian Cup, with four of Veart’s young South Australians — Panagiotis Kikianis, Fabian Talladira, Luka Jovanovic, and Jonny Yull — playing pivotal roles in this achievement, alongside former Reds Steven Hall and Musa Toure.

All six players have received first-team opportunities under Veart during his tenure at Adelaide.

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“There’s much here I take pride in, but I’d say providing a platform for South Australian players, and receiving incredible support from our fans, has been fantastic,” he stated.

“The support I’ve received in the last 24 hours from those reaching out has taken me by surprise.

“(I’m) immensely proud to have represented this club. I’ve given my all for them, and I genuinely hope they find success in the future. All I desire for this club is success.

“We’ve achieved remarkable results in this regard, (and we’ve) provided a strong foundation for young players. I’ve always believed in the talent present in South Australia; it simply required an opportunity to showcase their abilities.

“I take great satisfaction in having influenced many of these young players. Beyond Adelaide United, my greatest pride lies with the national team; providing opportunities for young players to realise their dreams of playing for their country is the utmost honour.

“Reflecting on my career, my greatest highlight was representing the national team. To have impacted young players’ journeys towards representing the national team is one of my proudest achievements.”

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Remaining matches loom large for Adelaide, with their hope of reaching the Finals Series hinging on positive results in upcoming fixtures against Perth Glory, Wellington Phoenix, Brisbane Roar, and Melbourne City. Currently, the Reds sit seventh on the Isuzu UTE A-League table, equal on points with sixth-placed Sydney FC, both on 33 points.

Veart is optimistic that the news of his impending exit won’t disrupt the squad as he aims to steer his side back into the top six by season’s end.

“Hopefully, it won’t cause too much disruption,” he said. “I expect the players to stay focused on our collective objectives. All I ask is for the players to maintain the style of football we’ve employed.

“I felt last week’s performance was commendable, despite a few critical mistakes that cost us and not capitalising on opportunities. Overall, it felt like we were beginning to resemble ourselves again, like we did at the start of the season. Our aim now is to travel to Perth and deliver a solid performance to secure all three points.”

With his time at Adelaide United concluding at the end of the 2024-25 season — whether following the regular season or during the Finals Series — Veart has not ruled out a return to coaching at a competing Isuzu UTE A-League club.

“Time will tell,” he stated. “As I mentioned, I’ve never contemplated coaching elsewhere. This club has consistently been my top priority, and it will remain my top priority until I manage my final game here.”