Carl Veart

NSL Career: Adelaide City, Adelaide United 304 (77) / 1989/90 - 2003/04

Socceroos Career: 18 (7) A Internationals / 5 (2) B Internationals

Adelaide City was the home of some of South Australia's best forwards during the 1980s and 1990s such as John Nyskohus, Steve Maxwell and Joe Mullen. Carl Veart, from the predominantly Aussie rules-influenced regional city of Whyalla, was arguably the best of the bunch. 

Fast, aggressive and skilful - Veart played a major role in Adelaide City's most successful period in the NSL and was one it's greatest servants - coming back to play nearly 150 league games after returning from a four-year stint in England before helping to build the foundation of the Adelaide United Football Club.

Veart played his junior football for Whyalla Croatia before moving to Salisbury United in the South Australian Division One in 1988 after impressing in appearances for the Australian Schoolboys touring side in 1987. Veart's standout performances for Salisbury saw the tenacious striker seal a move to Adelaide City for the 1989/90 NSL season.

The young striker scored on his NSL debut at the age of 19 as he joined South Australian duo Steve Maxwell and Joe Mullen in attack and helped the club reach the finals series for the first time since their championship season in 1986. Veart continued to perform in his second season, scoring 8 goals in 18 regular season games (including four against Melbourne Croatia) before setting up Mullen for a late winner in the minor semi-final to send City in to the preliminary final where they lost one-nil to South Melbourne.

Veart began to put national team selectors on notice during the 1991/92 season. Following City's NSL Cup Final win over Marconi, Veart was unstoppable during the finals series - scoring in all of City's finals matches leading up to the grand final. Veart converted City's third penalty in the grand final shoot-out against Melbourne Croatia as City became champions for the second time.

Now established as City's best forward, Veart scored in his full international debut against Solomon Islands and continued to wreak havoc on opposition defences during the 1992/93 season as City achieved a top four finish for the fourth season in a row. Veart scored a brace against Wollongong in the minor semi-final as City progressed to consecutive grand finals, where they lost one-nil to Marconi. 

Veart continued to score regularly for City during the 1993/94 season as he formed a dangerous attacking partnership with Victorian forward Damian Mori, who joined the club the following season and shared a full international debut with Veart. Veart scored his 50th league goal for the club against Newcastle Breakers in round 22 before City finished fifth in the league and qualified for the finals series for the fifth consecutive season. City progressed to the grand final where Mori scored a thunderbolt against his former club Melbourne Knights to earn City their second NSL Championships in three seasons.

The then 25 year old Veart moved overseas following the grand final, signing for English First Division side Sheffield United, where he joined fellow Australian Doug Hodgson. Veart finished his first season at the club as their second highest scorer behind Welsh international Nathan Blake. In the 1995/96 edition of the FA Cup, Veart scored the winning goal in Sheffield's third round replay defeat of Arsenal.

Halfway through the 1995/96 season, Veart moved to Crystal Palace and narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League, losing two-one to Leicester in the First Division Play-Off Final. Veart remained a regular at Palace during the 1996/97 season despite a lack of goals and was on the bench in Palace's second consecutive play-off final, defeating his former club Sheffield to gain promotion to the Premier League.

Veart made six appearances in the Premier League (five off the bench), but was unable to beat Palace's new signings Michele Padovano, Matt Jansen and Marcus Bent for a permanent spot on the team sheet before seeking a move to Second Division side Millwall for the remainder of the 1997/98 season. After just one goal in eight appearances for the club, Veart returned to Adelaide City for the 1998/99 NSL season.

Bringing his overseas experience back to club, Veart maintained his tenacity and intelligence with the ball despite lacking the pace he was once known for. An ever present member of the City side, Veart's goal scoring form became sporadic as the club opted to develop young local talent and spent more time in a provider role.

Mori had established himself as the league's most lethal striker during Veart's time in England and continued to score regularly upon Veart's return. After winning his third NSL Golden Boot in Veart's second season back, Mori moved to Perth Glory and Veart subsequently linked-up with a number of quality attacking players such as former Socceroos team mate Aurelio Vidmar, Italian import Claudio Pelosi, local product Scott Tunbridge and Brazilian import Alex Moreira. 

City reached the finals series three times during Veart's five seasons back at the club, narrowly missing out on the 2002/03 NSL Grand Final by finishing third in the 10-round Championship Series. As a lack of funding forced City to pull out of the league ahead of the last season of the NSL, Veart joined new franchise club Adelaide United with many of his City team mates.

 Veart scored the club's first ever goal against Brisbane Strikers before returning to form in front of goals, finishing as the club's top scorer in their inaugural season. Veart scored in both legs of United's elimination final win over Strikers before the side progressed to the preliminary final, losing five-nil to eventual champions Perth Glory.

Veart remained with United following the demise of the NSL and scored the club's first ever goal in the A-League before winning the inaugural A-League Premiership. In his third season at the club, Veart played in United's losing grand final to Melbourne Victory before retiring from professional football following United's first Asian Champions League campaign.

The veteran forward returned to Adelaide City for a short stint in the SA Super League, winning the championship, before hanging up his boots at the age of 38. Following his playing career, Veart became a youth coach at A-League and state level before becoming Adelaide United head coach following a stint as assistant.