The 2013/14 campaign was particularly successful for the double winning Brisbane Roar side who took home both the A-League Championship and Premiership.
Mike Mulvey took charge of the side for what proved to be his only full season at the helm as Roar finished ten points clear at the top of the league to claim the Premiership before defeating Western Sydney Wanderers in the Grand Final at a sold out Suncorp Stadium.
When Matthew Spiranovic headed home shortly after half time the Wanderers were on track for a maiden A-League Championship, but Besart Berisha and Henrique had other ideas.
Berisha’s 86th minute lifeline fired the Roar in to extra time, before substitute Henrique slammed home a 109th minute winner to send the majority of the 51,153 in attendance at Suncorp into raptures
They left it late, but Mulvey’s men were worthy winners. They had wrapped up the Premiers’ Plate with three games to spare before defeating Melbourne Victory 1-0 in the semi-final.
Thomas Broich, who scored three goals in 29 appearances throughout the campaign was awarded the Johnny Warren Medal for a second time and also picked up the Joe Marston Medal alongside Western Sydney’s Iacopo La Rocca.
Besart Berisha, who netted an 86th minute equaliser to send the Grand Final to extra time finished as the sides top scorer with 11 league goal – only Adam Taggart, James Troisi and David Williams scored more goals in the A-League than the Albanian that season.
Roar’s off-season recruitment was headlined by the return of Matt McKay after the midfield spent time away from Brisbane plying his trade at Glasgow Rangers as well as Korea’s Busan I Park and China’s, Changchun Yatai.
Also signing on at Roar that season was Liam Miller, Dimitri Petratos and Diogo Ferreira, while Steven Lustica and Jean Carlos Solorzano signed on mid-season.
A number of youth players earned senior contracts including Brandon Borrello and Kwame Yeboah.
Brisbane Roar 2013/14 A-League Men Season
Position: 1st
Wins: 16
Losses: 7
Draws: 4
Goals scored: 43
Goals Conceded: 25
Captain: Matt Smith
Top Goalscorers:
Besart Berisha: 11 goals
Henrique: 5 goals
Dimitri Petratos: 5 goals
Ivan Franjic: 5 goals
Thomas Broich: 3 goals
Matthew Smith: 3 goals
Luke Brattan: 3 goals
Liam Miller: 3 goals
BRFC 2013/14 A-League Men’s squad:
Goalkeepers: 1. Michael Theoklitos, 20. Matt Acton, 33. Fraser Chalmers
Defenders: 2. Matt Smith, 3. Shane Stefanutto, 5. Ivan Franjic, 13. Jade North, 15. James Donachie, 19. Jack Hingert, 26. Corey Brown
Midfielders: 8. Steven Lustica, 11. Liam Miller, 14. Diogo Ferreira, 17. Matt McKay, 18. Luke Brattan, 22. Thomas Broich, 23. Dimitri Petratos, 25. George Lambadaridis, 27. Devante Clut, 30. Ben Litfin, 35. Jai Ingham
Forwards: 7. Besart Berisha, 10. Henrique, 12. Julius Davies, 16. Jean Carlos Solórzano, 28. Brandon Borrello, 34. Patrick Theodore
Head Coach: Mike Mulvey
Award Winners:
BRFC Player of the Year: Thomas Broich
Johnny Warren medal: Thomas Broich
Joe Marston Medal: Thomas Broich
Coach of the Year: Mike Mulvey
