The Adelaide Croatia Soccer Club was founded in 1952 by a group of Croatian migrants who named the club after their homeland. The group included Fahrudin Cerić, the then President, Cvjetko Milanović and Drago Pišpek.
The club affiliated with the SASFA and played in the metropolitan division for five years. Its first game was against a team from the (now closed) Philips factory at Hendon. Its first home ground was in the South Parklands on Greenhill Rd.
In 1954 Branko Filipi, a significant leader in the club's early history, became the club president and remained so for the next 14 years. Along with his enthusiastic committee, Filipi began securing the services of a number of promising recruits. In 1958 Adelaide Croatia entered into the fourth division and narrowly missed being promoted into the third division. That same year, the late Charles Perkins, more famous as an Aboriginal activist, joined the team. Perkins played as a captain/coach for two seasons. In his autobiography he reflected with fondness on his friendships with Adelaide Croats and other immigrants he met through the club.
In 1959 the club convincingly won the second division championship and secured a place in the first division for the first time. Once in the first division, Adelaide Croatia's fixtures and results were listed in the international football pools.
In 1960 the club moved to its new headquarters at Hanson Reserve. It remained there until 2000, when it moved to its magnificent sporting complex at Gepps Cross.
The club's first major milestone was in 1961 when Croatia defeated Cumberland 4-nil to win the Ampol Cup. The Advertiser, in its report on the match, wrote that no team in the state could have beaten Croatia. The 1960s proved to be a successful decade for the club in the South Australian State League, finishing in third place in 1961, 1962 and 1963, while finishing Runner-Up in 1965 and 1969. Despite these strong results it wasn't until 1980 that Croatia won the coveted first place in the South Australian State League. Since then Croatia has won the league on another four occasions: in 1984, 1988, 1997 and 2002.
In 1962 the club competed in the inaugural Australian Cup, the first nationwide club tournament held in Australia. Croatia Adelaide were one of 16 participants in the knock-out competition and were the first Croatian backed club to compete. The side lost its first round match, losing to Brunswick Juventus 3–1 at Melbourne's Olympic Park to see the club knocked out. The club would again compete in the Australian Cup twice more in 1963 and 1965.
The year 1977 saw the formation of the National Soccer League. Following the failure of Melbourne Croatia and Sydney Croatia in their applications for the league, Adelaide Croatia led a move backed by the Croatian Soccer Association of Australia which saw a proposal put forward for a Croatian 'super club' to enter the NSL; a club which would see the resources of all of Australia's Croatian clubs pooled together. Ultimately the submission failed.[1]
A major highlight in the club's history came in 1985; as the champions of South Australia, Adelaide Croatia was invited to take part in the National Soccer League Cup. Adelaide Croatia had a remarkable run defeating both of Adelaide's NSL sides, Adelaide City and West Adelaide, 1–0 in the opening two rounds. The club lost in the quarter-finals to another NSL side, Sunshine George Cross. It was a valiant display seeing Croatia go down 1–0 in a tightly fought match.
In 2013, the Raiders made the finals series of the FFSA Premier League following a fifth placed league finish.[3] The finals run came to a quick end after going down to Campbelltown City on penalties at the first hurdle.[4]
The Raiders narrowly avoided relegation in the 2015 season, finishing above relegated sides Port Adelaide Lion and Modbury Jets on goal difference alone, with all three sides finishing the season with 27 points.[5] In the post-season, former international striker Joel Porter was announced as the new head coach.
Adelaide Raiders parted ways with senior head coach Porter nine rounds into the NPLSA season, with the club languishing in bottom place. Porter was replaced by former Raiders player Robert Matosevic.[6]
In August 2016, Adelaide Raiders finished bottom of the league in the 2016 FFSA season and were relegated to the 2017 FFSA season.
In 2018 Adelaide Croatia Raiders earned promotion back in to the NPL by reaching the 2nd division play off series final against the minor premiers Adelaide Blue Eagles. Adelaide Croatia Raiders earned their spot in the grand final after a resounding 5-0 on aggregate victory over Adelaide Blue Eagles. Goals to Scott Tunbridge, Yasmin Sudic and Michael Paleka in a 3-1 over Blue Eagles, gifted Adelaide Croatia Raiders the championship.
In 2021 the club included "Croatia" back in its name, a tribute to the clubs rich history. As of 2021, the club is called "Adelaide Croatia Raiders".
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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