Alex Tobin to attend Adelaide City’s 80th Gala

Adelaide City Football Club is proud to confirm that club great and former Australian international Alex Tobin will be in attendance at the 80th Anniversary Gala.

Born on 3 November 1965, Tobin is regarded as one of Australia’s most respected footballers and one of the defining figures in Adelaide City’s history.

Tobin represented Adelaide City from 1984 to 2000, amassing an extraordinary 436 appearances for the Black and Whites across a remarkable career built on consistency, professionalism and leadership.

Known as the “Gentle Giant” and “Mister Dependable”, Tobin formed one of Australian football’s most formidable defensive partnerships alongside Milan Ivanovic for both club and country.

Few players are more closely connected to Adelaide City’s success at a national level than Tobin, who was part of all three of the Club’s National Soccer League Championship-winning teams in 1986, 1992 and 1994.

After taking over the Adelaide City captaincy from Sergio Melta, Tobin continued his leadership journey by later captaining the Socceroos in 1997.

His standing within the game extended far beyond Adelaide City. Tobin earned 87 full international appearances for Australia, with 113 overall appearances for the national team, appeared across two World Cup qualification campaigns in 1994 and 1998, and captained Australia on 30 occasions.

His influence on Australian football was recognised through the establishment of the annual Alex Tobin Medal, awarded to the player considered the best in the national league competition.

Respected equally for his conduct off the field, South Australian football historian Denis Harlow once described Tobin as a role model for junior players, reflecting the standards and professionalism he carried throughout his career.

Reflecting on his time at Adelaide City, Tobin said:“We had a core group of footballers who played for the club for a decade or more. That was our main strength. History will show that many of our players were also involved with the national team so it was clear that we had a very strong and successful squad.”

Tobin’s contribution to the game has since been formally recognised through his induction into the FFA National Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Football South Australia Hall of Champions in 2008.

His presence at the 80th Anniversary Gala provides supporters and former teammates with an opportunity to reconnect with one of the Club’s greatest ever players and celebrate the role he played in Adelaide City’s golden era.

More legends and championship-winning players will be announced in the lead-up to the event as Adelaide City prepares to celebrate 80 years of history.

Be part of our story — 80 years in the making.