Adelaide United re-signs US defender and Reds player of the year Amber Brooks for second W-League season
American defender Amber Brooks has been lured back to Adelaide United for a second W-League season, as she prepares for unfinished business with the Reds and SA’s beaches.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Reds go back to the future with renewed homegrown focus
- How to get the most from your Advertiser digital subscription
UNFINISHED business, with a little help from SA’s beaches, has lured Amber Brooks back to Adelaide United for a second W-League season.
The US defender shone last summer during her debut campaign down under, winning the club’s player of the year as the Reds missed a maiden finals berth by one point.
Brooks, 28, said going one better, while enjoying the lifestyle benefits on offer during the American off-season, made returning a straightforward decision.
“Loving my time in Adelaide and feeling like I have more to give to this club ... it was pretty much a no-brainer,” said Brooks, who was confirmed as a United re-signing on Monday.
“I really enjoyed my experience in Adelaide last season, on and off the field, and I’m excited to be back.
“The main factor I wouldn’t have come back for is if I thought my body needed a rest.
“But I felt really good in my NWSL season (in the US) and I thought the experience I had on the pitch actually helped my game.
“We were so close to finals (last season), to just miss out was frustrating.
“We definitely have some unfinished business.”
Brooks arrived in Adelaide on Saturday and would train with her teammates on Tuesday, ahead of the season-opener away to Western Sydney Wanderers on November 14.
The all-action centre back, who played every minute of United’s campaign last summer, finished her NWSL duties with Houston Dash just three weeks ago.
Brooks said departed Reds captain Emma Checker, as well as forward Michelle Heyman and Icelandic duo Fanndís Fridriksdottir and Gunnhildur Jonsdottir, would be hard acts to follow.
But she was heartened by the retention of United’s homegrown core, as well as the recruiting of US forward Mallory Weber and Young Matildas sisters Mary and Ciara Fowler.
“You can’t really replace the players and the people that we lost,” said Brooks, after remaining in regular contact with Adelaide coach Ivan Karlovic during her time stateside.
“But I’m really excited about the younger players having another season under their belt.
“A lot of them performed really well in their NPL teams and I think we’re already healthier headed into this season.
“Part of my responsibility as an experienced player is to help the younger players along and set a good example for them.
“But it’s up to them to also be receptive and take initiative.
“That’s what I appreciated about the girls last year – they asked questions and they allowed me to help them.”
The one-cap US international wished her Houston colleague Veronica Latsko well, after Adelaide’s top goal scorer from last season had switched to Sydney FC.
But the Reds were unlikely to face the striker in their November 22 clash with the Sky Blues, as she continued her recovery from an ACL injury.
Brooks and her partner Jay would again spend the summer living at Henley Beach, another key factor in her return.
“It’s a really nice way of life,” the former Bayern Munich stopper said.
“I’ve never been fortunate to grow up near a beach in my life, so to look out on the ocean every morning and every sunset is really cool.
“I really enjoy the pace of life in Australia.
“All the people are so friendly (and it’s) very different to America.”