Adelaide United teenage midfielder Louis D’Arrigo a leading light in new-look Reds’ youth brigade
He has earnt his maiden first-team start and home A-League debut in the past fortnight. Now Louis D’Arrigo is targeting FFA Cup glory as a leading light in Adelaide United’s youth brigade.
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A maiden first-team start and a home A-League debut, ahead of an FFA Cup final and an opportunity to guide his country to a World Cup.
Louis D’Arrigo’s life has been transformed in the past fortnight, as he shot from a promising youth team talent to a key member of Adelaide United’s senior squad in stunning fashion.
And the midfielder looks set to remain firmly in Gertjan Verbeek’s plans, given the Dutch coach fielded the Reds’ third youngest team in history for last week’s season-opener.
“It’s been really exciting,” said D’Arrigo, who turned 18 last month.
“I’m obviously happy to get my opportunity and get my chance.
“I feel like if the chance is there to give young players a shot, he (Verbeek) will give it.
“It’s good because if you perform well in training, he’ll pick you.
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“Him believing in youngsters gives us all so much confidence.”
D’Arrigo was one of five players 22 or under, including fellow teenage sensation Al Hassan Toure, in Adelaide’s starting XI for the last-gasp 3-2 loss to Sydney FC at Hindmarsh.
The 24.2 average age narrowly eclipsed that against Wellington (23.8) and Sydney again (24.1) in January 2018, when United had 10 players out injured or on international duty.
West Torrens Birkalla product D’Arrigo, who made his A-League debut as a late substitute away to the Sky Blues in March, was also among eight Reds born in SA or raised there.
“Getting my first start at home helped me a lot,” said D’Arrigo, following mature displays as a midfield anchor against Sydney and in the cup semi-final victory over Central Coast.
“The crowd was really good and it felt great being out there with a couple of other youngsters as well.
“In my (league) debut, I came on at right back and I wasn’t very aware of that position so I didn’t really know much about it.
“But starting as a midfielder, I feel more comfortable being in my position.
“All the boys have been helping me a lot day-in-day-out.
“Hopefully I keep getting these chances and keep trying to perform well.”
Spirited backyard games with older brother Samuel, who also plays for Birkalla, and younger sibling Jonathon, part of FFSA’s NTC system, honed D’Arrigo’s competitive edge.
The 2017/18 National Youth League player of the year later featured in the famed AIS program’s last intake, an 18-month stint he said moulded him as a player and a person.
D’Arrigo helped the Young Socceroos claim this year’s AFF under-18 title and will feature in next month’s Asian qualifiers, the first step on the road to the 2021 under-20 World Cup.
Before then, he had the matter of Wednesday’s cup decider against Melbourne City.
“I was in the stands for the cup win last year and it was exciting to watch,” said D’Arrigo, who was not included in the Reds’ matchday group for the triumph over Sydney.
“I was part of the celebrations … but it’s obviously way better to be in the squad and hopefully have a chance to win it as well.
“It’s up to the coach to put me in that, but it’s also up to myself in training to perform well to get the coach to pick me.
“I just want to help the team out as much as possible.”