As Adelaide United keeper Paul Izzo plays his 100th game, will Reds legend and his former mento Eugene Galekovic be playing his last at Hindmarsh Stadium?

Adelaide United gloveman Paul Izzo’s 100th game is destined to be marked by an emotional goodbye to one of his two mentors, former Reds keeper Eugene Galekovic or boss Marco Kurz.

Adelaide United’s Paul Izzo will play his 100th game in Sunday’s elimination final. Picture Sarah Reed

• Trading places makes a united City
• Carrusca in retirement shock
• Chaos alert if A-League pay deal not struck
• Why Baba wanted to quit Reds

Adelaide United gloveman Paul Izzo’s 100th game is destined to be marked by an emotional goodbye to one of his two mentors, former Reds keeper Eugene Galekovic or boss Marco Kurz on Sunday.

Only one team’s A-League season will still be alive after Sunday’s knockout final at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Paul Izzo will play his 100th A-League game in Sunday’s final against Melbourne City. Picture Sarah Reed

Kurz’s end of contract situation has been well documented prior to the elimination final after owners made the call in March to part ways with the coach at season’s end.

Adelaide United legend turned Melbourne City goalkeeper Galekovic, 37, on Wednesday was tight lipped over his future and whether he would retire at season’s end but it has been tipped Sunday will be his final appearance on the hallowed turf of Hindmarsh.

Izzo, 24, was Galekovic was understudy to the club’s most successful keeper for three seasons.

Paul Izzo catches up with mentor and City keeper Eugene Galekovic. Picture Sarah Reed

During his time at No. 1, Galekovic hoisted the A-League premiership, championship and FFA Cup as captain and owns the Reds games record.

“It could be great (if Galekovic does retire at Hindmarsh), I guess it has come full circle if it does happen on Sunday,’’ Izzo said after training at Adelaide City Park on Thursday.

“He had such a great career here, if it does end for him on Sunday then why not end it at Hindmarsh as well.

“I don’t want to say hopefully we can retire him but … we’ll just leave it at that.”

Galekovic was touted to be another former Reds goalkeeper Mark Birighitti’s No. 2 at City this season but has been a standout, playing 26 out of 27 matches for the cashed-up club.

The softly spoken FIFA World Cup Socceroos keeper also won City’s best player award on Saturday, which didn’t surprise Izzo.

“I know the quality he has, I know how much of a professional he is as well so he is able to look after himself,’’ Izzo said.

“You can’t rule him out ever in a season and to keep Birighitti out of the side that’s an achievement as well.

“The biggest thing I learnt (from Galekovic), he wasn’t a vocal speaker towards us youngsters he was more of a lead by example kind of guy and I watched him every day and that’s how you learn, pick up what you want.”

Izzo made his Reds debut in December 2012, spent two seasons and 42 games at Central Coast Mariners before returning to Adelaide in 2017 when Galekovic was signed by City.

Paul Izzo celebrates with the FFA Cup trophy earlier this year. Picture Sarah Reed

 With farewells destined to soak up emotions on Sunday, Izzo has also been the man that has kept Papa Babacar Diawara upbeat, another Red that will be departing at season’s end.

Diawara scored a goal with his first touch in a 5-3 win over Brisbane Roar on Anzac Day, 181 days after his last appearance sparked a wild reaction from Izzo in Brisbane.

Izzo ran the length of the pitch to celebrate the goal.

“Cause I’m crazy, he was out for ages, months and months, he had a really tough time on and especially off the pitch,’’ Izzo said.

“There’s a lot of pressures coming from supporters, other teams, social media and everything, they were putting him down.

“He is my teammate and I want to look after him, keep him upbeat, joke around when we can joke around.

“I told him he was going to score when he comes back (from injury) and I said I was going to be running the pitch and I’m going to give you a kiss.

“He said, ‘no you’re not’ and I said, ‘yes I am’ and I did so I kept my promise.”

Follow @ValMigliaccio