A-League coaching hopeful Mori in mix for Adelaide job

Former Socceroos star turned NPL coach Damian Mori has emerged as an early contender for the now vacant Adelaide United coaching job.

Damian Mori is in contention for the Adelaide United coaching job Source: Getty Images

With the anticipated exit of former Barcelona star Guillermo Amor ratified on Wednesday, names such as Gabriel Batitusta, Fernando Morientes and Stuart Pearce have once more been linked to the club.

But quiet achiever Mori, who has coached for 14 years in the NPL with Adelaide City, is also understood to be under consideration and has expressed his desire to grasp the baton, should it be offered to him.

A six-time NPL title winner with former NSL giant City, local hero Mori, 46, has acquired almost as cachet as a coach in his home state as he did during his career as a free-scoring striker in the NSL and A-League.

Mori was on the shortlist for the Central Coast Mariners job last August before losing out to Paul Okon.

And, speaking to The World Game on Wednesday evening, Mori said he would relish the opportunity to step up to A-League level.

"It's just happened (Amor's exit) and of course I would interested if the chance arose," said Mori.

"But so would are a lot of other people.

"Its news to me at this point (being in contention) and it's ultimately all about what the club wants to do (moving forward).

"I have no idea what their intentions are."

The Reds are keen to act quickly to install a successor to Amor, with 16 players coming off contract and the new man tasked with a massive rebuilding mission.

Mori has followed with avid interest the Reds' rise - winning the A-League premiership-championship last season - and their subsequent fall - collapsing to a ninth place finish in 2016-17.

But he attaches no blame to Amor, whose squad this season was ravaged by departures.

"They lost players at the wrong end of the season, and it was hard to recruit at that point in time," Mori said.

"It's hard enough to win a championship ... to go back-to-back is very difficult.

"But there are still plenty of positives to come out for them this season - they have unearthed a lot of young players and the future looks good for them."