GONE-BAU: Josep Gombau leaves Adelaide United

Adelaide United Chairman Greg Griffin has announced that head coach Josep Gomabu will leave the club, as Barcelona legend Guillermo Amor takes over.

Josep Gombau waves to the fans, could he be about to wave goodbye? (Getty) Source: Getty Images Asia Pacific

Gombau, who had two years remaining on his contract at the Reds, will become the director of his own academy based in New York.

Meanwhile Eli Babalj has joined Adelaide in what will be his third A-League stint after two previous spells with Melbourne Heart before it was rebadged as Melbourne City.

It’s looming as a make-or-break season for the 23 year-old, who has yet to ignite on the European stage after spells with Red Star Belgrade, AZ and PEC Zwolle on loan.

Babalj, who has two Socceroos caps, scored freely for AZ’s second team last season but failed to make his senior debut before switching to PEC Zwolle in February, for whom he made four appearances without hitting the target.

The impsoing striker - likened to a Mark Viduka - will provide stiff competition for Bruce Djite at the pointy end for the Reds.

But he will be looking to further hone his finishing prowess after amassing just 12 goals in 44 appearances in his two previous A-League stinnts.

Babalj will be Adelaide’s first high-profile signing in the wake of a raft of departures including Nigel Boogaard and Cameron Watson (Newcastle Jets), Fabio Ferreira (Central Coast) and Awer Mabil for the Danish Superliga.