Born in 1968, he largely grew up in, the New South Wales town of Dubbo to a family of Dutch and English heritage. He played from Under 10 – Under 14 with SASS Strikers Junior Soccer Club in the Dubbo & District Soccer Association. Whilst with SASS, he represented Western New South Wales and New South Wales Country in football. In 1998, Leijer was a co-captain of Orana Heights Public School in Dubbo.

In 2005 he joined Melbourne Victory, in all he  played 20 games for the club.

Adrian Leijer’s first taste of the senior international scene was when he was selected by Guus Hiddink to train with the Socceroos before the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. After his short training stint with the senior team he continued being selected for Young Socceroos squads. He had previously been a regular member of the Australia national under-23 football team, the Olyroos.

Coerver Coaching

Adrian Leijer (back-right) standing with 16 of his Coerver Coaching students. Photo: Vinnie van Oorschot – Surf Coast Times

In 2022 he kickstarted 2022 with a new soccer school set to run throughout the whole year named based in Torquay.

The Coerver Method- named after Dutchman football manager Wiel Coerver – is a football coaching technique which Coerver created. By analysing videotapes of various great players including Pelé, he devised a new concept in football which advocates that skill could not only be inherent with the young players but could also be passed on in a comprehensive academic way. Under this technique, players progress in a structured manner, pyramidal, from basics of ball mastery to a tactically driven group attack. They would be exposed to the other essentials like Receiving and Passing, Moves, Speed and Lethal Finishing.