Episode #4 - Paul Okon, Former Socceroo Captain

In Episode #4 of the CDSFA Community Football Podcast, Gilbert Lorquet speaks with a true legend of the game - Former Socceroo Captain, Paul Okon.

Paul first caught the eye of national team selectors after a stunning start to his career in the National Soccer League for Marconi where he won the Under 21 Player of the Season in his first two years in 1990 and 1991. He made his full senior Socceroos debut at the age of 18 on a rainy night in Parramatta in 1991. He then went on to star for the Young Socceroos at the World Youth Championship in Portugal in 1991, followed by the Olyroos at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

Paul's uncanny ability to read the play and glide past other players with ease and effortlessly saw him marked as Australia’s next big thing. His talents saw him leave Marconi for Europe, signing with Club Brugge in Belgium’s first division, where a successful five-year spell culminated in him winning the title and Golden Shoe award in 1996 for the best player in Belgium, the first non-European to win the award.

A dream move to a star-studded Lazio team saw Paul become the first Australian to play
regularly in the Italian Serie A. He earned 28 caps for the Socceroos over a 12-year international career, captaining Australia for 24 of his 28 caps.

Paul returned to Australia in 2006 to play for Newcastle Jets in the A-League before retiring from professional football in 2007. He immediately turned his efforts to nurturing the next generation of Australian footballers, joining a coaching development program  before being appointed the national under 20 coach in 2012, followed by his appointment in 2016 as Head Coach of the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League for 2 seasons.

Paul Okon remains one of the most gifted players to represent Australia and paved the way for the golden generation that followed. 

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:09

Hello, I'm[inaudible] and welcome to episode[inaudible] in the cities of a community football podcast. I guess for this episode is a true legend of the game. He first caught the eye of national teams selectors after stunning. Started his career in your national soccer league for my County where you won the under 21 player this season in his first two years in 1990 and 1991 he made his full senior Socceroos debut at the age of 18 on a rainy night and paramedic 1991 he then went on to start for the young Socceroos at the world. You'd championship in Portugal in 1991 followed by the other Roos at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 his uncanny ability to read the play and glide past other plays with these[inaudible] marked as Australia's next big thing. He's talents. Saw him leave Mark Coney for Europe signing with club root in Belgium's first division. We're successful. Five five-year spell common added in team winning the title and golden shoe award in 1996 for the best plane build, you're the first one European to win the award. A dream move to a star studded lights. Yeah. Same. Saw him become the first Australian to play regularly in the Italian Syria. Earn 28 cats for the Socceroos. Over 12 the international career gap during Australia for$24 28 caps, you returned to Australia in 2006 to play for Newcastle jets in the elite before retiring from professional football in 2007 he immediately turned to his efforts to nurturing the next generation of Australian footballers joining a coaching development program before being appointed the national under 20 coach in 2012 followed by his appointment in 2016 as head coach of the central coast at Meredith in the elite two seasons. He remains one of the most gifted place to represent Australia and paved the way for the golden generation that follows. Ladies and gentlemen, my guest for this episode with the CD is CFA community football podcast is the one and only Paul O'Connor. Okay. Ball, thanks very much for joining us at the a see this effect community football podcast.

Speaker 2: 2:39

Thank you.

Speaker 1: 2:40

Uh, just the geese get us started. Why don't you tell us about you, uh, the junior, junior football and your pathway?

Speaker 2: 2:47

Yeah, look, I, I, um, I grew up in the faithful area out West. Um, and uh, I had an older brother, three years older who was playing for our local club, um, which was actually just, you know, three, 400 meters from where we were living. Um, called faithful Heights at the, at the time they, they have now amalgamated with, um, Smithville hospitals. Um, and I played there from the age of four till 10. Um, and then we relit relocated house. We, we moved, um, right across the road from where club Marconi was. Okay. Um, and my family had a, had a, um, you know, particular history with, uh, with my County club sway. My mum and dad actually met no, well,

Speaker 1: 3:32

Oh, the Sunday night. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 3:33

Dancing. My father played for my County and my mother was part of the first a junior committee. Um, you know, Becking they can yearly days. Uh, so I joined my Coney at the age of 10 and then played there until 19. Um, and, and, and that's then when I moved on to, uh, to play in Europe

Speaker 1: 3:55

number, the lower the younger players listening, they're probably, that know some of the names you're going to be mentioning it, but just upset that I understand some of the plays that were there around my time ended up obviously representing Australia as well as some, some classics that really,

Speaker 2: 4:10

yeah, look, Marconi, um, has exported, you know, so many great, uh, Australian players, players that had, um, you know, really be curries in, in Europe, but, you know, also, um, you know, played for, for the Socceroos, um, you know, over a long period of time and before me, um, you know, players like Eddie cringe of each, um, Frank Farina, um, who was, you know, an idol for me. And, um, I got the opportunity at the age of 16 to train with the Marconi first team more Frank was, uh, was still a player at the club. And, and, uh, I actually joined, um, for my first experience in Europe club Rouge. Um, and that was the team that, that, that Frank was, uh, was there for two years. Um, uh, previously, um, yeah, Mark Schweitzer was, was a teammate of mine through the junior, Steve Corsica. Um, we played together in the youth team. Uh, the list goes on of, uh, players that, um, you know, at some stage throughout their junior career, uh, represented Marconi and, uh, and then went on to a bigger and better things.

Speaker 1: 5:19

Hmm. Who were your idols when you, you're saying 10 or 12, who we are those back then

Speaker 2: 5:25

growing up. And my, my first idol was a, um, Michel Platini. Um,

Speaker 1: 5:33

he's not playing football at the moment. He's[inaudible],

Speaker 2: 5:35

I'm not sure what he's up to. He's been in a bit of a bit of[inaudible]. Yeah. Because I know having an Italian mother, um, and, and back then the only football on TV was either English football or Italian football on, on SBS, I developed a particular, um, love for eventers and of course, Michel Platini was, you know, it was one of the events in the history of the[inaudible]. So, and then later on, um, another player who was at your Ventis, uh, Roberto Bajio. Yeah. So they were sort of in different positions. To what I played. I just, you know, for whatever reason, just really loved the way the way they played. And, um, and then as I mentioned, Frank Farina, um, you know, I, I, uh, started out as a ball boy and you know, when Frank was playing to Sydney city and, um, I remember him coming out to play for Sydney city against my County. And, uh, again, not sure why, but I just just enjoyed watching him play. And, um, he had this, um, you know, this real winning mentality on the field. Um, and then when he joined Marconi a year after, um, I had the opportunity as a young kid to, to try with the first team and, um, and uh, watching closely. And you know, not too long after, um, Frank got his opportunity to, uh, to, to go to Europe. So, um, and I sort of followed a little bit in his, in his footsteps, I guess. Um, uh, Frank was two years in the first in my County before he's, before he left. I spent two years from 17 to 19. My county's first him, he joined club Rouge. I joined club Rouge. Um, and from there he moved on to Italy and from clubbers I also moved on to the follow. Yeah. So, um, and then I had him as a, as a my Socceroos coach form for a number of years and I became captain of the team under him side. Um, yeah, you know, Frank was, was certainly fought for, not only for myself I think for, for a number of Australians. Yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 1: 7:43

That back then at my time, you just want to understand your growth state cause obviously you use, sounds like you have to develop the skills there and, and uh, got to the point where you're able to be transferred over at adversaries. Who are your, who are your sort of, I guess, um, mentors and coaches back then that you can sort of

Speaker 2: 8:02

yep. Yeah, I was, I'm, I consider myself to be lucky because obviously having an older brother, um, you know, being able to kick the ball around with him at home and, and you know, in our spare time, school holidays, uh, it was, cause we live so close to my County. It was either we walked there or jump on our bikes and, and you know, the two weeks we spend on the backfields of Marconi with, uh, you know, with our ball. Um, uh, but probably the biggest influence would be my father because my father was my coach from the age. Yeah. From the age of eight to 16. Um, so yeah.

Speaker 1: 8:47

Parents, you mentioned mothers were both your parents with classic volunteers, whether they're always helping out in the back.

Speaker 2: 8:51

Yeah, they were, yeah. A massive, uh, affiliation with, uh, with Marconi. And, um, so, you know, that family atmosphere that was, um, that was provided by club Marconi was invaluable because, uh, even when we would visit the club, um, you know, just going to have dinner as a family and friends. Uh, back in those days there were no, there were no distractions, there wasn't a mobile phone. They, when I pads, they, when I play sessions, they went onto their games interaction and if you got bored, you went out the back onto the backfields and you would kick a ball around. Um, and I think, you know, for me personally, that played a major part in, in, in my development, um, not only as a, as a, as a football player, but also socially. Um, and understanding, uh, you know, that the culture of, of what, uh, that environment, uh, gave to me and how important it is. And, and today I try to, uh, um, implement that or try to give that or try, I've tried to introduce it with my own children because I feel that it's, you know, for me it was,

Speaker 3: 10:01

um,

Speaker 2: 10:02

you know, when I look back, I look back on it with, you know, a lot of fond memories and in any opportunity I get, I try to, uh, to give that to my own children. And you've got four boys. Four boys. Yes. And how's that going? It's a, um, started off with everything, um, hanging in the right place in the house, but with, you know, balls flying around everywhere. Um, and my wife, uh, at the best of times I can hear her screaming, but, uh, it's, uh, yeah, it's, it's great to have four boys. Um, they're all playing football. They're all there. All the first three are applying the little one. He's only four years old, so he's chasing the other three around. Um, which is just always makes for good viewing. Um, but, uh, you know, they have a passion for the game and yeah. And, and nowadays, um, you know, with the way I think our children are growing up, sometimes that can be discarded. Um, and, and I try and, uh, um, explain these to, to a lot of people when they asked me about,

Speaker 3: 11:11

um,

Speaker 2: 11:12

you know, Johnny wants to go and play here and Johnny showing potential and want to get him out with the Barcelona. And I always asked him, does he have the passion?

Speaker 3: 11:22

Um,

Speaker 2: 11:22

because without that passion, then you can't make the required steps to, to develop into what's required to, to becoming as best as you can as a, as a football player. Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 11:35

Similar, similar ages. I think a couple of years older than me, they're nine 91. I was in, I was in year 11, and there was a 1991 world cup, the world, the championships in Portugal. Um, for me, and I'd been watching football for many years without a, definitely, that was the most exciting, seeing another of his name in the soccer issue. Can you give us an idea, some of the plays in that, in that, in that story?

Speaker 2: 12:05

Yeah, that was a, that was incredible. Um, for me, I remember back in, um, 1981, I think Australia hosted the, the under 20 world cup and, uh, you know, we had a great team. We had some really, really fantastic players that went on to play for Australia and have careers in Europe and, um, you know, always dreamed to, to get that opportunity. And, uh, it, it came in in 91 and, uh, we went across to Portugal and, you know, people sort of looked at us like, who are these[inaudible]? Uh, I'd already, I'd already made my Socceroo taboo right around that same year, um, in March 91 at, uh, at, uh, paramedic stadium, um, against the Czech Republic. But obviously that, yeah, that was, you know, it was, it was incredible. Um, and to reach the semifinal, um, in front of my son, who's the coach who was[inaudible] coach. Um, and did you remember, do you remember the lineup? So the goalkeeper[inaudible] and Moscow was in like rifle back yet. Um, Tony Popovich was one of the central defenders. Um, myself, I was playing at the back of that time a C Couric was in closing a lineup, um, struggled by the name of David seals. You scored a lot of goals and you know, in the innocence still yet. Um, so I think, you know, for, for what was a sort of, you know, the future of, of the game. I think that was probably, um, one of the first moments where we were able to on the world stage, um, is actually sort of send a message to the rest of the world that, you know, Australian players can play football. We, we are at, we are good at playing football in Australia. And, um, that year we made the SMEs, I think in 93, we hosted, uh, the young[inaudible] Australia again, you made the semifinals and, and a couple years later, um, the jellies actually made on of the welcome New Zealand, New Zealand and Western Brazil. So, um, you know, for many years we were how results if you want to look at the results, but a lot of good players, you know, did very well at, at, at world cups in and off the back of that we're, we're able to get opportunities to play professionally in Europe

Speaker 1: 14:37

and there's a[inaudible] in those teams. You play Portugal and I think you had the lots of volunteer very Costa and all these things.

Speaker 2: 14:43

Yeah. Really constantly. Who ended up paying, I ended up being a teammate[inaudible] a number of years later. Louis FIGO was really cost actually scored the, that's the only, they just won shell Pinto, the famous number nine.

Speaker 1: 14:56

So what's a diff, I was going to ask you, what's the difference you think from going from the semi-finalists to farmers and ultimate we know, I mean on the pot you see the difference in scale.

Speaker 2: 15:05

Yolo. Yeah. Look, they probably had little bit more quality than us. Um, yeah. If I think back to that game, we actually, we actually probably had more chances, chances in them to win it. But in the end, um, you know, that the quality strike of very Costa and, and, um, the fact that they were, you know, the home team hosting the tournament at the end for us again, we, yeah. Our expectations were probably not to play small chuckle to make it to the semifinal. Yeah. And play Portugal in front of 120,000 people. So, you know, for us it was a, yeah. An incredible experience. And, and you know, I've over the years have come across a lot of the boys that were in that team and as[inaudible]

Speaker 1: 15:49

that's still, yeah, it still gets me so skinny, but goosebumps listen to it. So 91 cause then it looks you've gone, we had you transferred to Bridget night. Uh, there were discussions, discussion. So there's about to be[inaudible]

Speaker 2: 16:01

we'd sort of entered into agreement. Yeah. They did come across to watch the tournament and the rundown

Speaker 1: 16:05

Scouts were there. And uh, and during the tournament the decision was made to well yeah. To, to go then. Yeah. What did you, I know you mentioned Frank and his influence, why did you choose a bruise? What was it about the club that got you excited?

Speaker 2: 16:18

Yeah. Well look, they um, they came in and watching me play that year for Marconi. Alright. So already, you know, a couple of months before the world cup, like they churned a real interest. Yeah. And at that point, you know, teens in Europe weren't really looking at Australian place. It was sort of starting a little bit at, at that time. Um, and, uh, in our preparations for, uh, uh, that Portugal woke up, we actually, um, we were in Holland and we went and played a game against the, the reserve team of, of Bruce and I got to visit the bruises, the city, other visit the club. And, um, yeah, look at the impression they gave me was, uh, that, that this is probably the best place to start my, my career in Europe. Um, so, um,

Speaker 1: 17:09

and what was that experience like? Was that because you were there a few years, once you was four years, three, four years or five years?

Speaker 2: 17:16

It is from 91 to 96. Yeah. And look, the first 12 months, 18 months were, were difficult. Um, you know, in, in, in many ways. Um, I'd never been away from my family for so long and living on the other side of the world by yourself for 20 or 20 years old was 91 years old. And, um, you know, I'd always, we'd always had that tight knit family. Um, you know, growing up I had a lot of cousins, mom had six brothers and two sisters. So, um, yeah, at times it was they didn't want to come with you when I went by myself. Yeah. Went by myself. Mom and dad come and visited once a year, um, at Christmas time. Yeah. But in the end, um, you know, I just had that, uh, that ambition to terminate to, you know, I'm here to become as best as I can. That's the reason why I'm here. So yeah, there's other sort of distractions I was able to, you know, get over and in, in the end it became like home. It felt like home for me. Um, which is important. And um, probably the reason why I ended up staying for 15 years, because nowadays flyers will now move around. We'll go for a year or two years and then they back home. And I sort of think, well, yeah, no doubt. I would have had similar challenges, but sticking it out, you've got to overcome,

Speaker 1: 18:48

I believe you, you have a citizenship, uh, eventually a billion, is that right? Or not?

Speaker 2: 18:52

Uh, no. I could have, but uh,[inaudible]

Speaker 1: 18:56

what was the, yeah, the move from Bruce, then you go onto lots. Yet it's Syria. And that was, this is really the peak of seriality, isn't it? Noname NOLA 1990s.

Speaker 2: 19:06

Yeah. It goes a little[inaudible] middle of the nineties. It was, it was, um, yeah, it was the place to BS. Um, yeah. Pay TV still wasn't inside the APO was obviously. Yeah, yeah. Back then it was called the championship. It was still a fantastic, uh, um, place to play. Um, but of course that growing up following Italian football and having that, you know, Italian heritage at the same time I was, I was able to go to PSV and I had a really, really tough decision to make. And in hindsight, probably given the fact that in my last season, I, uh, saw my, uh, ICO, um, and physically or probably wasn't ready for the challenges of a Italian football. Um, so in hindsight, maybe the decision to go there at that time wasn't the right one, but, um, you know, I, I guess I fulfilled the dream. Yeah. Um, and the zoo way some of your teammates there. Yeah. Look, uh, and my last season and lots of it was, is, yeah, it was incredible. Um, Roberta Mancini's, Pablo nitwit, who actually joined us at the same time as me. He was my roommate. Yeah. Sandra Nesta. Sidney semi, Eila beach. Yvonne Dela Pena. Fernanda council. Pasilla Salas Fuze names. Yeah, they on Stankovich. Um, it was, yeah, a legend inter Milan, um, few years later. So over the years I was, um, spoiled in terms of, um, you know, where I was and, and you know, who I was training with every day and having spent Gore and Erickson as a coach, it was a great experience. So, yeah. And for many ways, I'm so lucky and thankful for that opportunity. Yeah. What was your best moment then? Oh, cause you, I'm sure you're, I hate, hate another highlights, but what was the one that seeks out? The one that sticks out would be my first game away. A[inaudible] anytime. And of course, in a sense[inaudible] so I've watched Italia, Italia 90. Yeah. Haley, how should the world coffin and you know, I remember, you know, that stadium because of the spiral of course. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Um, and it was fascinating. So, yeah, I remember when we arrived to say, and that was, that was the first thing that I wanted to see was, is those was those spirals, cause I'd only seen it as a, as a young kid and I don't think to myself, my credit wasn't focused on the guy. I'll just say, you know, I say Milan fame but forever 30 years. But I only went to Milan in December last year and I'll tell you what it's amazing is it was a, it was a, a good evening for us. We were, uh, we were leading one nil and considered a, uh, an equalizer, um, light on, in the second half. So it was a, it was a good game. Um, again, yet all was already a massive achievement to to make you to BU Maggie, to make it, to make, to make it there in well, what you would call, it's like one of the, the, the churches have Wolf football. Um, yeah, it was incredible. And you position, I just want to go back from the junior level to, um, I guess now playing a lot, show with your position consistent all the way through or coaches sort of tweak. We'll suggest that you go into other roles. Sort of played as a, as a defender. Yeah. At, um, we in natural definitive sort of, it was a bit different to the way defendants play now is more of a free roll. Um, now I bought sort of growing up, I was playing more as a, as a, as a midfielder. I mean either position didn't, um, yeah, I found it equally comfortable. Yeah. Playing as a defendant or as a midfielder with that. And then the other just looking at the other clubs and you'd gone onto Fiorentina then over to England as well. After that, what was, uh, England was old. The apprenticeship was, was war had now become the place to be, pay TV had it's had exploded, um, and most of the, the best foreign players in the world. Um, you know, we're, we're, we're now going there to get that opportunity was, yeah, it was, it was great. Um, again, growing up, watching a match of the day on, on a, on a Monday, on a Monday. And I remember I said, collect these books that had all the information about the teams, um, diagrams of the way they scored goals and yet, so I look, yeah. Going into places like old Trafford and Anfield. Well, you with all that history, it was, that was was incredible. Um, so again, something that I've never thought was going to be possible. Yeah. Right. From Fairfield to Bosley passe. It's a long way away, certainly in terms of, uh, um, you know, for football. Yeah. Uh, so,

Speaker 1: 24:20

so the big thing for you, and then again, looking at history, for me, the big thing is adaptation to other cultures is that they're not, as you said earlier, a lot of people would sort of, you know, think, give up or just come back home. You've had to adapt, obviously, you know, the ability of, okay, it's a smaller country, but then you get to countries immediately. And in England.

Speaker 2: 24:39

Yeah. Look, I, I, I, yeah. Having an Italian mother and my father was German, right. Um, uh, so, and, and, and having that, um, being exposed to that culture at club Mark County. Yeah. Um, yeah, I mentioned it before. You know, socially it taught me so much, it gave me so much. So then further on down the track in life where I'm always experiencing different cultures, it was, it was, you know, I, I embraced it. Um, I really enjoyed that part of it. Um, there's that, yeah. For a professional footballer when you're coming from a different country and you're playing somewhere else, there's that, there's two possibilities. You know, the, the, the on field stuff, obviously that's so important, but that off field,

Speaker 3: 25:29

Mmm Mmm.

Speaker 2: 25:30

Part of football is so important is you sort of create, create, um, that environment for yourself and[inaudible] and a lot of what happens on the field, um, comes off the back of how you feel in that environment, in, in, in that, um, you know, with that new culture. So, uh,

Speaker 1: 25:51

what do you think of resilience nowadays with younger kids maybe use, obviously you've coached and you've seen younger,

Speaker 2: 25:58

well, now we, we sort of as societies, what's in it for me? What am I going to get out of it? Um, as opposed to, well, you know, what can I give here? Um, and everything is about,

Speaker 3: 26:14

um,

Speaker 2: 26:14

you know, technology push of a button and I get against it instantly. Um, so I, I do feel that that's sort of crept into the way,

Speaker 3: 26:24

um, Hmm.

Speaker 2: 26:25

You mean to the mentality of a lot of young kids? Um, way now it's not only football or professional sports, it's in life. You know, you gotta work hard and you're gonna, you're gonna have moments where you're not going to have that, that instant fix or, or that instant gratification and you need to, you need to work through it and you need to, you know, just continue to

Speaker 3: 26:50

too[inaudible]

Speaker 2: 26:51

you know, to, to do the things that that may be.

Speaker 3: 26:54

Um,

Speaker 2: 26:55

you know, today he's not going to, you're not going to see the result today, but yeah, further down the track,

Speaker 3: 27:02

um,

Speaker 2: 27:03

you're going to get your reward. And I think that, you know, nowadays it's, well, you know, pay my Reggio and I'll play for a year and then you know, I'm off somewhere and make lots of money. It's just, it just doesn't work like that. And speaking of ultimate rewards, playing obviously being selected for soccer breweries, but then ultimately then Kathleen subgroups, uh, there's a number of key games here. I just want to quickly grab your highlights of your soccer three. What would you say are the top three for you? You know, obviously it's always, you know, that first game for, for your country. Uh, the paramedic paramedic stadium, Bankwest[inaudible] again, the paramedic setting. I'm a rule now. It's a place like home for me cause I was born just across the road in the old Paramedal hospital. Um, as a young kid, um, I, I went to fearful position by the shot. It was a rugby league school and um, um, developed a love for, for the paramedic eels. You still used to the father. It's still fun still millennials. I've, I've, I haven't had, I haven't upset any[inaudible] there was a, a young kid on the Hill when Marconi won, uh, the grand final in 19, uh, 87 against, uh, Sydney Kreischer in those days, in a couple of years later, I actually played in the grand final, uh, for the first team of my County when we lost against, um, Sydney Olympic to nil. Yeah. I made my due for the Socceroos. So, um, yeah. Paramatta stadium was, was for me. Uh, yeah. Uh, pretty lucky, pretty lucky place. And, uh, look, I was able to, to play in,

Speaker 3: 28:47

um,

Speaker 2: 28:47

yeah, everywhere around the world full for Australia, um, against some really, really top players. And when we beat, uh, France at the confederations cup iterations, who were, I had all the great places. I think there were only missing sedan and the teary Henri, but everyone else was there. And, um, you know, beating them one nil and yeah, never forget the look on their faces. And I wasn't expecting that. Nah, they were. Now they didn't, they didn't, they didn't see coming. Um, and of course the famous story one when at Upton park against England, um, you know, for, I can't remember how many years we were begging them to play a game cause we'd beaten them in at everything, cricket and rugby, whatever, every sport. And that was really one was missing for us. And in the end, uh, they caved in and said, you know what, we'll, we'll give you guys a game probably because was so many Australian players now playing in England, sort of heretic cubits. And they sort of respected us to a point yet to give us a game. And uh, and in the end we managed to uh, yeah and that's a big one.

Speaker 1: 29:54

Yeah. Sort of bring it up because a well two, two games. That's one of your thoughts on it.

Speaker 4: 30:00

Uh,

Speaker 1: 30:01

they woke up qualification, uh, always there in Melbourne. The mcg. Were you playing at that game? You were playing the game? Cause the blue to me now cause I was sitting in the stands traveling from Sydney in the old days of the old Greyhound buses gang in Sydney.

Speaker 4: 30:16

Um,

Speaker 1: 30:17

I explained that gang cause for me again coming back from nine one one to two, this game in nine 97.

Speaker 2: 30:24

Okay. 97, I was injured at the time, injured. I was like[inaudible] he is in the study him and I like you at a certain part of the game was like thinking[inaudible] friends and all of a sudden we can smell the baguettes. Yeah. Off to book your tickets. Yeah. So what happened in the last, what do you think? You know, I've been asked these questions so many times and, and absolutely and so many thoughts and I as a person, I believe, you know, a lot in destiny. And looking back, we didn't do too much wrong. No.

Speaker 4: 31:08

Um,

Speaker 2: 31:09

you know, there was a moment in the game where Peter[inaudible] just be honed and it sort of slowed the momentum down a bit because we were at[inaudible], we were following cruising all over him and, and um, and you can sort of maybe think that that had something to do with it. Yeah. But in the end, as I said, I'm a big believer in destiny and wasn't, wasn't at the time, it wasn't the time. And then something similar happened to[inaudible]. I was gonna say captain will kept him. Yeah. Yeah. Look, we had I think just as same as, as the team in 2005 they qualified. Now Venables was the coaching in 97. Frank was the coaching is the coaching in 2001

Speaker 1: 31:59

I'll see. I've, I've, I've read before that you use your thought variables as you're in terms of coaching and software is used probably your, your, your[inaudible]

Speaker 2: 32:07

biscuits. Yeah. Look, he was, I mean, vegetables had coached Barcelona. He coached Tottenham.

Speaker 4: 32:12

Um,

Speaker 2: 32:13

what was the special, because you got a, generally does the England team at[inaudible] 2000 and I probably never applied as good as what they'd done.[inaudible] was, um, I did the play. He was, yeah. People skills was, was enormous, but he was also a very, very good coach. Yeah. Um, and uh, you know, I had him all show at Middlesborough in my first year. Yeah. We were, I think after, what was it, about 15 or 16 games, we'd only had 11 points. We were gone. Gone. Yeah. We'd done a gusset relegated relegation and um, the chairman asked him to come in and, and help Ron Robson. Yeah. Which he didn't. Yeah. We were undefeated in our first eight games, uh, under him. And you know, we uh, ensured our position in apprenticeship for the following year. So going back to that, uh, as I said, yeah, our team was super strong, um, we probably needed to win the game by another goal. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 33:22

And I know you kinda failed. I remember watching the game. What did you actually say when we actually the final we see you are very exotic. I remember that. Uh,

Speaker 2: 33:30

yeah. I'm pumped up for the second game with you. Yeah. Yeah. Cause that when you, you sort of, I think all of us felt that, that responsibility on our shoulders. Sure. Um, not only we as players, but yeah. Every young person who, who love football in Australia, um, did[inaudible] it was just, yeah. Dying to get to a world cup know what do you honestly think when we go to drew with Uruguayan? I do feel God it's going to be hard or I knew it was going to be difficult because I'm going to, South America was always, it was always going to be interesting. Yeah. Um, did we have a choice whether we we'd had that side pathway, um, Argentina and, and yeah, I couldn't get there. Uh, so, you know, winning, winning, get home, um, um, just, yeah, by the one goal wasn't enough. And, and I, I remember when, um, when we flew to, uh, to Montevideo, we actually,

Speaker 3: 34:32

um,

Speaker 2: 34:34

um, when we had the stopover in think it was Oakland, um, I saw some of the European officials and players, um, waiting, uh, the area at the airport and, and, and the look on their faces. I think they, right. I sort of knew that we weren't going to clarify. Yeah. Because they were, they didn't look worried at all late. They had this look on their faces that

Speaker 3: 34:58

um,

Speaker 2: 34:59

sort of sort of told me, you don't understand what's going to happen in a couple of days time. Yeah. Um, and, and yeah,

Speaker 1: 35:06

but then again, if you watch the game, I, you look at the school here, it was what I, but I don't remember watching the game. We really only needed one.

Speaker 2: 35:13

Yeah. We needed a, but we weren't crazy. Nah, we didn't, we had one or two half moments. But um, you know, we went, once we arrived in Montevideo, they opened all of our bags. I made us wait for like three, four hours and I checking everything and I was obviously a tactic they used to, to sort of unsettle and then, um, you know, when we, we walk out of the airport with our luggage to get onto the bus and number of them supportive, then we're speeding.[inaudible] again, made it that hostile environment and yeah. You know, on the way to the game, the bus, the trip was on, I took, was supposed to take five minutes. It took a 35 minutes. Yeah. So what does it, what does the captain and the coach said? Yeah, well what can you say, um, in the leader other than other than that, that's sort of going to happen. But,

Speaker 4: 36:10

um,

Speaker 2: 36:12

now we, we, you know, we need to put that aside and, and go out there and perform, which,

Speaker 4: 36:20

um, yeah, we[inaudible]

Speaker 2: 36:21

we couldn't manage to do. And, and, and I coming out to, to warm up was, I've never heard noise like that before. If it was, it was literally a different, and, um, it's an old stadium. It's an ugly stadium. Um, a lot of history, lot of history. It's made of concrete and you know, when you were in the change room before the game and you heard them, you know, making noise and chanting like the walls and you could hear it shaking, it was like, geez, what's gonna end up here? And, and you know, they scored their first goal quite early to direct silver, scored and, and,

Speaker 4: 37:05

um,

Speaker 2: 37:05

you know, once that winning, it was always, it was always going to be tough from them. Did you, is that falling from that? Did you end up playing the Socceroos again or did think another another two years? Yeah. Um, and probably, I think it was in 2003 was my, my last appearance for the sunrise. All right. And then you go on, obviously playing a game from then with, he ended up going, you and the guy. Yeah, England. I'd like to build now back to Italy, Italy for half a year. And then, yeah, back to back to Belgium for a year and a half. Um, and then, yeah, I had my first child in 2005 in Belgium. He was born and then, well, uh, did a year in Cyprus, say half football, half tourists before finally, before deciding finally to come home. Your Cypress was beautiful, beautiful quality, lost[inaudible] seafood, fabulous country, you know, lifestyle, weather. Yeah. Um, good stadiums, good. Sexually. Um, quite surprising. The team I play for up a well. Yeah. Um, only recently in the last few years.[inaudible] Lake. So, um, yeah, a beautiful place and yeah. Yeah. A place where I, uh, um, love to return to,

Speaker 1: 38:35

yeah. So clearly, what was the attraction gun from sopas to them?

Speaker 2: 38:39

Newcastle jets. Um, let's actually, um, was talking with them the year before to come back for the first year of[inaudible] they actually contacted you yet. Um, and had some discussions, but it wasn't to be, and, um, uh, I, I never actually sort of, you know, throughout the years plans to, you know, I'll, I'll, when I, um, leave Europe and go back home, I wanna at least play. You just happened to happen that way. And, and um, and I was, you know, the fact that I could play in front of my family and friends once again. Um, yeah, it probably was the, the real reason why, why I did it. And, um,

Speaker 1: 39:23

just out of curiosity, as a Sydney FC fan, the senior saver contact you at the time?

Speaker 2: 39:31

Uh, I was, they were moving back home, just the da they were interested in coming back home and[inaudible].

Speaker 1: 39:41

Wow, okay. And then I guess that experience at the Ivy league there, just quickly w what'd you think of the elite at the time and

Speaker 2: 39:48

yeah. Second year of the A-League or still early eight teams. Um, I think we played each other, yeah. Three times. Um, yeah, that was top four. Uh, so you could, you could see that it was at its initial stage, um, and that it needed a lot of him improving. Yeah. Um, but I guess with anything, you have to have a starting point. Yeah. And, um,

Speaker 3: 40:15

um,

Speaker 2: 40:16

yeah, once I decided that the game was gonna go in debt direction of, um, you know, two teams in Sydney and you know, wanting, you know, rest of the country and,

Speaker 3: 40:27

um,

Speaker 2: 40:28

yeah, football was going to become professional. Yeah. Again, needed to start somewhere. Yup. And then coaching. So it hadn't you then turn into coaching where you're attracted, know I, uh, I sort of knew, knew that I would one day want to have a, have a at coach. Yeah. Um, so once I, I did retire,

Speaker 3: 40:50

uh, on, on, um,

Speaker 2: 40:52

you know, I said about getting my, uh, qualification. Yeah. Um, is that all done? He likely did that, tended to go back to Europe, but,

Speaker 3: 41:01

uh,

Speaker 2: 41:02

yeah. Was convinced to, to, you know, to do them here. Um, and so that was here in Australia. Did my, yeah. Well, yeah, around Sydney at all. And Cambridge at the IAA, so doing, they were doing courses, so they might be licensed Meyer license here and obviously pro-license yet, um, the first pro-license course that, um, the FFA delivered. Um, of course we're now part of IFC, so fuel, uh, right now only Japan and Australia are allowed, um, by IFC to deliver their own pro-license courses. Right. So, so yeah.

Speaker 1: 41:36

Is this standard, do you think the stands getting better human struggle or are we still, uh,

Speaker 2: 41:40

yeah, I do think that, um, yeah, I think the big thing for me with, um, like getting my coaching courses was about, I'm just teaching you to, to, to look at ways of, um, preparing training sessions to give you ideas, um, and to, to, to make sure that you, you deliver them in a, in a professional way. A lot of, I think a lot of people's, um, mindset of coaching courses is, is that I'm going to go on there and I'm going to learn, um, tactically and how to play against a different formation. And it's not really what the coaching courses are designed for. Um, they, they sort of set up for you to, to, um, become better planning, um, and how, and how to deliver them and, um, uh, as opposed to actually, um, you know, how do I play with wingers and, yeah, I think you, you need to have a certain amount of your own, um, um, philosophy of how you see the game and how you actually want to play. And if you, if you think you can actually learn that or better learn that on a coaching course. Um, uh, it's not gonna happen.

Speaker 1: 42:53

No. Yeah. And where do you say, I mean, we're at the candidate district we got from downline, little wetter Rose lands. It's quite, I have 16,000 players and, and you've got, uh, thousands of coaches as well. I mean in terms of the footprint, we have sort of[inaudible] the challenges with other sports, trying to compete just from your observations obviously, and you, you're still a sea bass out West as well. You're seeing that development as well as other sports. How do you think, how can football, I guess I maintain this position or even improve over the next few years? From a grassroots perspective?

Speaker 2: 43:26

Yeah, look, it's a, it's very, very important. Um, I think everyone should have the opportunity to, to play for a local club, um, irrespective of what level you are. Sure. Um, and then obviously, uh, the better kids, um, will, you know, either stay there or move on to something more challenging. Um,

Speaker 1: 43:46

do you think the platform's easier now or it was easier when, when you were applying?

Speaker 2: 43:51

Yeah, I think there are a lot more clubs and houses. There's a lot more choice. There's a lot more competition out there. Yeah. Um, uh, I think th arguably I think facilities are better now. Yeah. Do, do they need to improve? I think, yes, it will be great if, uh, all local clubs, you know, had their own grounds, um, had a clubhouse that they called, um, you know, they home where people could, uh, um, uh, resonate to, and feel comfortable. Um, because at the grassroots level, it, it, it very much is that a lot of people like yourself that are involved in, in, in clubs do it because for one reason, because they love it, not because there's a financial gain from it. And, and I think that, uh, as long as, um, we can keep that going. Um, yeah. It'll just continue to hopefully provide opportunities at that level for, for kids to, to, um, to understand if they want to take football, you know, seriously. Because, you know, at the end, not everyone, um, you, you hope that everyone has, you know, those dreams to, to become a big football player or professional football or play a role. Um, you know, these clubs are there to provide that early opportunity. Um, but[inaudible] as long as people do have that, um, you know, local club that's run professionally or as professional as it can. And it gives you that opportunity to, um, to develop that passion for the game that's so important. Yeah. And go and Sousa Socceroos, what do you think is missing at the moment, you know, to, I guess, breached to get in within a number of countries who are lifting there? Yeah, it's a, it's a very challenging period for, uh, for our national team. Um, you only have to look back at, uh, the campaign for the last world cup. We had to go to a lot, all of a sudden death playoff against, um, a team from Comcast central American. So,

Speaker 4: 46:06

uh,

Speaker 2: 46:07

no, I don't, I don't see that sort of being any different this time. I think it's going to be a really tough road for us to qualify. Yeah. We no longer have 30 players playing, you know, we not in real top leagues in Europe. Yeah. Um, and I think more and more players from the Socceroos are actually coming from, uh, the highlight because we don't have, um, again, so many players that are, that applying nutritionally in top competition. So there's certainly a lot of work to be done at grassroots level. Um, at junior level in terms of,

Speaker 4: 46:45

uh,

Speaker 2: 46:47

you're not getting good coaching.

Speaker 4: 46:49

Um, yeah,

Speaker 2: 46:51

accredited coaches, um, opening up pathways, creating those pathways again to give that opportunity for a young kids to become as, as, uh, as good, as soft, as good a football player that they can to be in, um, in that window to, to, to, you know, to move, uh, further on your beautiful. One last question. Uh, if you had one wish, what would it be? Yeah, probably um, yeah, for Australia to a really go to world cup and I get to a final progress. I think at the moment I'm at for a number of years, maybe we were spoiled in terms of, uh, the quality supplies that we had and the generation that, uh, sort of grew up with all without all the distractions. And, and for them it was not, football was a real passion. I think a lot of our kids need to discover that. Um, but I, I certainly think that way. Um, we're good enough at at youth level, at junior level of, of the last, uh, last few years. I have traveled to Europe to, to have a look at that and Omni recently, um, was in Belgium for a few weeks, having looked at kids from the age of eight to 16. And,

Speaker 4: 48:20

um,

Speaker 2: 48:22

I honestly believe that, um, yeah, way better certainly at those ages. Yeah, absolutely. Terrific world cup as well. But yeah, of light, they're there. Youth development is really development as really as really come through with a, with a number of, uh, number of low class players. So that's my wish for us to, um, to get to that level because there is an enormous amount of potential in this country. Uh, we sort of probably don't even know about, but it's how do we bring that together? Um, that's the, that's the challenge over the next, uh, and it's not going to be one or two years over the next 10 to 20 years, um, is how do we ensure that our future, um, he's given all the tools to be able to, to put themselves in that position. Fantastic. Thanks very much you. Any time.