Bobby Russell

NSL Career: Adelaide City, South Melbourne, Heidelberg 272 (8) / 1979 - 1989

Socceroos Career: 3 (0) B Internationals

One of the forgotten stars of Australian football in the 1980s, Scottish defender Bobby Russell remains the only defender in national league history to win the Player of the Year/Johnny Warren Medal twice. A model of consistency, Russell was one of the toughest defenders to beat in the NSL - either with the ball or in the air - and could send in an accurate cross when going forward. 

Russell moved to Australia in 1975 from Scotland and joined NSW Division One side South Sydney Croatia (later Sydney United). Russell spent four seasons at the club, winning a championship in the 1977 season before the club finished runners-up to Sutherland the following season.

In 1979, Adelaide City coach Rale Rašić signed Russell for $6,000 and the full-back quickly became one of the standout defenders in the league, helping the club win their first NSL Cup. The Scotsman's form earned him an international call-up where he represented the Socceroos B team on three occasions, including a three-one victory over American club New York Cosmos who fielded World Cup winners Carlos Alberto and Franz Beckenbauer. 

Russell would be a shining light in an Adelaide City side that struggled during the early 1980s, winning the 1981 NSL Player of the Year award. Russell signed for South Melbourne in 1983 and proved his consistency and reliability by playing in every league game from 1983 to 1987. 

The full-back was part of South's first NSL Championship side in 1984 and became the first NSL player to win the Player of the Year Award twice in 1986 - winning the traditional referee-voted award while Sydney Croatia's Graham Arnold won the award separately by being voted by NSL players (this voting system was in place from 1986-1988).

Despite the veteran's professionalism and commitment to the club, South's management expected the team to consistently remain in finals contention, and made changes to the squad which they deemed necessary. After playing in just 15 of South's 28 matches in the 1988 season, Russell was sacked halfway through the 1989 season (shortly after the death of his wife) in response to South's inconsistent season, with South coach Brian Garvey opting to use young defenders Paul Fernandes and David Healy.

The 33 year old moved on to Heidelberg until the end of the season where he finished out his NSL career. In 1990, Russell had a short stint in the Victorian State League with former NSL club Mooroolbark before becoming player-coach of Albion in the second half of the 1991 season, hanging up his boots at the end of the season at the age of 36.

Comments