Damian Mori

NSL Career: South Melbourne, Sunshine George Cross, Melbourne Croatia, Adelaide City, Perth Glory 411 (225) / 1989 - 2003/04

Socceroos Career: 45 (29) A Internationals / 4 (0) B Internationals

Damian Mori became the greatest goalscorer in the history of the national league after proving his worth as a striker after spending time as a full-back early in his career. Possessing extraordinary pace and formidable strength, Mori used his massive engine to persistently terrorise defenders through the middle or out wide before getting in to the box to put the ball in the back of the net.

Starting his junior career at Box Hill, Mori progressed through the ranks and made his first team debut in the Victorian State League at the age of 16. Mori became a regular at Box Hill before joining South Melbourne as a youth team player.  

Mori made his NSL debut as an 18 year old for South and won the NSL Cup in his second season before moving to Brunswick (who were relegated to the Victorian State League in 1988) halfway though the 1990 season and was shifted to full-back by coach Terry Hennessy due to a dip in form. 

Mori returned to the NSL with Sunshine George Cross in the 1990/91 season where coach Ernie Merrick shifted him back to striker. After playing for Sunshine in their last season in the NSL, Mori spent some time back in the Victorian Premier League with Bulleen to reignite his goalscoring form before moving to top NSL side Melbourne Croatia.

After an improved season with Knights where he played in their losing 1991/92 NSL Grand Final, Mori joined grand final winners Adelaide City where he evolved in to a deadly finisher and earned a Socceroos call-up. Mori won his first NSL Championship in the 1993/94 season, scoring a long-range wonder goal against former club Knights (formerly Croatia) in the grand final. 

The following season, Mori finished a close-second to Mark Viduka in the golden boot standings and played in City's losing grand final replay to Knights. In the 1995/96 season, Mori scored a national league record 31 goals (record still stands), including the then world record fastest goal (3.69 seconds) - winning his first NSL Golden Boot award, the Johnny Warren Medal and earning himself an overseas move to Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Mori struggled for game time in Germany and returned to Adelaide City the following season where he continued his prolific NSL goalscoring form, winning another two NSL Golden Boot awards. Mori left Adelaide City to join Perth Glory for the 2000/01 season where he became the first NSL player to reach the 150-goal mark (record still stands). 

At Perth, Mori formed the greatest NSL striking partnership in history with Bobby Despotovski and together they helped Perth become a powerhouse club, reaching the 2001/02 NSL Grand Final and winning back-to-back championships in 2002/03 and 2003/04 (played in a record sixth and seventh NSL Grand Final).

In addition to his team success, Mori won his second Johnny Warren Medal (joint record) and two NSL Golden Boot awards (all time national league record with five in total) during his time at Perth. Mori finished his Socceroos career in 2002 as the national team's all-time scorer in A internationals with 29 goals in 45 games and finished his NSL career at Perth Glory as the competition's all-time goal scorer.

Following the demise of the NSL, Mori returned to Adelaide City as player-coach where he won the 2005 SA Premier League and was the league's top scorer. Mori returned to the top flight following his success with City and added a further 15 goals in 36 games for Perth Glory, Central Coast Mariners and Queensland Roar over three seasons in the A-League.

Following his A-League career, Mori returned to South Australia where he continued his career as a player-coach at Adelaide City before hanging up the boots at the age of 40. Mori won four championships as coach of City and has become an assistant coach at A-League club Adelaide United.