National Soccer League

NSL Career: Melita Eagles, West Adelaide, Gippsland Falcons 104 (6) / 1989/90 - 1997/98 A skilful playmaker who was excellent at dropping back in midfield and starting his team's attacks with his precision passing, Hugo Giménez helped Melita Eagles gain promotion to the NSL and became one of the standout midfielders in the league. Despite failing to reach the footballing heights in his native Argentina,  the diminutive  Giménez possessed all the fine qualities expected from a South American footballer at the time and was one of the most efficient passers to play in the NSL. Originally from Avellaneda, Buenos Aires - Giménez began his career at local club Racing, one of the "big five" clubs of Argentina, during which time the club played in the Primera B (second division). Following his time at Racing, Giménez had stints at Avellaneda Primera B and C clubs Arsenal and Dock Sud respectively. Argentine-Australian coach Raúl Blanco, who had coached NSW club Melita E...

NSL Career: Sydney Croatia, Marconi, Sydney Olympic, Northern Spirit 123 (64) / 1989 - 1999/00 One of the NSL's deadliest strikers during the late 1980s and early 1990s, David Seal was the youngest recipient of the NSL Golden Boot and was a two-time winner of the award. Blessed with pace, a brilliant shooting technique and fantastic positional sense - Seal was a regular scorer throughout his career in Australia and abroad. Born in Penrith, New South Wales - Seal began his junior career at Penrith RSL where he was coached by his English father Roger before joining NSL club Marconi's youth ranks at the U-15 level. Following his time at Marconi, Seal joined Sydney Olympic where impressed in appearances for Australia's schoolboys team and was subsequently signed to Sydney Croatia's U-19 side. Making an immediate impact, Seal was the National Youth League's Northern Division top scorer, which led to his NSL debut at the age of 17 in which he scored in a three-one win ove...

NSL Career: APIA, Marconi, Heidelberg, Sydney Olympic, Parramatta Power, Newcastle United 253 (4) / 1989 - 2003/04 Socceroos Career: 19 (0) A Internationals / 12 (0) B Internationals A product of futsal during his junior career, Milan Blagojevic was one of the most skilful defenders ever produced in the NSL and was a key player in the Olyroos' most successful team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Despite an injury-interrupted career, Blagojevic's athleticism saw him enjoy a long career in Australia and abroad. Born in Sydney, Blagojevic began his junior career at Avala (later Bonnyrigg White Eagles) and made his first team debut in the NSW Division One at the age of 16. Blagojevic spent three seasons in the first team during which time the club were relegated from and promoted back to Division One. Blagojevic joined NSL club APIA in the 1989 season and made his league debut in their round 8 loss to St George at the age of 19 before becoming a regular in the side for the remainde...

  NSL Career: Adelaide City 253 (58) / 1979 - 1992/93 Socceroos Career: 1 (0 A International / 4 (0) B Internationals One of Adelaide City's most important players and one of the best South Australian-born players in the NSL during the 1980s, Carlo 'Charlie' Villani was a highly skilled and physical attacking player with an eye for goal who devasted opposition defences when required. Villani began his junior career with school side Unley before joining the junior ranks of Adelaide Juventus. Villani progressed through the ranks as the club became known as Adelaide City in 1977 upon becoming a foundation club of the Phillips Soccer League and made his first team debut in the 1979 PSL season just a few weeks after turning 16. The City junior scored a brace in his first start against Brisbane Lions and finished his debut season with six goals in 13 league games as he served as an understudy to former Celtic goal machine John "Dixie" Deans and experienced South Austral...

NSL Career: South Melbourne, Footscray 74 (8) / 1983 - 1988 Socceroos Career: 7 (1) A Internationals / 3 (1) B Internationals Athletic and skilful, Vlado Bozinovski was an Australian trailblazer who was part of Footscray's most successful team in the NSL era before becoming the first Australian footballer to play in the Portuguese top flight. Bozinovski was the second Macedonian-born footballer to represent the Socceroos and remains just one of three to do so. Born in Macedonia, Bozinovski immigrated to Australia and played junior football for Altona City. Bozinovski joined Hellas-Hakoah - a merger of Hakoah St. Kilda and South Melbourne's reserve side - and made his first team debut at the age of 18 in the Victorian State League.  The following season, Hakoah dissolved and the club continued in the VSL as South Melbourne, where Bozinovski established himself in the side. During the 1983 season, Bozinovski was called-up to South's senior team and made his NSL debut against ...

NSL Career: Newcastle Breakers, Wollongong Wolves, Perth Glory, Sydney Olympic 228 (20) / 1991/92 - 2003/04 Socceroos Career: 6 (1) A Internationals One of the most technically gifted Australian-born footballers to have played in the competition, Troy Halpin was a talented playmaker who possessed incredible vision and passing accuracy to become one of the best providers and set piece specialists in the NSL following a slow start to his career.  Part of a football family with roots in the Newcastle football scene, Halpin began his junior career at Barnsley before moving to West Wallsend. Halpin later joined the youth ranks of Newcastle Austral after the club joined the NSW Division One in the late 1980s.  In 1991, Austral became Newcastle Breakers and joined the NSL where Halpin was part of their inaugural squad, making his NSL debut at the age of 18.  Halpin struggled to break in to the first team in his first three seasons, making just 17 NSL appearances before the club ...

NSL Career: St. George, Newcastle Breakers 217 (30) / 1983 - 1992/93 Socceroos Career: 5 (0) A Internationals / 2 (1) B Internationals One of the most versatile Australian footballers of the 1980s, Andy Koczka combined skill with determination and showed strong leadership qualities at a young age. Koczka spent time in all positions on the field before finding career best form as a sweeper. Born in Sydney to Hungarian parents, Koczka spent his junior career at Earlwood Wanderers before joining NSL club St. George where he made his first team debut at the age of 17. Koczka played in the first four rounds of 1983 season but was unable to retain his spot as the forward line included star foreigners Dez Marton and Paul Wilkinson and the midfield contained former Socceroo Peter Stone and rising star Robbie Slater. St. George went on to win the championship before Koczka became a regular the following season. Koczka started the 1984 season as a striker but struggled to hold down his spot in t...

NSL Career: Melbourne Knights, Carlton 160 (9) / 1989 - 2002/03 Socceroos Career: 31 (1) A Internationals / 1 (0) B International One of Melbourne Knight's greatest defenders, Horvat was one of the toughest Australian sweepers during the 1990s. After limited opportunities early in his career saw him move down to the Victorian Premier League, Horvat returned to the NSL stronger and more composed and competed with star defender Milan Ivanović for a spot in the national team. Born and raised in Geelong, Horvat began his junior career at North Geelong Warriors at the age of eight and progressed through the ranks before earning a scholarship to the AIS Soccer Program at the age of 16. After graduating from the AIS, where he played in the Victorian State League, Horvat joined Melbourne Croatia and made his NSL debut just two weeks shy of his 18th birthday. With Croatia's defensive positions occupied by star defenders Theo Selemidis, George Hannah, Alan Davidson and Mark Talajic - Hor...

NSL Career: Adelaide City 332 (75) / 1983 - 1995/96 Socceroos Career: 2 (0) B Internationals One of Adelaide City's greatest servants - Joe Mullen was a consistent performer for the club over a long period of time and was part of a core group of City players that brought the club success during the late 1980s and early 1990s.  Skilful, clinical in front of goals and a good team player - Mullen was the club's second all-time goal scorer in the NSL behind three-time NSL Golden Boot winner Damian Mori and one of five City players to have won three NSL Championships, two NSL Cups and the Oceania Club Championship. Born in England, Mullen moved to Australia at the age of seven and began his junior career with his school side St Augustine's Parish, which was registered as a club in the Elizabeth Districts Junior Soccer Association. Mullen played for the school side until the age of 14 when he joined Salisbury United. Following his stint at Salisbury, Mullen joined Para Hills and ...

NSL Career: Western Suburbs, Brisbane City 196 (3) / 1977 - 1986 Socceroos Career: 13 (0) A Internationals / 12 (0) B Internationals One of the most consistent Australian full-backs of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Steve Perry was a diminutive and hardworking defender who consistently made overlapping runs and was one of the best crossers of his era. Perry was one of the few players to represent the Socceroos whilst representing a Queensland side in the NSL. Perry began his junior career at Cronulla RSL before joining Sutherland where he made his first team debut at the age of 15 in the NSW Division Three. Sutherland gained promotion to Division Two when Perry became a regular in the side. Perry helped the side win promotion to Division One a year later before joining Western Suburbs for the 1974 season. Over the next three seasons, Perry had stints at Western Suburbs and Sutherland before being part of Western's inaugural Phillips Soccer League team. Perry played in every game o...

NSL Career: Brisbane Strikers, Perth 89 (7) / 1995/96 - 2000/01 Socceroos Career: 12 (0) A Internationals / 2 (0) B International After playing a major role in earning Brisbane Strikers their first NSL trophy, Kasey Wehrman was destined for big things before a serious ankle injury early in his career derailed his potential to play at the highest level in Europe.  A strong and hardworking midfielder who read the play exceptionally well and was an excellent distributor, Wehrman was the first Australian to have a sustained career in the Norwegian top flight. Wehrman was at the forefront of the first generation of Indigenous Australians - including Travis Dodd, Jade North, Evis Heath, Morgan Cawley, Tallan Martin and Fred Agius - to play in the NSL since Harry Williams and Frank Farina in the 1970s and 1980s respectively. Born and raised in North Western Queensland, Wehrman started his junior career around Cloncurry and Mount Isa before moving to Brisbane as a teenager where he continu...

NSL Career: Sydney City, APIA, Marconi, Sydney Olympic 317 (19) / 1983 - 1997/98 Socceroos Career: 2 (0) A Internationals / 3 (0) B Internationals The first and only Mauritian to represent the Socceroos - Jean-Paul de Marigny was a first class defender who was hard in a contest and made many key overlapping runs during his time playing as a full-back as he found success at three of the four clubs he represented. Born and raised in Mauritius where he was the country's top junior tennis player, de Marigny moved to Australia at the age of 14. Soon after, de Marigny decided to take up football and his natural ability earned him an apprenticeship with top Scottish side Aberdeen at the age of 15, who were coached by Alex Ferguson at the time. Following his time in Scotland, de Marigny returned to his junior club APIA before earning a scholarship to the AIS Soccer Program. After graduating from the AIS, de Marigny joined NSL club Sydney City who were coached by Eddie Thomson, the man who ...

NSL Career: Sydney City, Adelaide City 95 (10) / 1977 - 1981 Socceroos Career: 20 (1) A Internationals / 21 (1) B Internationals Since the 1970s, the Australia national league has been graced by a number of talented Brazilian footballers including: Hilton Silva, Fernando Rech, Cássio, Fred, Gui Finkler and Bobô. Agenor Muniz remains arguably the most talented of them all and was the first (and only) player who was born in Brazil to earn a full international cap for the Socceroos. Having already been an established star in the New South Wales First Division and national team, Muniz brought his experience and class to the NSL during the early years of the competition. A supremely skilful playmaker, Muniz could play anywhere in midfield and was a set piece specialist. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Muniz began playing street football at a young age before going to trial with Rio's biggest clubs. At the age of 12, Muniz was involved in a serious accident that saw...