Andrew Zinni

NSL Career: Brunswick, Preston 261 (63) / 1984 - 1994/95

Socceroos Career: 10 (3) A Internationals / 7 (3) B Internationals

A lively, technically gifted and lightning quick forward - Andrew Zinni grew up supporting Brunswick and later represented the club with distinction, becoming one of it's greatest players during the NSL era, as well as being a star for Preston. Zinni was the third Australian-born player to win the NSL Player of the Year award. 

Zinni started his junior career at Melbourne Hungaria and Hakoah St Kilda before moving to Port Melbourne. Playing alongside future NSL stars Mike Petersen, Mehmet Duraković, Peter Tsolakis and Joe Palatsides - Zinni had a very successful junior career - learning his craft from coaches such as Petersen's father Hans, who was once a star player in his own right.

The teenager attracted interest from Victorian State League club Brunswick Juventus and joined the club in the 1982 season, making his first team debut at the age of 17. Following his debut season, Zinni took up an offer to train with Italian Serie A club Roma's youth team before returning to Brunswick where he became a regular during the 1983 season as the club earned a place in the NSL's 1984 Southern Conference.

The 19 year old Zinni was a regular in Brunswick's debut NSL season and helped the side qualify for the finals series where they lost the elimination final to Brisbane Lions four-two. The former Port Melbourne quartet of Zinni, Petersen, Duraković and Palatsides came together for Brunswick in the 1985 season - where the more experienced Zinni and Petersen starred for Brunswick and helped the side finish second in the Southern Conference.

Zinni chipped Heidelberg keeper Jeff Olver to open the scoring in the qualifying final before sustaining a quad injury that would see him miss the rest of the season as Brunswick went on to defeat Sydney City two-nil on aggregate in the grand final to win their first (and only) NSL Championship. 

Zinni returned the following season and went through a purple patch, scoring 11 goals in 14 games as he helped Brunswick finish minor premiers of the Southern Conference. Brunswick reached the Southern Conference Preliminary Final before making his full international debut for Australia in their two-legged Trans-Tasman Cup clash against New Zealand, scoring the winning goal in the second leg. 

With Paul Wade moving to South Melbourne, Mike Petersen moving to the Netherlands to join Ajax and goal scorer Joe Sweeney returning to the Victorian State League, Zinni was left to carry the hopes of Brunswick's 1987 season. The club missed out on the finals series for the first time, finishing eighth, however Zinni was a standout and was named NSL Player of the Year. Brunswick continued to decline in the 1988 season, finishing second-to-last and getting relegated to the Victorian State League, but were able to reach the NSL Cup Final where they lost to APIA five-three in a penalty shoot-out.

Following Brunswick's relegation, Zinni moved to Preston, where former Yugoslav First League coach Andon Dončevski took the reigns and moved Zinni in to a midfield role behind talented strikers John Markovski and Warren Spink. Preston finished fifth and qualified for the finals series for the first time since 1985, but were knocked out in the elimination final by Melbourne Croatia.

Markovski left Preston at the end of the season and Zinni moved back in to an attacking position and had a strong 1989/90 season which led to a Socceroos re-call, scoring the third goal in Australia's 1990 Merlion Cup Final win over Indonesia. Preston struggled with consistency during the 1990/91 season, finishing eighth, but reached the NSL Cup Final which Zinni missed through injury, losing one-nil to Melita. Zinni spent another two seasons at the club as they fell to the bottom of the ladder with crowd trouble costing them points, which led to their relegation to the Victorian Premier League at the end of the 1992/93 season. 

With Preston relegated from the league, Zinni rejoined Brunswick, who gained entry to the NSL for the first time since the 1988 season. Despite playing some of his best football, Zinni's experience couldn't help the side regain the kind of form that made them champions in the 1980s as the club were relegated back to the Victorian Premier League at the end of the 1994/95 season. 

Zinni represented Thomastown Zebras, an amalgamation between Brunswick and Thomastown Devils in the 1996 Victorian Premier League season. Zinni scored 14 goals in 16 games for Thomastown before hanging up his boots at the age of 31. Zinni's son Stefan became a footballer and has played for A-League clubs Melbourne City and Western Sydney Wanderers.