Bugsy Nyskohus

NSL Career: Adelaide City 301 (4) / 1977 - 1989

Socceroos Career: 3 (0) A Internationals / 2 (0) B Internationals

In the time before Milan Ivanović arrived in Adelaide, Bogdan 'Bugsy' Nyskohus was Adelaide City's sensational defender. Playing as a sweeper or right-back, Nyskohus became the first NSL player to reach the 300-game mark. One of the most durable and consistent footballers to ever play club football in Australia, Nyskohus was already a vastly experienced defender in the South Australian State League before becoming an inspirational leader for Adelaide City during the first half of the NSL era.

Born in South Australia to Ukrainian immigrants, Nyskohus played junior football for Adelaide club USC Lions with brothers John and Peter. Making his first team debut in the South Australian State League Division One, Nyskohus became a regular in the side and won the West End Medal (later Sergio Melta Medal) in 1971 at the age of 21 before becoming the second-ever South Australian-born footballer to represent the Socceroos in 1972.

In 1974, at the age of 23, Nyskohus became player-coach of Lions up until the 1977 season when Adelaide City captain John Besir got injured late in the NSL season and Nyskohus filled in for the last six games of the season, joining younger brother John at the club. Nyskohus remained at the club and became a regular in the side during the 1978 season playing as a full-back, with Yugoslav defenders John Besir and Zoran Matić and Englishman Frank Lister occupying the central defensive positions. City finished 10th in the league and reached the NSL Cup Final as Nyskohus became one of the best defenders in the league.

During the 1979 season, Nyskohus played as a full-back and central defender with Besir in and out of the team, forward Jim Muir playing at the back and new signings Bobby Russell and Glen Dods staking their claims in the side. City narrowly missed out a Play-Off Series spot, finishing fifth, but went on to win the NSL Cup in which Nyskohus scored the equaliser and brother John scored the winner in the final against St. George.

Nyskohus played in every game of the 1980 and 1981 seasons, including City's round 16 match against Canberra in the 1981 season where Nyskohus was forced to replace injured keeper Peter Marshall after all of City's substitutions had already been made. Despite the club going through a tough time during the 1982 and 1983 seasons - as future City president Bob D'Ottavi, retiring veteran John Perin and former City keeper Bobby Ferguson held the reigns - Nyskohus was an integral part of the side in his early thirties.

Former coach Edmund Kreft returned to the club in 1984 and began to rebuild the side, utilising local talent such as Alex Tobin and Paul Shillabeer, which allowed Nyskohus to move in to a central role alongside Englishman Neville Flounders. Captain and the most experienced player at the club, Nyskohus was pivotal to the early stages of City's rebuild despite the club failing to qualify for the finals series in 1984 and 1985.

Nyskohus's former team mate Zoran Matić took over as coach in 1986 and implemented a possession-based style of play that turned the club around. City finished third in the Southern Conference and progressed to the two-legged grand final against Sydney Olympic where after going down one-nil in their home leg, the side won three-one in Sydney, with Nyskohus opening the scoring.

Guiding City to their first championship as captain, Nyskohus continued to perform admirably in his late thirties and converted the first penalty in City's 1987 Oceania Club Championship Final victory over New Zealand's Mount Wellington, which resulted in a penalty shoot-out. City's reign as Oceania's best club was short lived however as the club continued to build under Matić, finishing 10th in the 1987 season and narrowly missed out on the finals series in 1988, with Nyskohus playing in every game over the two seasons.

The 38 year old defender suited up for one last season in the NSL in 1989, making just six appearances as his successor from Yugoslavia Milan Ivanović cemented his place in the line-up. Nyskohus became the first NSL player to reach the 300-game mark as City went on to win the NSL Cup.

Nyskohus failed to make an appearance during their cup run and retired from the top flight at the end of the season at the age of 39 before returning to the South Australian top division to become player-coach of Beograd, finally hanging up the boots in his early forties.