Goran Lozanovski

NSL Career: Preston, Adelaide City, Collingwood, South Melbourne, Adelaide United 254 (27) / 1991/92 - 2003/04

Socceroos Career: 9 (0) A Internationals

One of the classiest Australian midfielders of the 1990s and early 2000s, Goran Lozanovski was pivotal in helping his clubs reach the finals series in eight of his 12 seasons in the NSL. A true playmaker, Lozanovski was one of the most technical players in the NSL - good with both feet, had a stinging shot, was an accurate crosser and a free-kick specialist.

Lozanovski spent his entire junior career at Altona Gate (later Altona Magic) before earning a scholarship to the AIS Soccer Program at the age of 16. Following his time at the AIS, Lozanovski joined NSL club Preston and made his first team debut at the age of 18 in their round 19 victory over West Adelaide during 1991/92 season. 

The young midfielder only managed three appearances in his first season and 15 in his second season while juggling Young Socceroos commitments. Lozanovski moved to Adelaide City after Preston were relegated to the Victorian Premier League at the end of the 1992/93 season. Adapting to City's pragmatic style of play, Lozanovski developed in to a talented playmaker and played every game of the season as City defeated Melbourne Knights courtesy of a wonder goal by Damian Mori to win the grand final. 

Lozanovski continued to improve as City went toe-to-toe with Knights during the 1994/95 season, falling one point behind the Victorian club in the minor premiership race. The two teams again reached the grand final where Lozanovski was on the losing end this time as Knights won two-nil.

The 21 year old became the architect of the City side during the the 1995/96 season, missing only one league game and made his full international debut in a friendly against Japan. Lozanovski missed out on City's finals series as the side reached the preliminary final before representing the Olyroos at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics where he came off the bench in Spain's come-from-behind win in the last game of the group stage.

City coach Zoran Matić left the club at the end of the season and went on to coach Collingwood Warriors in their inaugural NSL season (1996/97), bringing Lozanovski along with him. At Collingwood, Lozanovski joined a star-studded midfield that included City team mate Carlo Talladira and was part of the side that won the NSL Cup, defeating Marconi in the final. 

After a disappointing season, Collingwood folded and Lozanovski moved on to South Melbourne. Lozanovski scored a brilliant goal from outside the box in his first game for South and became one of the stars of the NSL as the club became the dominant force in the league under young coach Ange Postecoglou. 

Lozanovski played in South's winning grand final against Carlton where he hit an incredible free-kick from 40m out that unfortunately smashed the crossbar.  Lozanovski's brilliance with both feet kept the South engine firing in the 1998/99 season and won the Joe Marston Medal in the club's back-to-back grand final victory over Sydney United.

As NSL champions, South qualified for and won the 1999 Oceania Club Championship, which led to the club's inclusion in the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship where Lozanovski played against 1998 Copa Libertadores winners Vasco da Gama and 1998 UEFA Championship League winners Manchester United.

 South dropped form during Postecoglou's last season at South (1999/00) but returned to the top of the ladder the following season under another ex-South champion in Mike Petersen. Lozanovski came off the bench in the 65th minute of the 2000/01 NSL Grand Final (his fifth grand final appearance) and with a trademark bending free kick found South's grand final specialist John Anastasiaidis (scored in South's two previous grand finals), whose header brought the game back to two-one (consolation goal).

After failing to complete a move to German club Arminia Bielefeld during the 1998/99 season, Lozanovski finally realised his dream of playing overseas when he signed for 2.Bundesliga side Alemannia Aachen for the 2001/02 season. The 27 year old midfielder joined fellow Australian Mark Rudan at the club and played the first 12 games of the season before both players were unfairly put in the middle of a financial corruption scandal involving Aachen's treasurer. 

Following his clearance from the scandal and dissension with coach Jörg Berger, who replaced Eugen Hach early in the season, Lozanovski trialled with lower division clubs in England and Germany before returning to Australia to join Adelaide City for the 2002/03 NSL season.

Lozanovski helped City reach the finals series in what would be their last ever season in the NSL and almost reached the grand final, falling two points behind Sydney Olympic in the 10-round Championship Series. Ending his three-year City contract early to continue playing in the top flight, Lozanovski joined the newly formed Adelaide United in the last season of the NSL and helped the club reach the finals series.

The 30 year old returned to state league football as he was unable to maintain the physical demands of top flight football - firstly with South Australian side Western Strikers, before returning to Melbourne to play for junior club Altona Magic and then Heidelberg. In the 2006 season, Lozanovski became coach of former club Preston and made two cameo appearances for the side before hanging up his boots at the age of 34.