Jason Petkovic

NSL Career: Adelaide City, Perth 300 (0) / 1993/94 - 2003/04

Socceroos Career: 15 (0) A Internationals / 1 (0) B International

The most durable and successful Western Australian keeper of the NSL era, Jason Petkovic kept a league record 112 clean sheets at a ratio of 2.68 games, averaged 10 clean sheets per season (highest average for keepers who played in more than two NSL seasons) and kept the second most clean sheets in a season (15) three times.

Petkovic started his career as a junior with Western Australian club Spearwood Dalmatinac, where he progressed though the ranks to make his Western Australian Premier League debut as a 18 year old. Petkovic began to get noticed after representing the WA state team and went for trials with EPL side Southampton and Norwegian giants Rosenborg, but eventually signed for NSL club Adelaide City as back-up to fellow Western Australian Robert Zabica.

The 21 year old keeper only managed three appearances in his debut season as Zabica was an integral part of City's 1993/94 championship-winning side. Zabica moved to back to Western Australia following a serious injury and Petkovic became City's number one for the 1994/95 NSL season. Petkovic immediately became one of the most reliable keepers in the league, keeping 11 clean sheets in 27 matches (including finals) as Adelaide City reached their fourth consecutive grand final - losing two-nil to Melbourne Knights at home.

The Western Australian keeper had an exceptional 1995/96 season: keeping 15 clean sheets in 37 league games, made his Socceroos debut and narrowly missed out on claiming his first NSL Keeper of the Year award as Melbourne Knights' Frank Juric kept 17 clean sheets (NSL record) and won the championship. 

Petkovic became only the second NSL keeper to win two Reusch Goalkeeper of the Year awards, winning the award in the 1996/97 and 1997/98 seasons before losing the award the following season to brother Michael who played for South Melbourne. Petkovic tried his luck with Scottish Premier League giants Rangers but couldn't gain a working visa and returned home to join Perth Glory in the NSL. Petkovic helped Perth top the ladder and reach the grand final in his first season, losing a penalty shoot-out to Wollongong where he saved a penalty from Wollongong midfielder Dino Mennillo.

Petkovic struggled for clean sheets during the 2000/01 season (eight in 30 appearances) despite Perth finishing third and reaching the elimination final. The 29 year old keeper returned to top form in the 2001/02 season - earning a Socceroos re-call and helped Perth reach the grand final (his third grand final appearance) in which they lost one-nil to Sydney Olympic.

The three-time NSL Grand Finalist made his final Socceroos appearance in the final of the 2002 Oceania Nations Cup before arguably experiencing the peak of his career. Perth became the dominant NSL side in the 2002/03 and 2003/04 seasons as Petkovic kept 30 clean sheets in 61 appearances, won back-to-back championships and claimed a joint-record third NSL Keeper of the Year Award (held the record with his brother).

Following the demise of the NSL, Petkovic signed his first overseas contract with Süper Lig club Konyaspor, playing 13 league games before returning to Perth for the inaugural A-League season where he went on to make 31 appearances and kept six clean sheets before hanging up the boots at the age of 36 at the end of the 2008/09 season.