Kevin Mullen

NSL Career: Sydney City 132 (5) / 1977 - 1983

Socceroos Career: 3 (0) A Internationals / 5 (0) B Internationals

Kevin Mullen was one of the toughest Australian full-backs of the 1970s and early 1980s, whose overlapping runs and high work rate contributed greatly to Sydney City's incredible success over a decade in the NSW State League and the early era of the NSL. 

Starting his junior career at Bankstown, Mullen joined Sydney Hakoah's junior ranks in 1968 and struggled to break in to the first team as the club regularly finished minor premiers in the NSW Division One. As part of the club's youth initiative, Mullen joined team mates Murray Barnes and Graham Brown as apprentices at top English First Division side Leeds during 1972. 

Returning to Hakoah, Mullen eventually worked his way in to the first team and was on the bench in the club's 1974 NSW Division One Grand Final loss to St George. Following the grand final loss, Mullen made his full international debut for Australia in a friendly against Hong Kong in 1976 before winning the Rothmans Cup with Hakoah. 

Hakoah became a Phillips Soccer League foundation club in 1977 when Mullen became a regular in the side as they won the inaugural championship. Holding down the right-back spot during the 1978 season in which Hakoah finished runners-up to West Adelaide, Mullen played in the side's Play-Off Series Grand Final win against Marconi.

Mullen initially lost his spot to Alan Kershaw in the early part of the 1979 season but bounced back to keep the position during the season and earned his first Socceroos call-up since 1976, playing in five B internationals against North American Soccer League side New York Cosmos and Chinese club sides. The hardworking full-back helped Sydney City (formerly Hakoah) finish third in the league before playing in consecutive Play-Off Series Grand Finals in which City defeated Brisbane City two-one on aggregate.

Following the 1979 season, Mullen earned his first full international cap since 1976 in a friendly against Taiwan. City's experienced Scottish defender Eddie Thomson became player-coach of the side in the 1980 season and led the club to it's second NSL Championship as Mullen earned the last of his eight Socceroos caps during the season.

Mullen played in City's Play-Off Series Grand Final in which they lost four-nil to Heidelberg before suffering an injury in the off-season that saw miss the first 10 rounds of the 1981 season. Upon returning from injury, Mullen cemented his spot in the side as City won back-to-back championships. During the 1982 season, Mullen missed nine league games but was a regular towards the back end of the season as City became the first (and only) club to win a three-peat of PSL Championships.

Following the championship season, Mullen played in City's fourth consecutive Play-Off Series Grand Final, losing three-one to St George. Mullen went on to make just 10 league appearances during the 1983 season due to injury and competition for spots before being let go by the club prior to the 1984 season and hung up his boots at the age of 30.