Kimon Taliadoros

NSL Career: South Melbourne, Marconi, Sydney Olympic, Collingwood, Parramatta Power 243 (82) / 1987 - 2000/01

Socceroos Career: 4 (0) A Internationals / 5 (2) B Internationals

Skilful and clinical in front of goal, Kimon Taliadoros was an important figure in Australian football on and off the pitch during the 1990s. During his successful playing career, Taliadoros was instrumental in forming the first Australian footballers union, which would drive the national league towards professionalism.

Born in South Africa to a Greek-Cypriot father and Australian mother, Taliadoros immigrated to Australia at the age of 10 and spent his junior career at Box Hill. Taliadoros moved to NSL club South Melbourne in 1986 and played for the club's National Youth League side before making his NSL debut the following season at the age of 19.

The young forward had to bide his time at the club as South possessed talented attacking players such as Paul Trimboli, Danny Wright and Peter Tsolakis. Taliadoros scored a brace off the bench in his first appearance in the 1988 season and made eight appearances in total, including an appearance off the bench in South's minor semi-final loss to Marconi.

Taliadoros became a regular in the 1989 season and scored four goals in three games in South's NSL Cup run. Taliadoros became a key player for South in the 1989/90 season: sharing the club's top scorer award with Tsolakis (12 goals in 23 league games), scored the opening goal in South's NSL Cup Final victory over Sydney Olympic and was integral in South's run to the NSL Minor Semi-Final. 

A strong season for South saw Taliadoros earn an international debut for Australia in their 1990 Merlion Cup Final victory over Indonesia, before winning the 1990/91 NSL Championship with South in which he played in the grand final against Melbourne Croatia.

Out-scoring team mate Paul Trimboli - Taliadoros shared the NSL Golden Boot with Sydney Olympic's Hong Kong import Tim Bredbury in the 1991/92 season, scoring 15 goals in 23 league games, before helping South reach the preliminary final against Adelaide City. Taliadoros moved to Marconi for the 1992/93 season where he continued his strong goalscoring form and helped the club win their fourth NSL Championship, beating Adelaide City one-nil in the grand final.

In April 1993, the Australian Soccer Players' Association (later PFA) was formed - a pivotal and ground breaking union for player welfare and development of the sport. Inspired by Taliadoros's inadequate transfer to Marconi, which saw South Melbourne settle on a compensation fee for his release, the forward became the ASPA's first Chief Executive Officer.

Following his title winning season with Marconi, Taliadoros earned a re-call to the national team for the first time since 1990. Taliadoros remained at Marconi for a further two seasons where he missed out on consecutive preliminary final matches before moving to Sydney Olympic. During that time, Taliadoros helped the ASPA abolish the league's transfer and compensation fee system and became ASPA President. After a season with Olympic, Taliadoros joined new franchise club Collingwood Warriors as captain and provided the assist for Con Boutsianis's NSL Cup Final-winning goal. 

As ASPA President, Taliadoros was instrumental in the union establishing: a collective agreement with Soccer Australia (later FFA) that allowed experienced players free agency, improved contracts and conditions for all players, the formation of the Players Commission (a committee of federation and state association representatives) and a five-year strategic plan to develop the NSL in to a professional league.

Taliadoros moved back to Sydney Olympic following the collapse of Collingwood but was unable to hold down his place in the side due to injuries and ASPA commitments. The veteran forward was replaced as ASPA President by NSL stalwart Alex Tobin before joining new franchise club Parramatta Power for the 1999/00 season. 

Taliadoros became the ASPA's first life member in 1999 and retired from the NSL before coming back for a short stint with Parramatta in the 2000/01 season, hanging up his boots at the age of 33. Taliadoros's post-playing career has seen him get involved in business ventures, football broadcasting and football administration roles.