Mark Jankovics

NSL Career: St. George, Marconi 226 (100) / 1977 - 1986

Socceroos Career: 16 (0) A Internationals / 18 (2) B Internationals

One of the homegrown stars of the early era of the NSL, Mark Jankovics was a powerful striker who used his incredible pace and tall frame to blitz past opposing defenders and was one of the best headers of the ball in the NSL. Jankovics failed to score in a full international for Australia despite being one the most prolific goal scorers in the NSL but often stood-out for the national team as he brought the ball forward with stunning pace and skill and missed a number of international opportunities due to injury.

Born in Sydney to Hungarian parents, Jankovics began his junior career at local club Dundas United before joining Granville Warratah. In a short period of time, Jankovics moved from Granville to Marsfield (later Ryde Panthers) and then to Yugal where the Granville District representative was noticed by NSW Division One side St. George Budapest. 

Jankovics made his first team debut at the age of 17 in a squad full of Socceroos including St. George player-coach Johnny Warren. Following the 1975 season in which St. George won back-to-back championships, the club sent Jankovics and team mate John O'Shea to Europe to train with German clubs Hamburger SV and Werder Bremen as well as English giants Manchester United.

Upon returning to St. George for the 1976 pre-season, Jankovics made his full international debut in a one-nil win against New Zealand. Jankovics remained with St. George as they joined the Phillips Soccer League in 1977 and was part of a dangerous attacking trio along with Phil O'Connor and Neville Morgan.

At seasons end, Marconi signed the electric forward for $7,000 where he joined equally fast winger Peter Sharne and forward Berti Mariani up front. With former Serie A star Roberto Vieri pulling the strings in midfield, Marconi finished fourth in the 1978 season and reached the grand final of the inaugural Play-Off Series, losing four-two to Sydney City.

For the 1979 season, Marconi signed Essendon Croatia's Victorian State League star Eddie Krncevic, Canberra City's Socceroo midfielder Gary Byrne and star import Tony Henderson. Jankovics formed an unstoppable forward line with Krncevic and Sharne as Vieri was given more support in the midfield and created an abundance of chances for the lightning quick trio. Jankovics' impressive form at Marconi earned him his first Socceroos A call-up since 1976 and scored a combined 41 league goals with his attacking partners, winning the NSL Golden Boot as Marconi won the 1979 NSL Championship. 

As Australia only had two A internationals scheduled in 1979, Jankovics was a regular in the Socceroos side that played a number of B internationals - scoring against Polish club Wisła Kraków before running a New York Cosmos team, that included Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto, ragged as he set up the winner for Marconi team mate Tony Henderson in Australia's two-one victory.

In 1980, Jankovics scored the winner in Australia's B international against Serie A giants AC Milan and became a Socceroos A regular. Marconi finished fourth in the NSL as Jankovics finished runner-up in the golden boot standings to Heidelberg's Gary Cole and scored a combined 37 league goals with Krncevic and Sharne. 

Marconi went on to win the NSL Cup, winning the replay match three-nil against Heidelberg as Jankovics' header hit the crossbar and rebounded to Sharne for the third goal. Marconi were expected to be a top side once again in the 1981 season despite star playmaker Roberto Vieri returning to Italy to play for Prato in Serie C as Les Scheinflug was replaced by Argentine coach Raúl Blanco.

Despite Marconi possessing a number of Socceroos, Vieri's absence was felt as the club's dynamic attacking trio failed to hit their marks, scoring a combined 16 goals (out of Marconi's 23) as the club ended the season in 14th place. The 36 year old Vieri returned to Marconi for the 1982 season as Krncevic left for Europe and Sharne made a record-breaking move to Hong Kong. The club signed experienced European coach Domagoj Kapetanović who helped turn the club around slightly as Jankovics became the main attacking threat in the absence of Krncevic and Peter Sharne, and scored 12 goals in 22 league games as Marconi finished 10th.

Marconi struggled again during the 1983 season under Doug Collins and caretaker coach Tony Henderson, who fielded an inexperienced side as the 27 year old Jankovics became one of the last surviving players from the 1979 championship squad. Sharne had moved to APIA and young Rod Brown partnered Jankovics in attack as the club finished ninth.

 Despite lacking his consistent form in front of goals, Jankovics was part of Australia's 1983 Merlion Cup winning side. In 1984, Les Scheinflug returned to Marconi and Jankovics returned to his best, splitting his time in a midfield role as young forwards Rod Brown and David Lowe scored a combined 30 goals (including finals). 

Marconi reached the Northern Conference Minor Semi-Final where Jankovics scored a last minute equaliser in extra time to take the game to a penalty shoot-out, which APIA won four-three. Fit as ever, Jankovics went through a purple patch during the 1985 season, scoring 15 goals in 18 league games. Jankovics again scored a late equaliser in extra time of the Northern Conference Minor Semi-Final to take the game to a penalty shoot-out where Marconi won and advanced to the conference final (losing two-nil to Sydney City).

Jankovics returned from injury in round nine of the 1986 season but managed only seven appearances during the season as injuries persisted. Jankovics managed to play in Marconi's elimination final against Sydney City where he scored his 100th NSL goal - becoming the third player to do so - before Marconi lost their minor semi-final to Sydney Olympic.

Injuries caught up to the striker who decided to hang up his boots at the age of 30 prior to the start of the 1987 season, as Frank Farina and Zlatko Nastevski arrived at the club. Jankovics was selected in Marconi's Greatest XI ahead of forwards such as Farina, Lowe, Krncevic and Andy Harper.