Wally Savor

NSL Career: Sydney Croatia 165 (8) / 1984 - 1990/91

Socceroos Career: 23 (0) A Internationals / 15 (0) B Internationals

On the topic of Australia's greatest full-back of the 1980s, the conversation usually turns to Alan Davidson, or Graham "Flash" Jennings, who converted from winger to full-back early on his career to become the established Socceroos left-back of the 1980s. On the other side of the pitch however, Wally Savor had a similar story and was arguably more technical, defensively more sound and super consistent.

Born in Italy to Croatian parents, Savor moved to Australia with his parents only nine months after he was born. Introduced to the sport at an early age by his father who played in Italy, Savor didn't play club football until the age of 11 when he joined Marrickville Red Devils. Behind his team mates in terms of technical ability, Savor failed to get selected in Canterbury representative teams before moving to South Sydney Croatia as a 14 year old.

Playing as an attacker, Savor made his NSW Division One debut as an 18 year old during the 1978 season as the club finished minor premiers before losing two-one to Sutherland in the grand final. Croatia again finished minor premiers in 1979 before Savor moved to Riverwood for the 1981 season. Savor returned to Croatia and won back-to-back grand finals in 1982 and 1983.

In 1984, Croatia joined the NSL and Savor continued to play in an attacking role, with some stints at full-back. Savor was selected for the national team at the end of the season and was placed at right-back to cover Alan Davidson who was unavailable. Savor struggled in his international debut but spent more time in the full-back position - using his attacking experience to make clever one-two touch passes when going forward while developing his marking and tackling abilities.

Savor was a crucial part of the Croatia side that made consecutive Northern Conference Finals in 1985 and 1986 before Frank Arok brought him back in to the Socceroos fold where he became an ever-present member and permanent right-back. Savor had become a first class defender by 1988 - becoming arguably the best marker in Australia and was consistent at both club and international level.

Savor played in every game of Australia's Bicentennial Gold Cup campaign where they defeated Argentina four-one and lost the final to Brazil before playing in Croatia's 1988 NSL Grand Final defeat to Marconi, in which they lost a penalty shoot-out. Savor was subbed-off in the second half after tweaking a knee injury that had ruled him out of Australia's Seoul Olympics squad towards the end of the 1988 season.

The classy full-back returned to full fitness in 1989 and played in three of Australia's 1990 World Cup qualifying matches, including Australia's crucial match against Israel (ended in a one-all draw) that would have seen them progress to the CONMEBOL-OFC play-off against Colombia. Approaching his thirties, the Israel match was the last of Savor's international career as Croatia struggled in former Yugoslavian international Vedran Rožić's last season as player-coach, finishing outside the top five for the first time since 1984.

The veteran defender played in 17 of the first 18 games of the 1989/90 season before suffering a serious injury that kept him out of action until round 14 of the 1990/91 season. Savor managed to play six games during the season before hanging up his boots at age 32. Savor was selected in the club's 50th Anniversary All Stars team in 2008.