As dawn breaks across European football seasons, Aussie soccer hero Harry Kewell says more Australians need to be playing in the upper echelons of European football.
There are plenty of young Australian players who would love to play in the northern hemisphere. Some are showing great signs of being the next euro generation.
Here are 5 national players who have the potential to make waves in Europe.
Sebastian Pasquali – 17 Years Old, Jong Ajax
The former Melbourne Victory only gave A-League viewers the finest of the glimpses at his talent before he was whisked away to one of the best academies in the world: Ajax. The Dutch club: renowned for their ability to create superstars such as Patrick Kluivert, Clarence Seedorf and Christian Eriksen, poached Pasquali after just two A-League appearances for the Melbourne Victory.
The Wangaratta-born central midfielder in the FFA Cup Round of 16 last August to make his official debut for the side, and then made his A-League debut two months later when he came on for Fahid Ben Khalfallah in the Melbourne derby. Able to deal with high pressure situations, gifted with a fleet foot and expert dribbling ability, he contributed an assist for Marco Rojas’ goal in just his second game, and enjoys the responsibility that comes with being his side’s creative outlet.
Having shone against Juventus for the Melbourne Victory in a friendly, it’s no surprise Pasquali has been courted by the 33 time Dutch Champions. The 17 year-old is currently playing for Ajax’s Second team – Jong Ajax, and has a lot to prove in a very competitive youth system. He’ll need to take the next step in his development and make it to Ajax’s first team if he’s to make good on that potential, but the fact he’s already made the move to the Netherlands is as good a sign as any that Pasquali is the real deal.
Jamie Maclaren – 24, SV Darmstadt
The former Brisbane striker takes up the mantle as the newest Socceroo to venture into the Bundesliga, following in the footsteps of Matthew Leckie, Robbie Kruse and Mitch Langerak after signing a three year deal with SV Darmstadt.
The Australian football public will be watching with keen interest as the young poacher makes waves in Germany’s 2. Bundesliga. He’ll likely be deployed up front for a side that was starved of goals last season, and many will hope that Maclaren’s development under Torsten Frings could reap benefits on the national stage.
Maclaren, who starred for Brisbane Roar – with a phenomenal scoring record of 40 times in 53 appearances – tied with Melbourne Victory’s Besart Berisha for last season’s Golden Boot, and now seeks to bring that “fox-in-the-box” goalscoring talent to Germany. With a slight essence of Mark Viduka about him – though less physically imposing and more athletic – Maclaren is the likeliest of the Australian talents to make waves in Europe in the next year or two.
Danny de Silva – 20, Central Coast Mariners
Once Australia’s brightest young talent, the Perth-born winger is a victim of poor management; which lead to the most promising move for an Australian footballer in recent memory – his proposed move to AS Roma at age 18 – collapse after Perth Glory didn’t receive the first part of the $2.5 million transfer fee they’d agreed with the Italian club.
He then moved to Roda JC in the Dutch Eredevisie on a two-year loan deal, which was cut short by six months after de Silva made 16 appearances in the space of 18 months. The dynamic attacking midfielder moved to Central Coast Mariners following his failed venture into Europe – but was a victim of mismanagement more than anything, taking away from his superb talent.
He’s now returned to Australia with the Central Coast Mariners, and if he shows the same form he displayed after debuting at 15 years old for his hometown club, he’ll be back in Europe in no time.
Brandon O’Neill – 23, Sydney FC
The young, commanding central midfielder went from being a bit-part benchwarmer at Perth to starring as a key cog in the most dominant A-League side ever. Deployed alongside Josh Brillante in Sydney FC’s midfield two, the Perth-native scored his first A-League goal in a Sydney derby with a sublime free kick, and scored another against Melbourne City five months later, but it’s his commandeering ability in the middle of the park which was so vital to Sydney’s dominance.
Given Aaron Mooy didn’t make his move to Manchester City – and subsequently Huddersfield – until he was 24 years of age, the 23 year-old still has time on his hands, and if his rise from questionable signing to midfield mainstay is anything to go by, he could well be a late-bloomer – one that doesn’t see Europe until nearing his prime, by which time he’s ready to explode onto the world stage.
Stefan Mauk – 21, Melbourne City (on loan from NEC)
Already given a taste of European competition, Mauk was frustrated by his nightmare stint at Dutch club NEC – where he had a manager who didn’t particularly want him. Frozen in limbo after being substituted halfway through the first game of the season, NEC’s now-former manager Peter Hyballa wanted players who’d grind out results and employ more defensive nous than attacking flair – something to which Mauk is the antithesis.
However, with NEC relegated to the Dutch second division and Mauk unsure of whether a new manager would want him, he opted to return to the club that gave him his start in Melbourne City on loan.
Mauk was critical to Adelaide United’s push towards their first ever A-League title, after he arrived from Melbourne City mid-season and scored three times in 13 appearances. It was that half-season with his hometown club that proved impressionable enough to get him a move to Europe, but with NEC proving unfruitful, Mauk will be hoping he can light up the A-League with that attacking flair in the #10 position, and earn himself another chance at lighting up Europe.
