By jimbo
July 26th 2008 @ 1:52am
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Mark Bosnich: the return of the troubled prodigal son
Mark Bosnich is going to turn out in goal for the Mariners on Sunday afternoon against Sydney FC. This will be his first professional football game since his dramatic fall from grace because of drugs and other poor life choices he’s made in the past.
The pre-season A-League match will probably not make front page headlines around the world, but the return of the native is a remarkable and inspirational story, not just for football lovers but also for all of us who have fathered a son and dreamed that one day he would become a famous sportsman.
Born in Fairfield, in Sydney’s West in 1972, Bosnich made his trial debut for Manchester United on free transfer from Sydney Croatia, but he wasn’t signed by United and moved to Aston Villa in 1992.
Bosnich won two Coca-Cola Cups with Villa, but found himself in trouble with the football authorities and became famous for making a Hitler salute during a game at Tottenham’s White Hart Lane.
However, the keeper’s form in goal was so good that he attracted the attention of Old Trafford boss Alex Ferguson. A dream return to United and a very lucrative professional contract followed.
Within weeks of moving back to Manchester, Bosnich was arrested after an incident at a lap-dancing club.
Then an unfortunate injury robbed him of his starting place and he lost the prized United keeper’s shirt to France custodian Fabien Barthez.
Bosnich fell out with Ferguson and he went to Chelsea in search of first-team football.
He started as first choice keeper at Stamford Bridge, but again after another injury setback, lost out to Carlo Cudicini.
Mark Bosnich then started to make headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Following a scathing attack on former boss Ferguson, Bosnich was admitted to medical care diagnosed as “suffering from severe clinical depression.”
In December 2002, came the bombshell that destroyed his Premiership career. A failed cocaine test ended his days at Chelsea. He was banned for nine months and at that point he made no attempt to reform or to try and resurrect his professional football career.
He admitted to the cocaine addiction, which had spiralled into shameful drug abuse, depression and tawdry tabloid tales of video sex romps, along with a destructive relationship with English supermodel Sophie Anderton, after walking out on his then pregnant wife.
Also revealed a few years later was the attempted murder of his father, who he had held in a headlock and pointed a pistol at his forehead. Bosnich claimed he thought his father was a burgular, but his father said that he knew he was there.
Bosnich was high on cocaine.
That was the turning point.
As Bosnich had grown into a man, his father had been very proud of how he had realised his dream of helping his much-loved son leave the suburbs of western Sydney to become the world’s best young goalkeeper, with unlimited potential and the chance of millions in earnings.
The same son who almost shot and killed him.
The turnaround was so complete that now the father’s challenge was to still love the son, and the son’s challenge was to change his life and to receive that love.
Bosnich’s dad didn’t abandon him; he worked very hard to help him get his life back together. He worked very hard to get the family back together. It’s been a long hard road for all concerned and it wasn’t going to be easy.
Six years after Mark’s last professional football game in the English Premier League, his father’s beloved son will run out on Bluetongue stadium to play professional football once again.
After all they’ve been through together, the father will undoubtedly look on at his prodigal son with even greater pride than ever before.
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(15)
Joe FC said | July 26th 2008 @ 1:32pm | Report comment
great article jimbo.
As any parent knows its not always easy to love one’s children. Like just about everyone else I desparately hope it all works out for Bosnich. However the real world is a long way from the Holywood dream factory that would give us a happy ending. Ideally Mark & all others will just take one game at a time – & just maybe there will be some redemption.
Midfielder said | July 26th 2008 @ 1:51pm | Report comment
Joe well said
Koala Bear said | July 26th 2008 @ 6:59pm | Report comment
Jimbo,
(Midfielder no more Mr nice Koala) … PS does anyone know who the executive.koala is..? I’m scared to ask if he is a relation… 
another good piece and good luck to the Bos … but I hope Brosque puts 6 past him tonight..
~~~~~~~
KB
Midfielder said | July 26th 2008 @ 10:03pm | Report comment
Kb
Re the six goals ………. remember the doctor said the blue pills not the pink ones.
jimbo said | July 27th 2008 @ 11:36am | Report comment
Its been tough for Bos, but a lot of people don’t realise what the rest of his family has been through, particularly hs father, to get him back to where he is.
Its great that he’s got the personal mental strength, as well as losing weight and getting phyically fit, to get back into the action.
He did admit that he would be very nervous today, and that’s a good thing, he is human after all.
He has said that he will take one day at a time and jumping back into the unreal hype of the premier league would probably send him back over, especially if he was far away from all his support people and family. I think he’ll do OK and choose to stay in th A-League for the season.
The mariners are a progressive club and always take the outside of the square risks. Good luck to them.
Pity they can’t win a Golden Toilet Seat and will suffer another loss today against the born again FC.
Midfielder, the pink ones taste better with a beer.
jimbo said | July 27th 2008 @ 9:51pm | Report comment
What a spectacular return to top-flight football by Mark Bosnich after a nearly seven year absence, saving a penalty and making some brilliant saves to help the Marinators beat Silly FC 3-0 today.
He couldn’t have wished for a better start to his new professional football life.
I think the Mariners have found their short term replacement for Danny boy and the way Mark is going he will take over the keeper’s spot and keep Danny on the bench.
I hope this isn’t going to lead to the start of Vukovic’s downward spiral into drug abuse.
Midfielder said | July 27th 2008 @ 10:10pm | Report comment
Jimbo
I was there he is an awesome keeper ……. so much presence on the park …… what a game even the Cove clapped him off.
I hope they signed him in the sheds tonight otherwise someone else will.
KB ……… KB ………. 3 nil ………..3 nil ……… 3 nil ………. get the doc to get the pink pills they will pick you up from the depresion you must be in. BTW your raw meat comment …….. thats what the Choppers looked like raw meat lol.
Elrich also ………. no where near best on park but he has touch that no other Marriner has ever had …….. but I hope the will to get back in burns deep.
jimbo said | July 27th 2008 @ 10:27pm | Report comment
Midfielder,
QPR were very impressed with Mark’s attitude and his turnaround when he trained with them recently and are very interested in how he went today, so they may put in the first bid.
Midfielder said | July 27th 2008 @ 11:17pm | Report comment
Jimbo
Without doubt Danny V is the Mariners fav player, but on our forum tonight someone posted Danny Who and no oned bagged him out.
Danny I am sure will go overseas sometime soon, and IMO will play for Australia he is the best keeper I have ever seen apart from Mark Sw. But Bozza tonight well words are hard to explain accept the Cove clapped him off after gaving him heaps all night.
Koala Bear said | July 28th 2008 @ 8:26am | Report comment
Midfielder,
Good luck to the bos and I hope he will continue his way back to top flight football.. btw what was the crowd attendance.?..
it just goes to show the kind of sportsmen we SFC supporter are, not to spoil the Bos’s return to top flight football. Rumour has it in the SFC kitchen the meat was tenderised and half cooked, which would explain a lot of what happen on Sunday night.. Full marks to the Bos tho and full marks to the Special One for taking a lenient position on Sunday night.. Kossie obviously has a special spot for the Bos in his heart as we all do and as there was nothing riding on Sunday’s match why not let the kid have his day…
~~~~~~~~~
KB
Westy said | July 28th 2008 @ 3:35pm | Report comment
Crowd for a PSM was good 7, 200 or thee abouts
Slippery Jim said | July 30th 2008 @ 5:20pm | Report comment
Congrats Jimbo on your nomination for the Roar Armchair Sports Writer Award 2008, you got my vote, and looks like so far you are on 60%! Well done.
jimbo said | July 30th 2008 @ 11:30pm | Report comment
Thanks Slippery,
the 10 bucks and half kilo of prawns is in the mail.
Didn’t even know I was nominated this week, last time I only got 10% of the vote and got flogged.
Look forward to voting for you in the near future.
Cheers
dasilva said | August 2nd 2008 @ 2:13pm | Report comment
Go Bozza. If he ever makes it back to EPL or back to Soccerroos then it must be the greastest comeback in Australian Football history and maybe our sporting history.
Towser said | August 4th 2008 @ 8:42am | Report comment
Saw Bozza yesterday against the Roar.
Sat just behind the CCM bench.
Watched him off the pitch & on it.
This guy IS back.