One of Australian football’s quiet achievers and a hero of the 2006 World Cup campaign, Mile Sterjovski, has announced his decision to retire at the end of the current A-League season.
The Mariners forward is 34 years old and will turn 35 in May. He has made more than 100 appearances in the A-League for Perth Glory and Central Coast, and played 60 games in the NSL.
43 caps for the Socceroos, seven for the Young Socceroos and seven for the Joeys. A career that went from Illawarra to successful spells in France’s Ligue 1, the Swiss Super League, Turkey’s Super Lig and the English Premier League.
Sterjovski made his Socceroo debut back in 2000 under Frank Farina. He was never a star or a big-name in a team that had Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Mark Bosnich and others.
He was the steady, dependable one. Technically good, versatile and with a smart football brain. He was effective on the wing, in midfield or off a main striker.
He quickly became an indispensable part of Farina and his successors Guus Hiddink and Pim Verbeek’s Australian teams.
Reliable, hard-working, talented: that was Mile Sterjovski.
He never sought the limelight and rarely received it. But all through his near 20-year career he achieved, he never let anyone down. It was a case of ignore him and disrespect him at your own peril.
‘Sterj’ had a knack for scoring important goals for club and country.
See this effort against Ghana in 2008.
The way he reads the play, wins the ball and finishes with intent. That was Sterjovski to a tee. Always lurking, ready to pounce, to play a killer pass or shoot.
In his 43 games for Australia the forward scored eight goals. He’s notched 19 in his A-League stint, over 30 in his NSL days as well as 15 for Lille and 10 for FC Basel.
For someone who has played more in midfield than up front, it’s an impressive haul.
Sterjovski’s career has had more highlights than most – a grand final last season with the Mariners, a Swiss Super League title with FC Basel, a minor premiership and a grand final appearance in 1999 with Sydney United.
But perhaps his peak came with the Socceroos famous 2006 World Cup run in Germany. He started in three of Australia’s four games at that tournament.
In a team stuffed with talent – from Tim Cahill, Mark Bresciano and Jason Culina to Brett Emerton and Vince Grella – the Wollongong boy was a regular.
Sterjovski played 90 minutes against Brazil, 71 minutes against Croatia and 81 minutes against Italy. In what many say is the Socceroos greatest-ever team, that is some feat.
Solid, a model professional, a team player, that was Sterjovski.
Football journalist Ray Gatt broke the news of the 34-year old’s decision to call time on his career, and he tweeted #ThanksMile in attempt to get it trending. It is the least this faithful servant to the Socceroos deserves.
Thanks Mile for proudly flying the flag for Australian football, both home and abroad for club and country.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
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