I was sipping some green tea inside my favourite Japanese tea house the other day, when the conversation turned to a familiar topic: namely who should be Japan’s new coach.
My mate Taka owns the joint and when he suggested Dragan Stojkovic, I almost snorted kukicha out my nostrils and all over his flashy new counter.
Stojkovic is a living legend in Japan, and the former Yugoslavia skipper is currently attempting to lead his beloved Nagoya Grampus to a first ever J. League title as coach.
But while ‘Piksi’ is an expert man motivator, he lacks the kind of tactical nous required to develop young players into top talents at international level.
So why does Stojkovic’s name come up every time someone mentions Japanese football?
The answer is because he made a real mark on the J. League, overshadowing Gary Lineker as Nagoya’s greatest ever player.
Stojkovic’s legacy left me wondering which A-League players will leave a similar mark on the competition in years to come.
The fact we still talk about Dwight Yorke’s impact on Sydney FC some five seasons after the Sky Blues first lifted the title suggests that truly influential players on the league have been few and far between.
I watched every home game from the Sydney Football Stadium in the Sky Blues’ debut winning season, and there’s no doubt that Yorke was a vital component of coach Pierre Littbarski’s successful side.
Another player I believe has left an indelible mark on the league is Kevin Muscat, so it’s real a shame the Melbourne Victory talisman so consistently embroils himself in unnecessary off-the-ball feuds.
His recent stoush with Eric Akoto was as ugly as it was unnecessary, and even if the Fury defender was wrong to shove Muscat to the ground, surely the former Socceroos hard man should be big enough not to have to bait players throughout every game.
His team-mate Archie Thompson has had a more positive effect in his guise as a regular goalscorer over the years, and like his now retired Sydney FC counterpart Steve Corica, Thompson has proved a real success since his return from Europe.
But what of the rest of the teams, including the A-League’s only other champions Newcastle Jets?
I thought Matt Thompson bore all the hallmarks of a champion player with the Novocastrians, so here’s hoping he can continue his personal development down south at Melbourne Heart.
The Glory have also had numerous star players over the years, and although veteran Jamie Harnwell continues to do the job at both ends for the Western Australian side, surely owner Tony Sage is looking for Robbie Fowler to leave an impression on his success-starved club?
Travis Dodd is another player I have a tremendous amount of time for – even if the Adelaide United flyer is incredibly injury-prone – while Brisbane Roar captain Matt McKay is yet another who could etch his name into the history books.
Yet, while those mentioned are all solid professionals, they’re not exactly in the same ilk as the likes of Stojkovic, Zico or Dunga.
And that’s surely where the much-maligned marquee policy has failed, given that the foreign stars who turned out in the early days of the J. League helped influence the likes of Toshiya Fujita, Yutaka Akita and Masashi Nakayama to become legendary players in their own right.
It’s still early days, of course, and there’s plenty of time for the current generation of A-League players to earn their place in the pantheon of Australian football heroes.
But I’m interested to hear who you think will rise to the challenge, as we seek out some heroes to be remembered in the same reverential tones as the great Piksi Stojkovic is in his adopted homeland Japan.
Greg Russell
Roar Guru
"Which A-League players will leave a legacy?" Mike, I put much the same question to myself about a year ago, and the answer seems blindingly obvious: Kevin Muscat (as you say) is the standout defender of the A-League's history, while Archie Thompson is the stand-out goal-scorer. This is not to say that at any instant they have been the best at their particular sort of work. Rather, it's just to say that for sheer consistency and excellence of performance over a very long period, they stand head and shoulders above all others. I don't think there has been a midfielder or a goalkeeper who has had an impact as great as the two Melbourne players, nevertheless for completeness you might want to nominate the best in these categories over the A-League's history. If I had to choose between Muscat and Thompson for greatest I would go for Muscat. He may not be a good example in terms of behavior, but in terms of professionalism, will to win, making the absolute most out of one's talent, and dedication to the A-League cause, one could not recommend a better role model for young Australian A-League players. FOOTNOTE: I just saw that Axel V has written much the same as me!
Midfielder
Guest
mahony There are two Kevin's ... Saint Kevin when he plays good .... but there is also Devil Kevin and he comes out a lot ... actually it is a shame because he has a bit of quality but will always be remembered for the devil things not the saintly things...
JB
Guest
Are you kidding about Muscat leaving a legacy on the game? He's the biggest thug in the game, and absolute disgrace to the league. Many players are hated because of their brillaince, he is hated because he is a dirty, unsportsmanlike thug. He gets away with it though every single game. He's a blight on the game and if he's held in such high esteem by you, i think you've got problems. You can play hard and fair, Muscat only seems capable of thuggishness and backchatting, and sledging. Not a champion of the game at all.
Midfielder
Guest
Mike a great talking point.... My tops are York as the number one... he was great on the park and even better off the park... In the Sydney V Erveton match I saw what we had missed he just has great touch passes well .... Number two by a whisker is Hernandez ... more because he has stayed but he is a very skillful player... Number three is Fred ... what a player was just a class above everyone that year... A player of huge class that almost carried the Jets was Milton Rodríguez only Fred was better as a play maker IMO... Of the home grown lads.... for me Jedi & Burns who came into the A-League with little prior experience and are both making their careers in Europe...add of course the Brisbane boys developed by Farina who never got the credit he deserved for identifying and developing these kids Oar, Vidosic, Zullo Of the older players is Steve Corirca, he played the ball passed well and was by and large a clean player very much under rated by the media but ask a SFC fan and they would tell you his value... Archie as well very constant... Of the home grown not returning from Europe I think Travis Dodd always get the crown on their feet... However this year I have seen two players who have the potential to bring in crowds just to see them in Perez OMG ... the best comment I can say from the Mariners fans forum from a poster who is very hard on players he posted ...Perez = believe the hype .... and Flores I saw him at Bluetouge in his first game after injury ... man he is scarie good... these two players are a class above any players I have ever seen in the league ... There are a hoist of young players coming through that will also leave their mark... All is good at the moment ....
jaymz
Guest
i hear david trezuguet is leaving Juve.... He is one person who could be truly influencial in the A-league given his reputation, fame, and skills (he is still not a bad player). On top of this he would bring alot of the Euro snobs to games ala Robbie Fowler
Midfielder
Guest
After his brief appearance tonight i would say Patricio Perez
David V.
Guest
Hernandez is arguably a better player than Fred. But the two are different. Fred is more a box-to-box type player.
Fisher Price
Guest
He's an out-and-out thug and he exhibits this on a regular basis. Take your blinkers off.
Axel V
Guest
Fred was as influential as Yorke on the field, but off the field he was extremely quiet, too quiet! And no disrespect to Fred, but without Archie, how much of his creativity would have resulted in goals? :P Amazing effort by both players in the Grand Final, Fred didn't get enough credit for his input, although DC United certainly recognised it!
Rusty0256
Guest
The other player that stands out along with Yorke as a brief 'shooting star' of the A-League is the indomitable Fred; every bit as influential in Year 2 as Yorke was in Year 1. And with no disrespect to Archie, just how many of those 5 Thompson Grand Final goals would have been scored without Fred's precise flicks and passes, a joy to behold and missed to this day by all Victory fans.
mahony
Guest
I make no such claim – and your amateur ‘verballing’ wont cut it around here. I make a simple comparison between the game style of Muscat and many other defenders in the league. You are just repeating tired old clichés about a player I suspect you have never taken a moment to actually observe. The hysteria around Muscat is bordering on the obscene and is increasingly being seen for what it is - petty jealousy.
Rhys
Guest
Are you serious? Your eyes must be painted on if you think Muscat is an angel. There is a reason why he is one of the most hated footballers in Australia, Scotland and England.
mahony
Guest
I have not seen Kevin Muscat do anything that many other players do week-in-week-out (bar his penchant for the theatrical). All you are doing here is trash talking a very accomplished player for both club and country because it is popular - plain and simple. I, for example, have never taken the rhetorical blow-tourch to John Aloisi - despite there being plenty of parochial temptation given his Sydney FC past, horrible run of form etc…. Muscat deserves the loyalty he gets from Melbourne fans and anyone else who can take a sober look at him as one of the great characters of Australian footballer - and not just an evil pantomime character.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
I'll fight fire with fire here, mahony. I'm not a "self confessed Euro Snob," I attend plenty of A-League games and I've already admitted that Muscat has left an indelible mark on the competition. I understand your parochialism, but it seems to have clouded your judgement on the issue - that being that for many Australians Muscat's penchant for thuggery diminishes his overall standing in the game.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
Much maligned (by many!) from the point of view that clubs haven't always signed the right players, because of poor judgement or bad luck or whatever. Mario Jardel. An injury-prone Juninho. Ricardinho(!). Not every marquee signing has proved a shrewd investment.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
You make a great point about Carlos Hernandez (and kudos to Pete for mentioning him as well). I left out the Costa Rican because I think his best is yet to come (and because I'd already included two other Melbourne Victory players) but I definitely see him as one of the players we'll remember from the earliest years of the A-League.
Axel V
Guest
I think the greatest impacts is usually measured by success and popularity. Dwight Yorke was amazing in the first season of the A-League and brought to himself alot of attention, former first team Man Utd striker etc. However he only won 1 trophey and stayed for 1 year. The other 2 standouts as you've mentioned have been Muscat and Thompson, they have helped Melbourne win 4 major A-League tropheys. And neither of them are yet retired, they could have easily made it 6 last year were it not for some bad luck and better chances taken. Hernandez despite only being here for 3 years has had a much bigger impact than Corica, and he has been scoring goals on top of his amazing touches/passing! I don't think that you can put Corica in the same category because, despite him being exceptional for Sydney FC, He missed out on the 2010 premiership decider and Grand Final due to injury. The A-League is still young, but Muscat and Thompson will have to go down as some of the early greats of this new competition. I still can't wait for the day where Australia has a consistant ACL presence. That will be taking it to the next level. Imagine the first real Treble winners etc!
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
You may be a bit sensitive there, Mahony. I think Whiskeymac was saying that he does have the support and hence embodies the concept of a player that will leave a legacy at the club. EDIT: Hang on, I'm confused now. Are you discussing Whiskeymac, who was supporting Muscat, or Mike, who is an Asia-phile?
Rob Gremio
Roar Pro
Eurosnob? I think you'll find Mike is way more a fan of Asian football that that. And what Eurosnob would have watched every home game of season 1 of the A-League. And on Muscat, he is a thug. He's been a great player for Victory, no question, but that dosn't mean he isn't a thug. Sure, fans in Melbourne love him (and Mike even says as much, arguing he would fit the legend bracket), but the complaint is his thuggery, his cheap shots, his constant need to harass everyone including the referee. Just because he doesn't like your hero (and let's face it, most people outside of Melbourne don't like Muscat), it doesn't mean he's a Eurosnob. There was absolutely zero Eurosnobbery in this article, Mahony. Take another look.
TomC
Guest
'Much-maligned marquee policy'? Come on, thats ridiculous. Much maligned by who? There has been broad support for having marquees, and most of the debate seems to focus around whether to expand the system further, rather than cut it out.