A teenager playing his first A-League match will captain Gold Coast United against Melbourne Heart on Friday night.
Australian under 17 striker Mitch Cooper will lead what will be one of the youngest ever A-League outfits at AAMI Park – at the personal request of billionaire Gold Coast owner Clive Palmer.
Cooper will stand in for suspended skipper Michael Thwaite.
Palmer said the 17-year-old’s ascent to the top job was a symbolic gesture to show Gold Coast’s commitment to young talent.
“Mitch is a great young player and deserves his chance,” Palmer said in a statement.
“We want to promote our young players and give them opportunities.
“Mitch Cooper is the latest addition to a long list of players who have broken through to the senior side this season.”
Another teenager, midfielder Jake Barker-Daish, is also set to make his A-League debut against the Heart.
Bottom side Gold Coast have relied on youth all season after deciding not to give players anything longer than one-year contracts going into this season.
Coach Miron Bleiberg said the role of Cooper, who will be 17 years and 152 days old on game-day, would be a purely symbolic one.
More experienced players, including defender Kristian Rees and striker Maceo Rigters, would be able to lend a hand.
“Giving him the armband symbolises some of the positives from this season in that young players have taken a step forward, and it’s a nice gesture from Clive Palmer and the club to make him captain for the day,” Bleiberg said.
“No one can deny that we are bringing good young players through here and whatever Mitch goes on to do in his career he will have a nice record and memory of his debut.
“Mitch is an intelligent guy on and off the field and of course, he will have a senior player like Kristian Rees nearby on the day, so there’s no pressure on him.”
As well as Thwaite’s absence, experienced midfielder Jonas Salley will miss the match – believed to have signed a contract in China.
Salley was only on a short-term injury replacement deal at the Coast.
Midfielder
Guest
Q What's you spin on this...
Roger
Guest
It's ridiculous. And Miron has been stood down for pointing out the obvious.
SAMURAI
Roar Pro
This sort of stuff could only happen on the Gold Coast.
Ross
Guest
I wish they would tell this club to get nicked! Why do they persist? Have 9 teams already- anything than this nonsense. I feel those fans they have. Heck bring back Olympic! If this is the way its gonna be in the Gold Coast...
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
This is why private owners are Bad, mkay ?
The Cattery
Roar Guru
yes - stood down by the club - there's a link to some articles in other related threads on the Roar
The Bear
Guest
bizarre is all i have to offer...
C'monJETS
Guest
just head Miron B has been stood down over the debutant captain issue...can anyone offer more?
pete4
Guest
Clive says it's a "symbolic gesture" so I guess the only reason he's done it is to keep GCU in the headlines
Clayts
Guest
Is this for real? My girlfriend told me they were making a debutant captain yesterday and I told her she must have got it wrong (meaning it must have been another player's first game as captain), but no, aparently they're not taking the p***. Mickey mouse antics up there...