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Socceroos and Crystal Palace midfielder Mile Jedinak has been named as captain of the Socceroos for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, just the fifth man to lead Australia in the finals.
Coach Ange Postecoglou announced the key midfielder as the skipper of the squad seven days before three players are trimmed from the initial 30-man squad, and two weeks prior to the June 2 final squad announcement.
Tim Cahill and fellow midfielder Mark Bresciano will join Jedinak in the leadership group for Australia.
Jedinak has been one of the most consistent performers for the Socceroos in the past two years, helping them reach their third straight World Cup, and will be a crucial cog in the 2015 Asian Cup, with the tournament being hosted in Australia.
The 29-year-old also helped his English Premier League side Crystal Palace stave of relegation, helping them finish midtable. It was a good result for a club that has bounced between the top flight and the Championship on numerous occasions.
Ange Postecoglou said Jedinak was thoroughly deserving of the accolade.
“It is a privileged position and an accolade he richly deserves after the incredible job he has done at Crystal Palace in the toughest club competition in world football – the English Premier League.” Postecoglou said.
“Mile Jedinak embodies everything that is great about Australian football and Australia as a nation. He has risen to the top of world football and done it the hard way from humble beginnings where he has battled and believed in himself to overcome the odds with an enormous work ethic and passion for what he does.
“I have no doubt he will lead the team with distinction in Brazil and we will have two of our greatest ever football players in Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano giving the team what I believe is strong leadership.
“Mile will be our captain but all three players will share the onus of leading this group to the World Cup where we will be representing the people of Australia with enormous pride and drive. We are going to Brazil to do all 23 million Australians proud.”
He did suffer a groin injury in the final match of the season, which may mean he plays a limited role against South Africa next Monday.
Jedinak held off competition from Socceroos front-man Tim Cahill to win the job as captain, but both will be key to Australia’s chances of being competitive against Chile, Spain and The Netherlands.
“To be handed the responsibility of captaining my country at the World Cup is humbling, yet incredibly exciting,” Jedinak said. “Just pulling the Socceroo shirt on fills me with pride but to be leading out my country and these players at the World Cup on behalf of all Australians is special.
“It is an honour to be named captain but it is also a huge responsibility and I look forward to providing leadership for the team along with Tim (Cahill) and Mark (Bresciano) as we take on some of the biggest nations in world football.”
His age would have helped, with the 34-year-old Cahill five years his senior. Jedinak also led the Socceroos for a match in their European trip where they lost to 3-4 to Ecuador in London.
“Playing for the National Team means a lot to me and to represent the Socceroos at the World Cup is an honour and I look forward to taking this opportunity to help Mile and Bresh (Bresciano) share the experience we have picked up in our time with the National Team,” Cahill said.
“It is a privilege to wear the green and gold Socceroos shirt at the World Cup and represent the past, present and the future of football in this country,” Bresciano said. “I’m honoured to have been recognised as a leader within this team.”
Jedinak replaced Lucas Neill as captain of the squad, who has since been ruled out from taking any part in the World Cup after being omitted from the 30-man preliminary squad, who will leave Coffs Harbour today and will be based in Sydney.
Capped 43 times by the Socceroos. He seems the perfect choice to take the reigns as the national skipper. He captains at Crystal Palace, is the most solid presence in the side, and is young enough to take the team to the 2015 Asian Cup and into the qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
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