As Western Sydney Wanderers captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley lifted the Asian Champions League trophy in Riyadh, football fans would have been excused for trailing off to focus on a man who has never even seen them play.
This week marks the 10th anniversary of Johnny Warren’s passing, and in a fitting tribute to the great man Western Sydney provided further proof that football in Australia is hurtling towards unprecedented heights.
The victory is Western Sydney’s to savour, but it’s also a win for Australian football as a whole, and yet another step towards fulfilling Warren’s iconic prophesy.
“When I’m up in the big football field in the sky, I just want people to remember, I told you so,” Warren said.
That well-known line referred to his belief that football would rise to the top of Australian sports.
The Socceroos not just qualifying but competing for the World Cup was his main dream, but the ACL win would have probably brought Warren to tears as well.
Even in death, Warren’s mind was firmly set on his lifelong passion for football, which he devoted his life towards. He promoted and championed the sport without fear of creating enemies or stirring controversy.
We will never see a man of Warren’s ilk again in Australian football, and the destiny he envisaged for the game was partially completed in the early hours of Sunday morning.
A homegrown Australian club, with a homegrown Australian coach and homegrown Australian footballers, triumphed against all odds against the might of Al Hilal and Saudi billions.
The way Western Sydney rode their luck – three clear penalty shouts for the opposition denied – was almost too good to be true. But it wasn’t about luck in the end, it was about destiny. Deserved destiny. Just ask Ante Covic.
Al Hilal are well within their rights to feel aggrieved, Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura had a shocking game. But the Wanderers, led by the inspirational Covic and Topor-Stanley, played with heart and earned their fortune throughout the tournament.
Tony Popovic played the competition to perfection, employing tactics that frustrated his opponents and capitalised on moments of individual brilliance. Never before has such defence and discipline been seen in Asia’s premier competition. And many of the Asian stalwarts they faced underestimated the Wanderers, and paid the price for their arrogance.
“Dreams do come true,” Popovic said post-match.
“They’ve made history tonight. It’s a marvelous achievement for the club and Australian football.”
For while it’s Western Sydney’s to celebrate, the whole country can revel in this unlikely triumph. And it could not have been possible without the groundwork of Johnny Warren. His vision, his passion and his persistence played a huge role in Australia ditching Oceania for the Asian Football Confederation.
Throughout his entire life, he strived to bring credibility to football never seen in Australia. He was a fighter, who didn’t shirk from the spotlight and caused enough controversy for two lifetimes, let alone one cut tragically short.
He was a trailblazer, both as a player and as a media personality. Throughout his career he wasn’t just one of the Socceroos’ most gifted players and captain of the team. He was football’s biggest PR machine, constantly promoting the game to whoever would listen.
Warren was an educator, a coach, a player, an innovator and most importantly, a fan. He was one of us, but he had the power to change the course of the sport’s destiny. He created the destiny that we are finally seeing come to fruition.
Warren’s early life was plagued with extreme prejudice. As he often recalled, playing football in the 1950s reduced you to “second class” status. He rejected Australia’s mono-cultural, insular tendencies and embraced foreign cultures, taking up the migrants’ game.
The uniting of the Sydney’s west would have delighted Warren.
He was known as ‘Wog Warren’, both derogatively and affectionately, because he chose football over the established codes, paying for it with ridicule. Warren was a Sheila, a wog and a poofter, like most football fans who grew up supporting the game before the turn of the century.
But he rose above that major obstacle and encouraged football to do the same. Second best was not good enough for Warren, he wanted the game to reach the same status that it holds in Europe and South America.
It was a pipe dream. Fantasy. But he made it our destiny. His dream was for Australia to win the World Cup.
When Warren cried on national television in the aftermath of that devastating 2-2 draw with Iran on November 29, 1997, his dedication to the cause was laid bare for even a layman to see. Qualification for the World Cup in France slipped through our fingers, and it was too much for Warren to handle.
He tried, but failed, to keep it together, and emotion took over. Australia cried with Warren that night. Those tears are enough to make any grown man shed a couple, no matter how many years pass between then and now.
Qualification for the 2006 tournament was dedicated in his honour, and rightly so. “I told you so” was emblazoned in the stands when John Aloisi converted that all important penalty in front of 80,000 fans on November 16, 2005 at Stadium Australia.
That qualification was another step closer to Warren’s dream, as were the next two, and winning the right to host the 2015 Asian Cup.
If Warren had been around to commentate on our A-League clubs competing in the Asian Champions League, he would have set the same lofty target of lifting the trophy. It would have all been part of his masterplan to gain football a permanent and dominant hold over Australia.
Warren pushed for the A-League, he pushed for the FFA, and he pushed for acceptance into Asia. His vision created this platform. Thank you, Western Sydney Wanderers, from the bottom to the top, for partially realising that vision.
Australia’s tribute to Warren continues this weekend, with the Johnny Warren Round. Thursday, November 6, signals 10 years since his death from cancer.
His off-field mission, much like his playing career, was cut short when he was still in his prime. What the game would have achieved with Warren still critiquing and analysing is unknown, but what is certain is that Australian football would have been richer for it.
For Warren, and Australian football, it appears heartbreak and joy in the month of November is a reoccurring theme. Iran 1997, Uruguay 2005. Warren made his full Socceroos debut in November 1965 and in November 2002 he found out he had lung cancer, passing away almost exactly two years later.
November has followed him around, and so it’s fitting that the Western Sydney Wanderers’ ACL victory comes on the first of the month. Football meant the world to Warren and he would have been so proud of Popa and the boys.
“It’s the game of the world, the game of the people, and we are going to win the battle,” he once said.
That battle isn’t over, but the ACL win takes us one step closer.
Johnny Warren left Australian football in a stronger position than it had ever been in, and the Johnny Warren Foundation continues to champion his message. Now it’s our job to turn his dream into reality.
Warren’s legacy will run through every football game, for the rest of our lives. His contribution to the game was immeasurable. And so when you think of the Wanderers’ ACL triumph, spare a thought for Johnny and shed a tear for him this weekend, as we take yet another step towards our destiny.
Follow Janek on Twitter @JanekSpeight
Josh
Guest
Sydney is just geography ciudadmarron, Asia is a state of mind.
Canman
Guest
Perhaps one day the stadium at Parramatta will be renovated and the seating increased to 30 000 and it will be opened in November with the main stand being named after Australian Football's greatest visionary!
RBBAnonymous
Guest
@sm6 No blood no foul on this one. Just having a laugh with you. This always gets raised as some sort of childish tit for tat. I know I had a laugh, hence the reason for the tongue in cheek :P A lot of our footballers journeys are interesting to say the least. They come from far and wide and when one door closes another one opens and sometimes they land where you least expect. Cheers.
Sm6
Guest
RBB A. Didn't mean to start this argument ;).In regards to pre 2005 I was born into a state league club a grew up with family supporting them!I didn't start supporting football in 2005. In regards to where footballer's identify with,it has more to do with where they are born or bred for majority of their lives.If a boy grows up in penrith but his first big football oppurtunity comes else where it doesn't change his roots in my opinion.In regards to Rudan I reckon his first HAL coaching oppurtunity might be wsw,but he's definately born,bred & still resides in sky blue heartland if you do your research !
Sm6
Guest
RBB A. Didn't mean to start this argument ;).In regards to pre 2005 I was born into a state league club a grew up with family supporting them!I didn't start supporting football in 2005. In regards to where footballer's identify with,it has more to do with where they are born or bred for majority of their lives.If a boy grows up in penrith but his first big football oppurtunity comes else where it doesn't change his roots in my opinion.In regards to Rudan I reckon his first HAL coaching oppurtunity might be wsw,but he's definately born,bred & still resides in sky blue heartland if you do your research.A research I don't need to to as he went to school we a few acquaintances,grew up and lives up the road from me. Just saying !
ciudadmarron
Guest
I doff my hat to you good sir! Although not sure about the skyblue compliment :lol: Thanks for the chat - and good luck with the season. Looking forward to the derby as always!
RBBAnonymous
Guest
In regards to Rudan he played more than his fair share of football in Sydneys West. He was playing besides Popa at Sydney United for a few years. Just in case you didnt know, football did start in Australia before circa 2005. But its easy to change the truth to suit who is telling it, even for the Big blue man...........just saying :P
Sm6
Guest
C'marron, You do come across as somewhat of a gentleman.To be honest I see a lot of sky blue in you. Excuse my rants as 'marrickville is a state of mind' within itself !
ciudadmarron
Guest
Haha. Again being facetious with the Clevo reference, of course he was from a little south east of there. Now Sm6, I think you are getting a little worked up over the geography - after all, Sydney is a state of mind! It can't be helped if some of the players from the skyblue side of town find a good state of mind elsewhere. ;) In all seriousness though what matters to me is how they represent the club. Cole might be from the border lands of the inner west by birth but he's actually one of my favourite wanderers. He does everything you could expect to fit the club culture and what the fans expect. He gets it. The same was true of someone like Tyson, who is also not a product of western Sydney, but who left his heart behind. Part of the identity of the club is that the area produces some talent though. So looking forward to seeing the likes of marty lo and yanni perkatis take the step up in future.
Sm6
Guest
Agree,Johnny Warren would be beyond happy with WSW ACL victory.The area around Cleveland St high isn't the heartland I'm talking about.eventhough Covic & Juric comes from skyblue heartland the way the cookie crumbled they will go down as red & black legends.We'll take Neill.Cahill was a local hero in my parts,where some of his recent statements led to a lot of the people around here feeling a little betrayed,but he was influenced by some people is what's come out.He realises that and might not play in Sydney at all in the HAL to avoid any future resentment.Shannon Cole is another who's conveniently changing his stripes.No doubt about Brett Holman or Rudan either !
ciudadmarron
Guest
That was an aside sm6 - not claiming him! Clevo high is on the eastern side of Central, just.... :lol: As you say he would be proud of the performance of an aussie team on such a big stage, and that's what I meant as well. You can have Lucas Neill if you like ;)
Kasey
Guest
Many championship trophies across the sporting world are named after famous and important contributors to that sport. NFL has the Vince Lombardi trophy, FIFA has the Jules Rimet, both of which just feel right. There already is the JW medal for BOG in the GF. Perhaps a new trophy, the one that pits the NPL champs against the FFA Cup winner as suggested below? FFA will only get one shot at honouring JW with a trophy, I hope they get it right. Should it be the FFA Cup trophy, the A-League championship trophy(dunny seat) or the Premiers Plate? I think one of them (possibly the FFA Cup?) will be named after Frank Lowy, so I'd suggest the FFA put it out to vote by members of the Football Family.
Sm6
Guest
C'Marron, I think Johnny Warren would be overcome with joy at the growth of our game.I'm not sure which HAL team he would support,but there is no denying his love of Flamengo and on the several times I met him he was wearing his beloved Flamengo tracksuit.I can't help but feel he might support the game overall over any single team.But make no mistake about it Johnny Warren was born & bred in the closest area to being sky blue heartland.On a side note a lot of wsw fans from the heartland which has enough stars of their own are automatically claiming football stars from sky blue sydney,are we allowed to claim anyone ourselves?
Justin Mahon
Guest
Welcome, and yes, a terrific point. Tell others you mightr bring to the game in the years ahead all about him.
Realfootball
Guest
Good grief. Surely you jest NRL was a British game. AFL is a hybrisation of Gaelic football and rugby, brought here by the Irish I don't know enough NFL to comment.
j binnie
Guest
Mid. You have me just a little confused. When did FL have another 2 tries at reorganising fooball in Australia???? He had a go at standing for high office once ,around 1983/84 and was soundly thrashed in a voting system that defied description.He walked away from the game then and a couple of years later probably oversaw the withdrawal of probably the best team to grace the NSL,Sydney City/Eastern Suburbs. There are many deep thinkers in the game will put forward the argument that it was then the NSL entered the downward slide that was to end in almost total bankruptcy and failure.jb
j binnie
Guest
Punter - While not disagreeing with the message you are selling I do have to pass the comment that when Frank Lowy was asked to form a professional league around 2003/4 he did not inherit a model that needed just minor tinkering to make it work,football was a "terminal wreck"and no matter how much you admire JW and others who may have had the same aims it took a man with "the power and the money" to make things happen and without those attributes the dreams of Johnny and others like him would have remained just that,-----dreams,---- and to think we "lost" this man for around 20 years due to the venerable gentlemen who had been at the controls when the original "vehicle" "hit the wall"...Your mate jb
AL
Guest
ciudamarron, spot on mate. Now the AFL, NRL and RU are multi cultural??? Who would have though, my feeling is it has more to do with market share than acceptance of mutli culturalism from the eggball codes. Like all those second class citizens, from all types of backgrounds, who played, watched and loved Football, including anglo Australian, he was one of us. One of the "Shielas, wogs and poofters". What a shame he is not here to see where Football is at today.
Domitian
Guest
Yeah, that's more how I see it, it's not so much about wanting your own 'language' to die, it is more about wanting to open yourself up to all 'languages', to communicate with the world. To say that South America is culturally homogenous is a bit naïve to me, especially from someone who seemingly thinks Rugby is a more Australian language.
dasilva
Guest
I don't really believe in cultural protection and I'm not a nationalist (never bought into this culture homogenisation as a bad thing, just as a neutral thing) Culture is fluidic and change over times because values, hobbies, interest, foods etc live and die on its own merit. Traditional values/ideas have to compete with new ideas as well as ideas from other cultures on a level playing field and it's up to individual to decide for themselves what they enjoy and accept. Individuals should be able to choose to like whatever they like and in the end culture is a reactive summation of individual preference of a population over a period of time. If a certain cultural values dies that's not a problem. If a certain cultural values sustains that's not a problem. If a new idea becomes part of the culture than that is not a problem either. In summary let every sport in australia to compete with each other and whatever the result is fair. About language dying. When people invent language, they invent language as a tool to communciate so people can understand each other better. When it turns out that other languages are more effective in communicating with larger amount of people, eventually people will logically choose to communicate with a different language. In the end people are going to choose the language that will assist you communicate with the most people you meet in your life. This is in spirit with why language was invented in the first place, people who first develop language (or any other technology, ideas etc) was due to purely functional reasons. the whole cultural celebration comes afterwards by traditionalist generations later. I remember seeing documentaries about people lamenting the death of language, I just see it as individuals being practical and understanding that the purpose of language is communication, it doesn't matter what language an individual used as long as people are understanding what you are talking about. If this results in language becoming obsolete only remembered by historians, so be it and I'm not here to tell individuals they are wrong for prioritising language that have bigger benefit on their lives personally than other language even if it's their cultural background.