The legacy of Johnny Warren has now been carved into bronze, with a sculpture of the Australian football icon unveiled at the SCG on Sunday.
Current Socceroos Tim Cahill and Matt McKay helped the SCG Trust reveal the newly erected statue outside the venue where the late Warren played his final match in 1974, before retiring to become one of the strongest media voices in the Australian game.
Also on hand to witness the moment were members of the famous 1974 Socceroos – of which Warren was an integral part.
Warren, who died in 2004 from lung cancer aged 61, is the 12th sporting figure to be honoured with a bronze sculpture at Moore Park and joins the likes of world-renowned cricketing legend Richie Benaud and rugby league great Dally Messenger.
“It’s about bloody time,” Cahill said.
“First football statue, (and) there’s a lot been done in the game.
“He’s a pioneer, he’s someone we all looked up to … it’s a big day for football.
“We can all be very proud of his legacy and what we can carry on going forward.”
Warren captained the Socceroos in 27 of his total 42 matches and went on to champion the rise of the round-ball game as a commentator with the ABC and SBS alongside broadcaster Les Murray.
Murray was also present along with members of Warren’s family.
Warren is remembered each year when the Johnny Warren Medal is awarded to the A-League’s best overall player.
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
I assume Cahill means about bloody time Sydney got a statue, it's not the first football statue in Australia.
Marc
Guest
And the Sydney Swans came into existence, and played at the SCG from 1982, so more like 23 years. Before that they were South Melbourne, and far removed from Sydney and the SCG.
Marc
Guest
Firstly, you are wrong. The SCG Trust also has responsibility for the Sydney Football Stadium, so your crowd numbers are just wrong wrong wrong ... Secondly, historically how does afl compare to rugby league and rugby union at the SCG, SFS and the old Sydney Sportsground? Just admit it you are wrong ...
Punter
Guest
MF, have respect, you on the football tab, it's AFL.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Would anyone dispute that the AFL is now more important to the SCG than cricket is? I'm just checking the stats for last season. The Swans attracted 346,735 to 11 home games at the SCG last season for an average of 31,521 per game. I would suggest that's a significant number, and would easily represent over 50% of the SCG's patronage for the whole year. But for the sake of argument, let us put football and cricket on the same level, as equal partners, surely it's an excellent partnership given there is no overlap in the respective seasons? Back to Paul Roos specifically, as coach of the Sydney Swans, he won the Swans' first flag in 72 years. Not that's some drought which was broken. If that doesn't deserve some form of recognition, I don't know what does.
Marc
Guest
Paul Roos shouldn't have a statue. The SCG Trust has been hijacked by AFL types like Tony Shepherd as Chair, Colless etc. Not a single football person as Trustee.
Punter
Guest
Casper, not disagreeing on comments on Warren, however, I think you might want to review your understanding on world renown, Benaud, a great ambassador for cricket, a legend, but he is not known in north America or South America (only a couple of small islands in central America), in Europe (outside of England), now a bit bigger in Asia, (but not in China or SE ASIA) & outside of Sth Africa & Zimbabwe, he is nothing in Africa.
Casper
Guest
That's not true when it comes to Benaud. It is true when it comes to Warren though. More anonymous than a wrong number.
Tom
Guest
No disrepect intended to either man but just exactly HOW could anyone possibly describe either Richie Benaud or Dally Messenger as "world renowned??" The vast majority of the world's population haven't heard of either of them.
jamesb
Guest
Agree. Should have been done years ago.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
A nice addition, though it took a while!