Veteran Western United striker Besart Berisha is now the outright second-highest scorer in A-League history after snaring a brace against Macarthur FC.
Almost ten years after arriving in Australia for a planned seven-month stay, Berisha still can’t stop ticking off big scoring milestones.
On Saturday evening, the veteran striker – already the A-League’s all-time top scorer – scored his 137th and 138th goals to help Western United to a 4-1 win over Macarthur FC.
In the process, Berisha drew level with, then overtook Rod Brown to snare outright second place on the all-time Australian national league scorers’ list, behind only Damian Mori (240).
“Being second in all Australia, this is something really special,” Berisha said.
“I’m very grateful and, to be honest, it’s hard to always imagine that I can do this because when I came here, honestly I came for a seven-month contract.
“I didn’t know that I was going to be here so long and I’m so grateful.
“I found joy in Australia, in the A-League, and that’s why I’m still here and I’m really grateful and really humbled to achieve such a success.”
Bar a short stint in Japan in 2018, the A-League has been home for Berisha since he departed German club Arminia Bielefeld for Brisbane in 2011.
Now 35, the former Kosovo international has lost the explosive pace of his younger days, but still has the workrate, competitiveness and goal-poaching nous to be an ever-present threat.
Berisha went scoreless for the first four games of this season but drew upon a similar situation he’d faced while playing under Ange Postecoglou at Brisbane.
“(Postecoglou) just said one thing. ‘Trust me, please put the work in, keep doing (it), do not stop – the moment you stop, that’s it’,” Berisha said.
“I am trying now, always since then also, to follow this kind of rhythm, this instinct, the balance – to keep going, do the right thing in training, keep the focus on and the goals will follow.
“I’m happy that it didn’t let me down because as a striker, I get counted on that (goals).”
In his twilight years, Berisha has relished a late-career link-up with United skipper and attacking maestro Alessandro Diamanti, who he describes as a “magician”.
“I don’t need to talk to him, to shout at him. I know the ball will just come. I just need to do my runs, and that’s amazing,” he said.
“Honestly, this is the way I felt at times in Brisbane with Thomas Broich.”
Now, after four A-League championships – two apiece at Brisbane and Melbourne Victory – Berisha still has sights on one more achievement: snaring another title at his third Australian club.
“This team can do it,” he said.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
This stuck out for me: On Diamanti, “I don’t need to talk to him, to shout at him. I know the ball will just come. I just need to do my runs, and that’s amazing,” he said. “Honestly, this is the way I felt at times in Brisbane with Thomas Broich.” The best players play instinctively, they know where the ball is and where to put it. It appears magical because it is.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
That would be local adelaidain and my teams coach, Damien Mori :silly:
coolncold
Roar Rookie
There is a confusing point. “second-highest scorer in A-League history” but then there is “already the A-League’s all-time top scorer” The second saying is right as he is the top A-league scorer according to wiki. However, who is the highest soccer player if Berisha is the second-highest scorer? Is there a player who has scored more goals than Berisha in the history of soccer in Australia ever? Who is he?
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
A great champion of Australian football well done Berisha.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Berisha bagged two open goal tap ins, and missed one that was not that more difficult. The interesting thing about Western United is their new Spanish play Guarr? something he is only 28, his pedigree is good as well. The most successful overseas players in the A-league are those who came at a reasonable age not the over 30's