Western United have completed the signing of one of Australia’s most exciting strikers, Noah Botic, on a two-year deal until the end of the 2022-23 A-League season.
Botic, upon his announcement, was quoted as saying: “I had an amazing experience in Germany and I am now looking forward to playing in the A-League.
“To be able to continue my footballing career under a legend like John Aloisi was a big drawcard for my move, and to learn from the likes of (Alessandro) Diamanti and (Victor) Sanchez also motivates me.
“I’m ready to work hard this pre-season and hope to make a strong impression.”
Botic seemed destined to be a footballer, especially since his cousins are Socceroos Tomi and Deni Juric. He made the highly anticipated move to Europe following a prolific 18-goal haul for Rockdale City Suns’ under-18s team.
A host of European clubs were fighting for his coveted signature after a great tournament at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Brazil in 2019.
He scored four goals in the group stage for the Joeys, leading them to a place in the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time since 1999.
(Photo by Buda Mendes – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Botic trialled at Manchester United and had interest from Bayern Munich as well as Everton before settling on Hoffenheim.
Botic spent a week with United and scored in a 4-0 win against Newcastle, however they wanted to have another look before deciding whether to sign him.
Due to their indecision and a belief that his skill set would be better suited to Germany, Botic ended up putting pen to paper with Hoffenheim.
Hoffenheim is a club that is well known in developing talented young players and it wasn’t long before they had started comparing him to another famous Australian number nine of Croatian heritage, Mark Viduka.
Although smaller in height and weight than Viduka, Botic possesses a similar deft touch and calculated finishing skills.
Throughout his time in Germany, he was continually being played in the Viduka role where the ball would be played to Botic’s feet and he would need to hold it up before passing to onrushing attackers or tried to roll his defender and keep the attack going.
He stood out playing for Die Kraichgauer’s under-19s and in one game against SpVgg Unterhaching he scored twice and set up a goal in a 4-1 win.
Botic scored three goals in seven games, before suffering from niggling soft tissue injuries that have ruined the careers of many promising young Australian players.
Just as his injury woes were starting to clear up, his progress was wiped out as the world battled COVID-19.
In signing for Western United, Botic will find himself being coached by another legendary Socceroo John Aloisi.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Aloisi will hope to continue moulding Botic’s Viduka-like potential by giving him the responsibility of leading the line for a club that has been in turmoil away from the pitch since its introduction to the A-League.
It’s no secret that United off the pitch seem to be unravelling. The club have barely informed fans of what’s been going on and not a single shovel of dirt has been moved in relation to the stadium they had promised would be built.
With construction still up in the air, United have lived a nomadic lifestyle, playing all over the country and struggling to attract fans due to this.
The signing of Botic still won’t make Western United a favourite to lift a trophy next season, however what it will do is put some eyes on this team with the baby Mark Viduka, Noah Botic, as the main striker.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
no, wouldn't suggest that, but his attitude before injury must have been ok, to make the squad, even if he didn't play. He was very promising in Bundesliga2, scored lots of goals but never progressed
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i think hes has a chance to have his best scoring season if botic plays the same as in europe where he holds the ball up - halls, wales & bayew running off that set up will cause teams problems
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
social media can be very deceiving, alot of the time people put up all sorts of things - i am not implying yeboah had and form of mental health issues either when i said his attitude :)
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
his touch is definitely half as good (in saying that im sure when you watch him play it wont be, as i've completely jinxed him now) and i agree it is great to still see many of our players with connections to the balkan - imo the best australian national team players as well as coaches have always had that balkans connection. its generational though, it the next 10 years i fully expect our national teams across all age groups to have 5-6 players with african connections
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
not sure about his attitude. I follow his social media account and his attitude seemed pretty good. Support system - don't know.
Nick Symonds
Guest
Wales has scored 7 goals from 88 matches in the A-League, or 1 every 12.6 games. That's almost puts him into Robbie Kruse territory. To say that he needs to improve his scoring rate is an understatement, especially for a forward. Wenzell-Halls and Botic will both be well ahead of him in the striker role and I can't see Wales getting used much in that position. Robbie Kruse: 5 goals from 75 matches for Australia = 1 in 15 2 goals from 30 matches for Melbourne Victory 2019 to present = 1 in 15
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Always a big wrap to be mentioned in the same breath as Dukes. If his touch is half as good as that of Dukes, he has a good future. It's good to see that Australian-Croatian football can still produce good players, despite the FFA's best efforts to squash these clubs.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
He'll make that starting line-up based on those characteristics - EG chasing down lost causes, getting back to help out his midfield/defence, similar to wenzell halls on the other side. if they can get 30 goals from the forward line, united are in with a real shot for the finals - especially if the defence & midfield chip in with several id be interested in seeing what aloisi sets as realistic targets for his fowards, something like the below id be guessing wales 6-8 goals (needs to lift his game to hit this firure) wenzell halls 6-8 goals (done it before, should be capable again) botic 10-12 goals (if you get him the ball in the right areas he will do damage) bayew 2-3 goals (talented, but not proven at a high level)
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
alot of yeboahs issues were down to his attitude and the lack of support system overseas, it happens to a lot of australian kids
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
yes, recall Kwame Yeboah was going very well too, and made the Monchengladbach senior squad before injury. He was the real deal before he left.
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
If Wales scored a few more goals a season and he was more precise on his touch, pass & shot he would be a massive weapon. His work rate is super high but his touch and decision making sometimes let him down.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
he was doing well for the under 19’s, unfortunately injuries curtailed any further progress and with covid also hitting , his contract ran down Its very cut throat in europe for young players, once you get labelled as risk with injuries there’s another 4-5 players in the same playing position as you. The churn rate is large. He’s come back home which was the smart thing to do, he has age and the skills to try again. Lets see what the season holds
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
if he's that good, why's he leaving Europe? Aloisi. What can possibly go wrong? Thanks for taking the effort to write this article Andy, but I'm not convinced.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i dont have the solution - australian players have it twice as hard as we're not known as a footballing country and technically are not as good as players of the same age group in europe (we are however making great strides in that area though, but alot of that goes down to coaching) + the language and cultural differences of certain parts of the world and the odds can be completely stacked against a 17 year old australian boy/girl. i seriously feel the soft tissue injuries are from training way too hard (in a sense to try and impress coaches/team mates); its an australian football thing to give 150% to make up for other short comings this is the issue with Botic, like i said he is more than capable of still being in europe; but he had a wretched time with soft tissue injuries in germany (which is another thing he has in common with his cousin tomi) Noah has got viduka like qualities, but you need to remember at the same age viduka was already fully developed and bagging goals for fun in croatia. i know people are going to crucify me for giving him the 'baby duuks' moniker (especially when you compare heights 6 ft to 5'7 and the disparity of 5-10kg of muscle.) if he struggles this season But Botic has strength beyond his size - hes equally adapt at linking the play and sprinting forward (alot quicker than viduka was) all this is circumstantial though if alosi doesnt play him in the position hes spent most of his career in.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
no complaints from me in what you've said, i agree with it lol
Will
Guest
Good read. Whats the solution to this? Are our conditions here disadvantaging Australian players trying to succeed in Europe? Also our players are adaptable enough to meets the demands of the European level of training and playing? Can it be improved? Botic sounds like a Viduka prototype based on what you have mentioned, we haven't developed a talent close to Dukes skillset since he retired after 2007, maybe Juric but he's never been 100% with his injury problems. We got alot of forwards in recent times here and overseas but haven't gone close to the class of the great Mark Viduka of course!
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
western united are a trainwreck off the field but on the field they have potential to really cause some damage this coming season possibly the best young attacking trio in the league, (although adelaide might have a word to say about that if injuries permit) a toure, yengi, m toure wenzell halls, botic, wales
jamesb
Roar Guru
It’s always the money, but most often, in the long run, players careers go down the drain.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
alot of times the money and gifts are too hard to refuse. even with both parents earning over $100K; if a potential club was going to give you a $60k car or $20k as a signing bonus not many parents would turn that down (it happens in the a league regularly)
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
its always the money. i've given 3 specific examples of 3 young adelaide players that have left in the last 24 months because they were offered $30K more, a dad was given a job by the club & a players parents were gifted a new car for the son signing add to this dodgy agents that will give poor advice as they solely want $$$$ and you can see why so many young talents fail to keep progressing up the ladder, its an absolute minefield out there for skilled kids