One of the most difficult decisions a young talented player has to make is choosing which national team to play for. Zak Gilsenan has chosen to represent Ireland rather than the country of his birth, Australia.
Gilsenan seemed destined to play in one of the top leagues until recent tragedy struck.
Having represented Australia at U17 level, it was assumed Gilsenan wanted to play for the green and gold. However, Tom Mohan called up Gilsenan – who is affectionately known as the ‘Irish Messi’ – to the Irish under-19s’ recent training camp.
Gilsenan was born in Perth and played his junior football with Sorrento FC.
Perth Glory enrolled the talented child in their developmental academy, where he played in holiday clinics and on the field at halftime during Glory matches.
His technique at such a young age drew a host of big European club scouts to Western Australia.
Tottenham offered a trial and the Gilsenan family had their bags already packed for England – but then an even bigger team came calling, one hailing from Catalonia.
The fabled ‘La Masia’ academy at Barcelona is one of the finest in youth production in the world; not many Australians have stepped through those famous gates
Zak was one of a few hundred kids trialling for several positions with the 2003 group and he did not disappoint, scoring seven goals in the last match, seeing Barcelona immediately sign him.
He was progressing nicely in Barcelona’s youth team, playing across the front third in attack, and had even captained the team before his parents made the decision to relocate to England.
England’s elite clubs all had shown interest in Gilsenan, but his parents ultimately decided to settle for another well-run academy side: Liverpool.
Liverpool coaches knew the talent was there, but the player had a run of injuries that ultimately led to his contract not being renewed.
Interest was still sky high in England for the now 16-year-old and the family made the decision to join Blackburn Rovers, over much more fancied Premier League sides.
Blackburn have been languishing in the championship for quite some time, but their academy teams are one of the most underrated in England.
While Gilsenan was a mainstay in the U18s, he was still being used semi-regularly in Rovers’ U23 squad – even scoring a second-half hat-trick against Manchester United.
As Zak’s scholarship deal with Blackburn was nearing its end, several premiership clubs registered their interest in signing him.
In a surprising move, Zak showed loyalty to Blackburn and signed the first professional deal of his career. However, his time with Rovers’ under-23 team this season has been frustrating due to injuries and fitness, culminating in an unfortunate ACL injury in October.
How he recovers from this 12-month setback is anyone’s guess, but he is still young enough to come back successfully.
Zak may never live up to the wonderful promise he showed during his junior days with Sorrento – prodigies making it as professional players are few and far between.
As for Australia, they may have lost Zak Gilsenan, but there are a lot more talents who can represent the green and gold.
TenTribesOfTexas
Guest
Zak can still.play for Aust and probably will because Ireland are not likely to make the wc finals. Games for national youth teams do not bind a player to a nation for life and players can play up to 3 games for a senior national team and still change. Aust has not yet lost Zak. Neither has it yet lost Alex Robertson, young chipperfield or volpato. Although Aust is strong in the midfield - with Tyrese Franscois, Peupion, Metcalf, Genreau, Watts, Sicolina- also coming through - so competition in for midfield spots is strong and many will not make the cut. Tyrese Franscois has showed himself to be very capable and should be the next young socceroo capped.
Griffo
Guest
Although he has some stiff competition for his positions of right wing, centre forward and attacking mid from Brook, Italiano, Tillio, Francois, Peupion, Watts...and few more. He may not make it to the Socceroos due to the stiff competition he faces for a position. He would need to be in good form to beat Brook, Italiano, Tillio for a spot. They are very good young players.
Griffo
Guest
Must have missed this. When did Yuel commit to sth sudan?
Griffo
Guest
Playing for junior national sides does not preclude the young player from playing for another country. Only game time in the senior national team does that. He can and will likely play for Aust not Ireland.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i havent heard about marcus for some time, he'd be 13/14 years old by now he is another one that came from the blackburn academy, before signing for liverpools
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
I read about two years ago that Lucas Neil's son, and one other (son of an Australian sporting icon, maybe cricket) were picked up at age around 10 by Liverpool academy (or one of the other EPL clubs). Know anything about that? They were/are living in England.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i dont think you'll see a bonafide 'superstar' (im talking messi, ronaldo, neymar levels) ever come out of australia - not with the current youth development and coaching in place around the country. you will however, hopefully start to see more functional players - with technical skills playing in second tier european leagues (turkey, belgium, croatia, greece, serbia, portgual) in the coming few years
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Like your concluding paragraphs there AA, you leave us with hope that we may uncover a male superstar for Australia one day, and not necessarily as a youngster. Thanks.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
tough choice to represent the country of your birth, or the one you grew up in
Brendan
Roar Pro
Nice article. Conversely, I’d love Valentino Yuel to play for Australia (the Socceroos need some serious attack weapon), but the Jets star decided to commit to South Sudan instead.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Thanks Andy, these are always interesting reads.