Young players dream of moving to a massive European club but for the majority, this is just a fantasy. But every now and then…
Celtic FC have announced the signing of Riley McGree, one of Australia’s most consistent midfielders of the past half decade.
The journey from a humble South Australian town to the football hotbed of Glascow is a story of perseverance.
Gawler is a working-class town roughly 45 minutes from Adelaide, where the people have a work-hard mindset. The town’s club, the Eagles, has yo-yoed between the various divisions for the past 40-plus years.
Kristy Moore, who had a great career overseas, is the most well-known player to come from the club, although Ben Warland, Pacifique Niyongabire and Lachlan Brook have graced the A-League.
I was one of a number of people contacted a number of years ago to view McGree and all it took was one game for me to start regularly keeping tabs on him.
Looking back at Riley’s early scouting reports, as his skills developed from a seven-year-old to 12-year-old, the word that stuck out the most and is still relevant today is ‘tenacious’.
McGree has always been positive and his playing style is the epitome of never give up. His tenacity is what separates him from other midfielders of this generation.
After being a standout in youth teams, he made his Adelaide United first-team debut at 17 and took the league by storm, sealing a move to Club Brugge.
(Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Like many Australian teenagers that move to Europe, he struggled with the language and coaching, in turn being loaned back to the A-League without playing a single match.
The loans to Melbourne City and Newcastle Jets showed glimpses of what the former prodigy was capable of – his scorpion kick while playing for the Jets went viral and earned him a nomination for the Puskas Award.
At 20 years of age, his development cycle was fully complete by returning home to South Australia and in the best season of his young career he netted 13 goals in all competitions, several assists, and sealed yet another move – this time to Charlotte in the MLS.
Charlotte immediately loaned McGree to championship side Birmingham City, where he found minutes initially hard to come by, until a change of manager saw a change in fortune.
Under the tutelage of ex-Premier League midfielder Lee Bower, McGree’s dominance of the midfield in the hustle and bustle of the Championship saw him become a cult hero with the Birmingham faithful – who even petitioned the club’s hierarchy to sign him permanently.
Birmingham City’s loss will be Celtic FC’s gain though – especially as Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou gave a young McGree his maiden Socceroos call up.
Postecoglou’s Celtic have a fluidity in midfield that will suit a player like McGree, who is capable of playing as an attacking, defensive or central midfielder.
But the position he excels in is as an old-fashioned, box-to-box No.8.
Opposition teams have always struggled to track his runs into the box and even if they manage to stop them, McGree is capable of letting fly at goal from long distance.
His high-energy defensive pressing work rate will be perfect for a midfield that likes to hunt in packs.
The rise of Riley is a good example of hard work, determination and commitment to succeed – three characteristics that young Australian footballers in recent years have lacked.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
McGree is not going to Celtic talks have broken down Middlesborough are now the frontrunners
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
Agree,what is the biggest transfer fee an A-League club has fetched for a player?
Franko
Guest
Boro will to pay 5mil now, but what would they have paid AU directly only 12months ago? Probably a couple hundred thousand. We need to raise the profile and transfer fees for our league.
Gnasher
Guest
Boro are 7th, not 4th.
Gnasher
Guest
He hardly dominated the Championship. Bowyer didn't pick him for the first two months of this season, and Birmingham are a poor side.
Patrick Sinat
Guest
Hi mate, Whats the story with him now? Reports claiming he may be going to Middlesbrough now?
AGO74
Guest
May not be a bad thing iof true. Boro are 4th in championship and have been on a massive tear winning vast majority of their games since appointment of new manager in October (they were about 12th when new manager was appointed). They are looking very good for promotion. If that happens (and it is still a big if) playing in the EPL is > Celtic.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
McGree was looking great in the A-league in seasons back , but where was the box to box effort for the Olyroos, he was one of the players that dissapointed me greatly. It could be the cold climate suits him and he runs more in England than he did in the hotter Olympics. Also if he comes on for the Socceroos he needs to be going in hard and running more than he has shown so far.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Good point.
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
5 million quid Boro willing to pay, crazy isn't it that's Liverpool paid for prime Harry Kewell. Can't see Celtic making a counter offer so looks like he'll be staying in the Championship, better league by a mile and Boro in the hunt for a play off place.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Given Jota and the three new Japanese players and others being talked about getting on the team sheet as a starting player would be a tad harder than at Boro...
Redcap
Roar Guru
Oh, bugger. I'd read reports it was done - clearly they'd jumped the gun. Still, not a bad move if he is going to Middlesbrough. Would have preferred him to play under Ange, though.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
its shattering given how massive a club celtic is no disrespect to boro, but celtic are larger in terms of everything from history, trophies to fans across the world however the championship is a stronger league that scotland and they play 2 games a week. I'd expect him to start based on the figures quoted on that fee, if that transfer fee is accurate, adelaide united will be looking at around $800k from the sell on clause that also means that he could line up against man utd in the fa cup, which will have a massive worldwide viewing audience
chris
Guest
Why would they be shattered? It looks like Middlesborough are offering a lot more and he would be on close to 30k a week.
chris
Guest
They really are. 3 Japanese players and now McGree. Players that may not have been on the radar if not for Ange.
sportstar111
Roar Rookie
which young strikers do you think are on par with Pepi? interested to hear your thoughts AA
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
deals off, how shattering for the player and his family. seems to have collapsed in the last 24 hours after being 90% done
AGO74
Guest
Great move. Congratulations to him. Now the hard work begins making his presence felt in a big squad. Fingers crossed for him.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
AA Its a real pain in the A when they do that..... I recall an article I wrote and by taking out the history it totally changed the article....
Pro Rel NSD
Guest
Great to see that some A League players can cut it overseas.