The tiny Croatian village of Bijelo Brdo was named after an archaeological site – that encompasses a medieval graveyard.
With a population of under 2000 people, its quaint lifestyle could present the perfect opportunity for a former young Australian prodigy to resurrect his football career.
Mark Tokich may not be a name familiar to casual supporters, but he has recently signed for NK Bijelo Brdo who play in the Croatian second division
The former Canberra Croatia FC junior’s player, was one of the star graduates of the Coever Coaching program.
Coever Coaching is a philosophy from Dutch coach Will Coever – that was based on analysis of superstars like Pelé and Diego Maradona.
The teachings are aimed more at attacking players with a high emphasis on ball control, dribbling, passing, movement, creativity and finishing.
Regardless of how good Tokich’s technical ability was in his early teens, he ended up being passed over by a lot of Australian clubs – due to his small stature
The player did have his admirers though and FFA CEO head coach Tony Vidmar took a chance on the scrawny 14-year-old, by allowing him to train with the centre of excellence – before eventually offering a scholarship.
Entering the academy at only 165cm in height and 47kg in weight before graduating as a 17-year-old who had grown to 183cm in height and filled out at 72kg in weight – yet another classic Australian football tale of a teenager developing extremely late.
Tokich was named the 2016-17 Foxtel National Youth League Player of the Year which led to trials in Germany before signing his first professional contract with the Western Sydney Wanderers.
His time with the Wanderers didn’t go as expected, with the coaches preferring more mature age players rather than exciting youngsters with potential.
When Tokich was making inroads at training and with the NPL side, his hard work was halted due to repetitive soft tissue injuries that marred his tenure with the wanderers.
Tokich finally got his long-awaited move to Europe, signing for Swedish side Mjallby in 2021- but was only able to make just the 1 substitute appearance in a competitive match.
In January 2022 the player transferred to another Swedish side, Sölvesborg before leaving in august for the country of his ancestry, Croatia – to link a deal with NK Bijelo Brdo.
Tokich has been given the #11 shirt by his new club and has so far made 4 appearances in season 22/23
NK Bijelo Brdo already are bottom of the league due to a leaky defence and the club look set to be in for a very difficult season.
Mark Tokich is 23 years old now and it’s only been less than 18 months, since he had helped Australia qualify for the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup – with a crucial goal against Indonesia
The player is still regarded very highly by Australian coaching staff due to his technically ability – but really needs to start building a consecutive run of matches together.
It is hard to believe that in the last four years Tokich has played almost as many underage international matches for Australia as actual club side matches
Croatian footballs second division may not be the strongest second division in Europe, but Tokich could find the village of Bijelo Brdo matches up well – with his quiet demeanour.
Right now, all Mark Tokich has to focus on – is getting more miles into his legs.
If he is unable to do this, then he will be yet another name added to the lengthy list of former talented Australian teenagers – whose football careers didn’t turn out, how they were expected to.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Basketball you got to be kidding 7ft's are about 1 in a million in population its mainly about height. Thom Maker he didnt actually play basketball till he was scouted playing football . If your tall then your odds of making it are between a thousand and a million times better based on your height level than if your short. Basketball doesn't have endless number of parents that football has in this country all seeking to make sure their kid gets into a favoured position by any means possible. Football and height you have goal keeper where they will be looking at 5 10 as a cut off but goal keeper usually is reserved for the worst player and where no one wanted to play in the past. So what if central defenders need to be tall Man U latest is 5 foot 9 and you have 8 other outfield positions, in basketball you will have one in 5 that can be short generally and 2 in 5 if you want to stretch it. Nisbet is well under 5 foot and is one of the best players in the A-league. I dont know what happened to Volpato. Rogic was overlooked and as far as skills he was the most obvious talent to spot. There was a commision into this back in the mid 90's and it was revealed that a parent alleged the Australian youth coach wanted 10 thousand dollars to pick his kid. If it was that bad in the mid 90's imagine how bad it is now. Thats where the real stuff kicks in Australian football, the stuff they dont tell you out, the greased palms, the old boys Socceroo network, the club sponsors etc. Even if the club isn't charging money like I presume Sydney FC academy, people will be trying to influence the club coach in any way possible to pick their kid. Even Arnold has a history in this signing Slaters son to a three year deal in the A-league.
Freddy Jones
Guest
Volpato was NOT cut by Sydney FC Academy for his size. Size was never the issue as the the evidence of his growth easily shows. Volpato was a gifted and talented player from when he was about 12 years mostly playing a 10 or 9 and his gifted and talent status was a combination of his physique, extra private academy coaching, Football NSW state representative opportunities and being part of the A League academy system. Yes, size (mostly height) unfortunately is used as a selection criteria in Australian club and rep football during the teenage years. But as the Australian basketball community know, where size really can be a big selection factor, growth can continue for many boys especially into their very late teenage years. And Australian basketball, in addition to the AIS/NBA Centre of Excellence in Canberra, have a first class development pathway through the US NCAA competition system (universities/colleges) 17-20 years that develops so many of them to be excellent players ready for a professional career in the US, Europe or the NBL. Volpato was failed by those running the A League academy system.
jbinnie
Guest
Marcel - the widely recognised best player in the game today and in recent years is surely one called Lionel Messi. Height 170 centimetres, ie 5 foot 6inches. So much for your basic requirement of 6 feet. Cheers jb.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The initial gains are the fastest and a few kilos of muscle is all you need for a footballer. what would you need 2 years for
Marcel
Guest
JB.... respectfully, your history is precisely that. 6ft is the baseline height for an elite footballer today.
Marcel
Guest
No one bulks up in a couple of months....2 years min for transformative size and strength. Maybe you are here every day bullying people because your parents didn't hug you enough?
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I have seen plenty of scrawny types bulk up in a few months , thats easy to do. Gaining height on the other hand you cant do, rumours though that Michael Jordan for example took the actual growth hormone you get from a corpse etc. Skill I have never seen a player that was bad suddenly become skilfull. Maybe you were there because your parents were influential in the club.
jbinnie
Guest
Marcel - History will tell you a different story. Back in 1927 the emphasis in English football was to have height and strength as a necessity in a player. Teams were picked (in those days by selectors) with this requirement in mind. Come the biggest game in Britain at that time England v Scotland at Wembley. The Scottish forward line was on average about 5 foot 7 inches, with Gallacher,James and Morton all "tiny" by English standards and yet that team became known as the Wembley Wizards when they thrashed the physically superior England players scoring 5 goals during the game. Such was the emphasis placed on the skills shown by the physically inferior Scots that it almost caused an uprising in English football with people like Jimmy Hogan ,a supreme coaching identity at the time, being banned from the English game for daring to suggest that the English should adopt the Scot's push and run football, yes, the same Hogan who took his ideas to Austria and Hungary where he was regarded as a football genius greatly admired by the "Wunderteam" in pre-war Austria and the "Mighty Magyars" in post - war Hungary. Lionel Messi,Jimmy Johnstone ,Garrincha and Willie Henderson were not big by anyone's standards but all were superb players. Cheers jb.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Just like most on here, I like this article very much, your insights on youth football is immense & I love it. Plus your constant plight of talent & skills against size is also something I agree on.
Grem
Roar Rookie
As everyone else has written - have a safe and successful trip. We will miss your articles.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I’m no football expert, but I just don’t get this. I understand it is really good to have tall centre backs, goal keepers and possibly strikers, if possible, but speed and skill trump those physical qualities every day of the week. I wouldn’t mind having Maradonna and Messi in the Socceroos squad!
chris
Guest
Have a great trip. Don't get conscripted when in Russia!
Marcel
Guest
Having been through the system myself ( albeit last century !) I don't have a problem with it... The very best 15-16 year olds are starting to get their first exposure to senior football...that's not going to happen if they are 20kg lighter than the first team players... regardless of skill level. Weight and strength as I see it are no different to speed....there's always someone else with both that and skill.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
the alternative would be growth hormones, which alot of the smaller sized boys are on in europe - unfortunately they will cost parents thousands of dollars. (not every undersized boy like messi, gets the club to pay for it lol) size matters at the end of the day in australian football, i can tell you that no matter how good technically as a goalkeeper or centreback your son is - if theyre undersized in there age group, they will be overlooked. i can provide clubs with as much technical data as they want, but if one of their pre requisites in relation to a player from a physical standpoint is being 5"11 and 70 kilos - then the kid and myself are out of luck lol Syndey cut volpato, because he was undersized as an example
Marcel
Guest
Enjoy the trip Andy.....bring back some stories for us !
Marcel
Guest
Honest question here SS.....what really is the problem with that approach apart the fact that very occasionally a late bloomer is missed? ...and what realistically is the alternative? It's a competitive sport.....47kg is a little boy not a youth..there is no chance that someone that slight can compete. Look at the problems Bryan Gil has at Spurs ..he needs to put on 10kg to be an EPL player... Truth is he's just never going to make it at that level and is better off heading home to Spain.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
heads up as, this will be my last article for several weeks. (mid november) im flying out tomorrow to visit some academies in serbia, romania and russia (hoping to also get to estonia if my contact at levadia comes though lol) as well as catching up with some aussie players, friends, family and trying to establish some new contracts
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i was actually going to do a piece based on coever coaching here in australia and the lack of players that have gone on from this coaching method. tokich is the most recent stand out to have had that coaching, its been very few and far between him though. in europe they have had coaches like gerrad houllier and vincente del bosque help out with the program, no such luck here in australia. this type of program has had success in europe, but im not so sure its suitable for australian players and football in general in this country
jbinnie
Guest
Brainstrust - In all the football coaching programmes I have come across size has been relegated way behind other attributes. I'm afraid you have to look at coach/selectors at Junior levels to get to the root of your observed problem. Football is a game dotted throughout the years by small, fat, slightly built individuals, whose developed skills greatly outstripped their obvious lack of size and strength. Most of the "playmakers" over the years have been small in stature, but huge in skills and vision, and it is this factor that separates our football from the other 3 football codes where size and strength are pre-requisites if success has to be attained. Cheers jb.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
unfortunately, the 'size/weight' argument will not be changed anytime soon in australian youth football. it is almost a pre requisite these days to be physically well built in the 14-17 year old age group, regardless of skill set - the bigger bodied athletic players are generally chosen. they recruit very similar to rugby and afl, when it should be all about technical ability rather than your genetics. Tokich is a good example of why i wanted to particularly highlight that many teenage boys grow in height and weight up until 18/19 as a good example there is a boy here in adelaide, that scored multiple goals every match for his NPL club this past season he is one of the best under 10's forwards i have seen in australia, unfortunately he is incredibly small compared to the other boys - i've gone as far as vouching for him on reports, to expect a late development burst in height based on both his parents being 6 foot