Talismanic Socceroo Tom Rogic has retired from football to focus on his family.
Rogic, one of the most talented Socceroos in recent years who also starred for Scottish powerhouse Celtic, has called time after scoring 10 goals in 53 internationals between 2012 and 2022.
The intensely private Canberran opened up on he and his wife’s struggles with fertility before welcoming their daughter in 2021, and with twins due next year, they have returned to Australia to focus on raising their family.
“After careful consideration I have made the decision to retire from professional football,” Rogic said in a statement posted to Instagram.
“I have always been rather private with things in my personal life but I feel given the significance, I think it is important for people to understand why and how I have made my decision.
“Throughout the past seven years, my wife and I have been on an immensely challenging journey with fertility issues.
“After years of trying and many failed rounds of IVF, my wife and I were fortunate enough to welcome the birth of our daughter in 2021. I have loved every minute of being a dad and consider it my greatest achievement in life.
“After experiencing some more struggles and heartache with fertility treatment, we have recently received the amazing news that our family is growing and we will be expecting twins in 2024.
“Given our past and how hard we have fought for this, along with the challenges that will come with having twins and a two year old, now seems like the right time to give my focus and attention to what is the most important thing in my life – my family.”
The 30-year-old last played for Australia in a World Cup qualifier against Oman in 2022, but withdrew before the play-offs for personal reasons.
He was left out of Australia’s squad for the Qatar World Cup and hasn’t featured since.
Rogic missed the 2014 World Cup through injury and was one of the final omissions from the 2018 tournament, though he starred at the 2019 Asian Cup.
The former futsal player started his career at Central Coast Mariners, winning the A-League premiership before moving to Scotland and later had a short loan stint at Melbourne Victory.
He won 16 trophies at Celtic but most recently played for West Bromwich Albion, who released him in May after a short and difficult stay.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
He's had a great career, sad to see him retire early but he's making the right decision in choosing family first. Thanks and good luck to him.
NickA
Roar Rookie
What are you talking about? Are you being serious?
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
From my experience men dont do a lot at home and usually its the men that work a lot that do the most work at home in the cases that do. The current generation is more mollycoddled than ever. Usually from what I have seen the mother and the grandparents do most of the work. I have seen blokes use all sorts of excuses as well to get away from doing anything . Maybe Rogic is the exception to the rule, but I am sceptical.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
was thinking same thing.
NickA
Roar Rookie
Props to him and his career – like Mooy he liked his privacy and it doesn’t surprise me that he similarly wanted to finish his career on his terms. He never struck me as a player who was passionate about being in the football industry forever. Respectfully (and selfishly)– he would’ve been a perfect marquee for the new Canberra A League team (update on this, anyone)? He could be at home in Aus with his family, playing in a low-pressure league and making pretty good money for it too. Wouldn’t be a bad lifestyle. Maybe too much commitment and travel.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Great player, one of the best for Australia talent wise. Good Luck Tomi & all the best with your family.
Paddy
Roar Rookie
A great career that could have been a brilliant career. Shame that he is not coming back to the A league
Waz
Roar Rookie
Shame, would have liked to see him see his time out in the A League but fully understandable reasons. On the A League: - no VAR next season due to APL forgetting to place the equipment order? - no Danny Townsend? - no Sydney GF (dates announced but no venue and Men/Womens are weeks apart)? If all true, that would be a great start to marketing the new season :laughing:
Aiden
Roar Rookie
Massive respect for what he achieved in the game and even more for a bloke that puts his family first … even when he could definitely have played on including for his country. IVF is very hard, he has clearly made the right decision.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i've mentioned a few times on here in the past couple years that tomi was going through a lot of personal things that had not broken publicly (things that his team mates and coaches werent aware of at his club sides and national team) while i was never that close to him, i know his family quite well - i was never going to break this sort of news out of my friendship with the family i knew it would come out eventually and hopefully this will put things into perspective for a lot of fans who thought he couldn't be bothered for club and country for a few years now. - its difficult to perform as a sports player when you 100% mentally and emotionally not there. from what i am aware, he is not interested in any form of coaching within football currently - he has a particular skillset that would be of benefit to any academy in australia not as a head coach though as he is very introverted (like a lot of the serbian australian players that came before him and ones that currently are in the youth teams of a few a league clubs) - i could however see him coming in for guest sessions in relation to ball control and dribbling though with an a league club
Grem
Roar Rookie
I think it is fair to say that this player was a star and is now a legend.
chris1
Roar Rookie
Sad to see him go but family does come first. One of our most technically gifted players he will be sorely missed and would have been great to see him back in the A League.
Grem
Roar Rookie
He was such a talented player. At his best he was amazing to watch. The way he was able to dribble through teams and hit great shots from his left foot - he was a joy to watch. It was such a shame he seemed to regularly get injuries as he was hitting peak form.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Agree, but he would have looked good in sky blue for a couple of years more. He was a great player. I wonder how he would have gone in the Premier League if he had gone to Arsenal when he was younger and they were interested,
Garry
Roar Rookie
Sad news..but family should come first.