Adelaide City Soccer Club skipper Nick Budin to retire at end of season
RETIRING Adelaide City soccer captain Nick Budin is not trying to earn brownie points with coach Damian Mori when he calls him an idol.
RETIRING Adelaide City soccer captain Nick Budin is not trying to earn brownie points with coach Damian Mori when he calls him an idol and among the biggest influences on his career.
“I owe that guy a lot,” Budin says.
Budin, 32, reckons the reason he “bleeds black and white” is because he fell in love with Adelaide City while watching Mori score mountains of goals for the club during the 1990s.
But he says Mori’s greatest quality has been his friendship in the wake of Budin’s dad Joe’s death in a motorbike accident in 2010.
As he prepares to hang up his boots at the end of the season after almost 300 matches at City, Budin says he cannot thank the club and particularly Mori enough.
“As an actual person in life he has taught me so much,” says Budin of Mori, a teammate for several years at City and his coach for the best part of a decade.
“I developed a love for Adelaide City through Damian Mori and he became my hero.
“On the field, when you needed something to happen, he’d make it happen.
“Since my father died, he’s called me every day – and I’m not joking – just to see if I’m all right.
“As a mate, Damian’s an absolute champion.”
Budin, of Paradise, joined Adelaide City in under-13s after moving to SA from Coffs Harbour.
The attacker made his National Soccer League debut for City at 18, playing alongside such club greats as Carl Veart and Aurelio Vidmar.
“I remember my first game was really special, seeing my dad and how happy he was, and my mum.
“You work so hard for something then finally get a go.”
Budin has since won five league titles and four cups, either side of stints at Adelaide Blue Eagles and Adelaide United.
He says calf injuries have caught up with him this season and he is also retiring to spend more time with family.
“Yes, I didn’t play A-League but the soccer that I’ve played, I’m forever grateful.”