Croydon winger Rocky Visconte hopes Adelaide United trial will lead to A-League opportunity

CROYDON winger Rocky Visconte has won an A-League title and played professionally overseas but the Adelaide United trialist says nothing would top playing for the Reds.

Croydon's Rocky Visconte, 24, won the Melta Medal for SA soccer's best player last weekend. Pictured at Henley Beach. Photo Tom Huntley

CROYDON winger Rocky Visconte has won an A-League championship and played professional soccer overseas.

But the newly-crowned SA Premier League player of the year and Adelaide United trialist says nothing would top playing for the Reds.

“I know I’ve played at Brisbane and Western Sydney but it felt really good putting on the Adelaide shirt,” Visconte, 24, says.

“I definitely felt a lot more pride putting on my state colours.

“It would be an honour to represent my home state nationally.”

Visconte won the Sergio Melta Medal by 14 votes at this month’s Football Federation SA awards night, capping an outstanding season.

His superb form helped the Kings to their first top-flight title since 1977 and earnt him a trial with United late last month.

“My aim at the start of the year was to have the best season I can, try to win everything, for the team and individually, and try to remind everyone that I can still play at that (professional) level,” says Visconte, who had a short stint with Thai side Suphanburi last year.

“That was why I came back (to Australia) from Asia because I felt like I needed to play in front of the people that make the decisions.

“I felt like I could get lost in Asia and I didn’t want to end up playing the rest of my career there.”

Visconte’s trial with Adelaide United was cut short a fortnight ago when he strained a hamstring in training.

The former Australian under-23 international says the injury is responding well to treatment and he expects to be back with the Reds in the next week.

“I’m happy that the right people thought I was worthy of another opportunity.

“Now it’s up to me and whether I can take that opportunity.”

It has been a remarkable 12 months for Visconte.

After being released by Western Sydney last year, the former Heart of Midlothian flyer ignored offers to remain in Asia to return to the club where he began his career 14 years ago.

Visconte flourished under Kings coach Mark Brazzale’s attacking philosophy, linking brilliantly with strikers Andreas Weins and Shaun McGreevy to lead Croydon to last month’s grand final victory over MetroStars.

“I made the right decision in going back to Croydon,” says Visconte, who won an A-League title with Brisbane Roar in 2010/11.

“It’s the club I’ve always played for so going into games there’s extra motivation because you’re not only trying to win games for yourself but also for the club.

“It’s a special club and nothing has changed – whenever I go back there it still feels home.”