Goalkeeper Paul Izzo eyes Socceroos berth after signing new two-year Adelaide United contract
Paul Izzo says the chance to emulate his legendary mentor has convinced him to sign a new two-year deal with Adelaide United. And the SA-born goalkeeper believes Eugene Galekovic can also help fire his Socceroos dream.
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The chance to emulate his mentor and become an Adelaide United great has inspired Paul Izzo to put his overseas ambitions on hold and remain at his hometown club.
And the Reds goalkeeper is taking heart from a fellow A-League custodian getting the Socceroos opportunity he craves this season.
United on Friday confirmed Izzo had inked a new two-year deal, as reported by The Advertiser earlier this week.
It ended speculation the SA-born talent was set to chase his dreams in Europe with his contract due to expire at the end of this campaign.
Izzo said the fresh direction under manager Gertjan Verbeek had convinced him to extend his Adelaide career and help the club build on last summer’s semi-final exit.
He had found renewed focus working with Reds legend and now keeper trainer Eugene Galekovic, who was rekindling the pair’s past success under respected tutor Peter Blazincic.
“Euge has been fantastic and that’s one of the main reason I’m keen to stay put,” said Izzo, Galekovic’s understudy at United from 2011-15.
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“The best keeper coach I’ve had career-wise was Blaza (Blazincic) and Euge obviously took a massive liking to him too, so his coaching style is very, very similar.
“It’s a big goal to try to reach those feats that Euge reached, which is no easy task.
“But it’s a great motivation and something good moving forward for me.
“I love Adelaide and the club, so I’m buzzing that I can secure another two years here.
“I didn’t want to move anywhere else unless it was a bigger opportunity overseas.”
Izzo had been a virtual ever-present since rejoining the Reds in 2017, enhancing his reputation as one of the competition’s most promising and consistent shot-stoppers.
His impressive displays and growing maturity as a modern sweeper-keeper had caught the eye of several overseas scouts, given his relatively young age for a top flight No.1.
But the Campbelltown City product preferred to bide his time, after winning his second FFA Cup in as many years last week.
“The ambition is still to go overseas and try to push my career to that place,” Izzo, 24, said.
“The club knows that and they’re very supportive of that.
“But for the time being, nothing really concrete has come up.
“(European) teams are pretty locked in and they’re not really looking to recruit now, so it was an easy decision to stay.
“That cup win was massive because ... I want to keep repaying the club with trophies.
“It really brought that belief back that we’re capable of going one step further than last season and surprising a few people.”
Izzo did not see himself as a future Reds captain in the mould of 238-game stalwart Galekovic, who skippered the club to its maiden championship and FFA Cup triumph.
But he hoped to earn a breakthrough to the senior national team ranks, where his former superior earned eight caps and experienced two World Cups.
The ex-Australian youth international was encouraged by Sydney FC goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne making his Socceroos debut in June and retaining his squad berth since.
“Me and Euge spoke at the start of the year and that’s the goal,” said Izzo, who spent two years at Central Coast Mariners after progressing through the Reds’ junior system.
“We need to be pushing for national team contention.
“For me to be doing that, I need to be playing as best as I can and consistently throughout the whole season (for the Reds).
“I’m in the right environment to do that and I feel like the coaching I’m getting can really help improve my game.”