Central Coast Mariners’ Max Balard learned the art of adaptability early – it shaped his career

Honing his football skills in war-torn and developing countries gave Mariners’ academy star Max Balard a different view of the world and football. ERIN SMITH spoke to the young midfielder ahead of Saturday’s men’s A-League Grand Final.

Mariners’ Max Balard celebrates scoring one of his three goals this season. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Dubai – Max Balard honed his football skills all around the world before landing at the Central Coast Mariners Academy – the constant need to adapt on and off the field steered him to being one of the A-Leagues’ smartest midfielders.

Balard, 23, will line up for his second A-Leagues’ grand final with the Gosford based outfit this weekend – but with adrenaline still high from their AFC Cup success and premiership win he said the impending clash with Melbourne Victory felt like any other game.

“It hasn’t really kicked in yet that it’s a grand final, we have had so many big games leading up to now, I’ve just been taking it game by game,” Balard said.

“This is just another game that we have to win. I think I’ll start to get excited when I see the fans out there in the stands and feel the atmosphere of the game but at the moment it’s just another game.”

Playing in a grand final is a privilege – something many A-Leagues’ players never get the opportunity to do.

Balard is about to play his second in as many years.

Max Balard and Christian Theoharaous after last year’s Grand Final victory. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

His early years growing up in developing countries, even during civil wartime, gave the rising star a greater sense of appreciation than most his age have.

Balard’s parents are from a city in southeast France.

His family travelled a lot – he first started kicking a ball round as a four-year-old in the Malaysian junior leagues.

When he was six-years-old the family relocated to Sri Lanka – in the midst of a civil war. Within a week of moving a bus, not far from their hotel was destroyed by a bomb.

Despite being just six at the time, Balard can still remember how scary it was.

“It is a different experience than what most of my teammates have had,” Balard said.

“There were military checkpoints every 100m, making sure you didn’t have a bomb under your car.

“Life was pretty hectic and it is something that puts a lot of things into perspective, even just seeing a lot of third world countries and the number of poor people.”

Balard said one thing everywhere he lived had in common was a love of football.

“At the end of the day you could go down to your local park and the same person who had been begging on the road would then play football with you, that is what is so special about football, it brings everyone together, no matter what the situation is,” he said.

“It gives me that ambition to keep pushing hard, because I’ve seen how hard it is for other people around the world to achieve their dreams.”

From military checkpoints in Sri Lanka, to the glitz and glamour that comes with being a professional footballer. Picture: James Gourley/Getty Images

Balard said he had no doubt his childhood had helped shape him into the person and footballer he was today.

“I think moving around in different countries you are forced to adapt not only in football but in life,” Balard said.

“You are forced to adapt to the different way people play, playing against older boys.

“Trying to continue to improve in different countries really helped shape me into the footballer I am today.

“I’ve had so many coaches who have really influenced me as a football player but as a person as well, like my coach Kevin in Vietnam – he always supported me and pretty much instilled the dream of being a professional football player.”

He has had a standout season – scoring three goals and three assists in his 28 A-League appearances – an epic 2470 minutes – the fourth highest in the team. On top of that he played in 13 AFC Cup games as well.

His efforts on the pitch earned him the Mariners Medal at the club’s annual awards night.

The match winner, Max Balard, with magic at his feet! 🪄

A first Isuzu UTE A-League goal for Max, and what a time to do it! 👏

Saturday 🎟: https://t.co/IlWFMzys6i#CCMFC#TakeUsToTheToppic.twitter.com/Rf5P9uFvFD

— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) April 2, 2024

Despite all the achievements Balard said there was still one job outstanding – winning the grand final.

“We set our objectives early in the season and even though it probably didn’t look so good when we were losing the first four games of the season and losing our first AFC Cup game as well,” Balard said.

“I think plenty of people probably wrote us off. But that is where we thrive, we are at our best when we’re the underdogs.

“After those first four games we had a chat and now we are in a position where we are able to win the treble and to create history and to leave a mark on The Central Coast Mariners for a lifetime.

“It would be amazing.

“I’m super grateful to be in this position.”

Balard is just grateful to be playing top-flight football for Central Coast. Picture: Kelly Barnes/Getty Images

Balard, who made his debut for the Mariners in the 2020/21 season, could farewell the club in the off-season with a deal with a Portuguese Primeira Liga side pending.

“My main focus is on finishing the season strong and then we’ll see what happens,” Balard said.

“But the Mariners have proven in the past that many of their players are able to play in Europe.

“I’ve always had that ambition from the start, I want to try and achieve that. Football is a crazy game so I’m trying to stay humble, keep my feet on the ground and focus on the job I’ve got to do this weekend.”

Central Coast Mariners play Melbourne Victory in the A-Leagues’ Men’s grand final on Saturday at 7.45pm.

Originally published as Central Coast Mariners’ Max Balard learned the art of adaptability early – it shaped his career