Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover heads to Europe

The goalkeeper caught up in one of the most outrageous moments in Australian sport has decided to take his career overseas.

A bleeding Tom Glover is escorted from the pitch by teammates after fans stormed the field at AAMI Park. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover, who was concussed when rioting fans stormed the AAMI Park pitch last December, is leaving the club and the A-League after 109 games.

Glover, who was this week called into Socceroos coach Graham Arnold’s squad to face World Cup winners Argentina in China, is headed to Europe after making the decision to exit the club.

He joins fellow Socceroo Aiden O’Neill in departing City in the wake of their 6-1 A-League grand final loss to Central Coast Mariners last weekend.

Glover was concussed when a bucket was thrown at him during the pitch invasion last December after he tossed back a flare thrown by a group of Melbourne Victory supporters towards him.

Despite the jarring incident, Glover said he left City with only fond memories.

“I’ve loved playing at the club, but the time has now come for me to take the next step in my career,” Glover said.

“I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunities that City has given me to play senior football and to help me in my development on the pitch as a player and off the pitch as a person.

Tom Glover is hit by a bucket as fans storm the pitch.

“It’s been special to be part of such a successful group and I’ll never forget the memories of the past few years, but lifting four pieces of silverware in front of our amazing fans will always be the highlight.”

O’Neill, who made the move to Melbourne from Burnley FC prior to the 2020/21 season, scored four goals for City and in March earnt a Socceroos debut against Ecuador.

He’s also been named in Arnold’s squad to face Argentina next Thursday.

“We obviously wanted to keep Aiden and Tom at the club; however, both were clear in their ambitions to move to Europe,” Melbourne City football director Michael Petrillo said.

“Aiden and Tom arrived here as young players trying to re-establish their careers, so to have played an important role in their development into elite A-League Men’s players, and now Socceroos, fills us with enormous pride.

“Given their character and ability, I have no doubt that they will continue to enhance their careers overseas and we look forward to watching their progress in the years to come”.

Originally published as Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover heads to Europe