World Cup qualifiers: Harry Souttar poised to become second-tallest Socceroo in clash against Kuwait
Graham Arnold says there is far more to young giant Harry Souttar than an ability to tower over most opponents. In fact, the Socceroos coach thinks he might have uncovered a real gem.
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IF you said Harry Souttar was the next big thing in Australian football, no one could argue.
Even Souttar admits that it’s his height that literally stands out when you meet him for the first time.
At 198cm, it’s a stature that puts him in the company of sportsmen like Kobe Bryant, Rod Carney and Michael Jordan, and will make him — so far as it’s possible to be sure — the second tallest ever Socceroo once he earns his first cap.
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According to the best research of football historian Andrew Howe, Zeljko Kalac at 202cm is the tallest — currently followed by Eli Babalj, Robert Cornthwaite and Sasa Ognenovski, all at 195cm.
Souttar’s height is partly why Socceroos boss Graham Arnold has fast-tracked a player into the senior national squad who’s never actually set foot in Australia.
But there is far more to Souttar than an ability to tower over most opponents, according to both player and national coach, and Arnold thinks he might have uncovered a gem in his research into players who qualified for Australia through their lineage.
In Souttar’s case that comes from his mother, born in WA to Scottish grandparents who soon returned to the UK, and his elevation to the Olyroos earlier this year has been followed by selection in the squad to face Kuwait in a World cup qualifier early on Wednesday (EST).
It’s an ascent that could leave a 20-year-old suffering vertigo, but it’s his calmness — with the ball and without — that Arnold rates highly.
“I guess that’s just the kind of person I am,” Souttar said.
“I’m not really a high-energy individual off the pitch, and my game on it sort of reflects that.
“Obviously my height is the first thing people notice, and I like to think I’m quite good in the air — but that should be a given really.
“But I also like to take the ball out from the back and I’m lucky that with Fleetwood and Australia, they’re both teams that like to play football. It’s what I’ve always been taught.
“One thing I stand for is to try to improve every day, never be happy with what you’ve achieved. There are players in this Australian squad I watched previously and I can only benefit from being around them and learning.”
On loan at Fleetwood from Championship side Stoke, Souttar has been described as “a beast” by Arnold, and the quietly spoken defender insists his unflappable demeanour hides a fierce competitor.
“On a winter’s day in League One, where the pitches aren’t so good and there’s not so much football being played, you need to keep your head,” he said.
“There’s a lot more to my game than pretty football. So far Arnie has told me why he’s picked me, and to keep on doing what I’ve been doing at club level.
“Hopefully that’s enough to gt me in the selection frame come Tuesday.”
Originally published as World Cup qualifiers: Harry Souttar poised to become second-tallest Socceroo in clash against Kuwait