Young Gympie football star Sam Klein joins Young Socceroos

Talented Gympie football star is now part of the Young Socceroos' campaign to claim the Costa Calida Supercup, less than a year after making his A-League debut.

Rising Gympie football star Sam Klein’s career has progressed to the global stage with the talented 18-year-old mid fielder part of the Young Socceroos team aiming to take the 2022 Costa Calida Supercup.

The 18-year-old was on the field for more than 60 minutes in the first clash against Morocco, played early Friday morning Australian-time.

The Young Socceroos lost the game 1-0, with the lone goal against them coming three minutes into the match.

It was a special occasion for the Klein family, with parents Frances and Joachim, and Sam’s siblings – including a sister face timing from Norway – climbing out of bed at 2am to cheer Sam on.

Frances said it was “surreal” and a “real nice moment”.

“You really do get that national pride,” Frances said, reflecting on the moment when players standing with their hands on their hearts wearing the Green and Gold.

“That was really special.”

Sam Klein’s Young Socceroos campaign comes less than a year after he mde if A-League debut for the Brisbane Roar.

The experience had been a whirlwind, she said, with Sam called to a talent camp only one month ago.

He was flown to Spain on Monday to get acclimated to the weather.

“It all happened really quickly,” Frances said.

Sam was “really excited” by the opportunity and the path it opened up for him, which included the Ollyroos and men’s Socceroos as possible future destinations.

Frances said playing professionally had always been the dream.

“Basically since when he could walk he wanted to kick a ball,” she said.

The opportunity for him to play in this Cup was heightened by the rollercoaster of shutdowns and travel restrictions of the past two years thanks to the Covid pandemic.

Playing for the Young Socceroos is yet another milestone is the amazing career of Gympie’s youth Sam Klein (pictured here in 2016), with his mother Francis saying the now-18-year-old had been kicking footballs ever since he could walk. Photo Renee Albrecht/Gympie Times

It was another major goal for the young star, who made his A-League debut with the Brisbane Roar in January.

Sam’s career started with the Bradwell Bombers when he was six and his family was living in England.

When they returned to Gympie, he joined the local Diggers Football Club and then later the Columbia Football Club before joining the Sunshine Coast Fire about five years ago.

The former St Patrick’s College student was awarded a scholarship to Nudgee College in Brisbane after being accepted into the Roar Academy and represented Queensland at the Under 11 and Under 12 levels.

Sam and the Young Socceroos have games against Chile (September 25, 5am AEST) and England (September 28, 1am AEST) next week.