Sydney FC young gun Adrian Segecic a world traveller as he hones his football skills
This rising star has spent time with Dutch professional football club Ajax this year. Now he’s heading to Croatia with the sport he hopes will one day take him to the biggest stadiums in the world.
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He’s a football frequent flyer and top prospect with Sydney FC on track to make a name for himself in a sport he loves.
Now Adrian Segecic, 15, is becoming a world traveller in his quest to gain the skills to propel him to the top of the game in the future.
Segecic, a centre attacking midfielder, has emerged as a young player Australia may be fighting for in the future.
With Sydney FC since he was 12 and named in the Joeys squad for the AFC championships this year, Segecic was born in Australia but has Croatian grand parents.
So while his mates chill out during the Christmas holidays, he will fly to Croatia to join their under 16s national squad.
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“I’ve been to Croatia before and trained with them,’’ said the Year 9 Trinity student from Lidcombe.
“It was a good experience to get out of Australian and see what it about. It was pretty good.
“You learn how other countries do things differently. ”
The Sydney teenager has only recently returned from Amsterdam where he trialled with the Dutch professional football club Ajax.
“I was there for 10 days. I trained and played one game with the 17s,” he said of his trip to The Netherlands.
“The players there are some of the best in the world. To see how they live and breathe football, train and eat was great.
“I think they live and breathe football more. They train two times a day. Football is much bigger.
“I think mentally it has helped. And trying to perform without your family by your side. It’s what you have to do as footballer and I am preparing myself for a professional career.”
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Segecic said he knew from an early age football was the sport he wanted to excel in.
“When I was born my dad gave me a football,’’ he said.
“The family has always loved soccer, everyone in my family loves it.
“I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a football.
“I like that as a player you can show what you are capable of, can express yourself in a different way.
“I want badly to be a professional footballer. My whole life I have worked that extra one per cent.
“And Sydney FC have supported me so much along the way. It’s really helped push me.”
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