A-League farewelling stars with long history in the game

A clutch of veterans will retire from professional football in the next three weeks, leaving their A-League clubs and also thinning out the last remaining connections with the NSL.

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One by one they have called time, leaving the playing links with “old soccer” frayed almost to the point of snapping.

A clutch of veterans will retire from professional football in the next three weeks, leaving their A-League clubs and also thinning out the last remaining connections with the NSL.

From Alex Brosque to Carl Valeri, Brett Holman to Andrew Durante, it feels like an unparalleled swath of experience and know-how will stand down at the end of each one’s respective seasons.

Close to the end of the A-League’s 14th season, the passing years mean it’s inevitable that fewer and fewer are left still playing who remember the old national league. At this stage, the rivalry largely disappears and comradeship closes over in its place.

“At the end of every year it seems that way — you see a lot of players retiring,” said Brosque.

“That's part of football, a handful of boys retire and a handful of young boys get the opportunity to come in and make a name for themselves.

Mark Bridge, Alex Brosque and Brendon Santalab are all retiring at the end of the season.

“But when I look around, there's a lot of us of the same age who grew up playing juniors around each other, went to school together, played in the NSL together and then came into the A-League, and now we’re all retiring.

“It's sad in a way — everything has to come to an end. But it's good to look around and be in some good company when it comes to calling time.”

The fates have been kind to most, in the sense that injury hasn’t dictated when the final bell should be rung.

Brendon Santalab resisted the temptation to play one more season at Perth Glory, content to step away however the finale of this season plays out.

“The one thing for me was finishing my career in good shape,” said Santalab.

“I see many players go out of the game injured and unable to find a contract and not go out on their own terms.

Matt McKay played his last match in the A-League on Thursday.

“I always wanted to go out of the game on my own terms, so I made the decision instead of others making the decision for me.”

The links between those bowing out this season are many and varied. Brosque and Brisbane captain Matt McKay played Young Socceroos together.

Bridge and Bruce Djite played for the Socceroos together once, and Durante accidentally broke Bridge’s ankle in pre-season at the Jets. Those bonds endure, though so does the banter.

“What’s really brought it home is I’ve been asked to give quotes in appreciation of other people retiring, and you realise that a generation is stepping aside,” said Bridge.

“I feel like playing sport keeps you younger, you have 34 and 35-year-olds in the same dressing room as a teenager, and you all have the same jokes and the same banter.

“Some days I feel grown up, but I don’t want to get old and grumpy. I want to make sure I keep having a joke. That won’t change.”

Veteran Andrew Durante won’t be joining those who have called time just yet.

And so just six are left who remember the challenges — as well as the high points — of the NSL. Tarek Elrich, Eugene Galekovic, Nigel Boogaard, Liam Reddy, Alex Wilkinson, Andrew Durante, Vince Lia and Glen Moss all intend to go round again.

“I do tell a few old-wives’ tales about the NSL, especially tot the younger boys helping with kit and equipment,” said Moss.

“In the NSL we had to help with the laundry, wash the older boys’ cars, even paint their houses — it was earn-your-stripes stuff.

“The support these days is so much better in terms of high performance, the medical care and so on. It’s true, some days it’s a bit harder to get out of bed and it creeps into everyday life.

“But in general I’ve never felt better.”