Jamie Maclaren opens up on joining Melbourne City, his tough times in Germany and his love for ‘Simba’
Jamie Maclaren left Melbourne as a teenager with big dreams. He returned a decade later as one of Australia’s hottest properties. David Davutovic looks at the star striker’s rise through the ranks.
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Jamie Maclaren left Melbourne as another starry-eyed 15-year-old chasing a European football contract.
The 26-year-old returned 10 years later as a Socceroos World Cup striker and one of Australia’s hottest properties — with two prized recruits from his global football journey.
He met fiancee Iva Arapovic during his stint with Perth Glory (2013-15), before setting off on an epic 14-hour round trip to buy his beloved golden retriever, Simba, during his 2018 spell with Scottish club Hibernian.
The trio could not be happier in Melbourne, although a return to the football mecca of Europe could beckon if Maclaren continues his record-breaking goalscoring form for A-League side Melbourne City.
But not before Sunbury-born Maclaren cracks some significant milestones on and off the pitch back home.
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“It was a good time to come back home (last February), be around family and having a bit of normality after being a nomad over the years (he’s lived in Blackburn, Perth, Brisbane, Darmstadt in Germany and Edinburgh),” Maclaren said.
“My sister’s just had a kid, I’m getting married next year. It seemed the right time and right club — Melbourne City haven’t fully reached their potential.
“As a Melbourne boy, I want to be part of a history that’s successful. The season’s started off well, we’ve got to keep going.
“I believe we’ll be (pushing for a title) this season. It’ll be nice to top it off with the wedding (in late May).”
Perhaps feeding off Maclaren’s positive energy, Iva and Lion King-inspired Simba — who’s happily ditched Scotland’s subzero climate for inconsistent but warmer temperatures — are digging Melbourne.
It contrasts with his horror stint at German second-tier club Darmstadt.
“We’re getting married in Melbourne; it wasn’t a hard conversation to have with Iva,” he said.
“I’ve always preached, if you’re happy off the field that transpires on to the field. You can see that with me now, just really enjoying life.
“I hated the game for a period (in Germany). It mentally broke me, I felt for my missus. I would come home and wouldn’t want to talk football.
“But we’re all loving Melbourne. Simba loves the heat to be honest, loves swimming. He’s just a great boy.
“He’s the luckiest dog alive, gets about four to five walks per day. I wake up at 6am, take him on a nice brisk walk before training.”
Simba is developing quite the travel diary, the latest being his journey to Melbourne.
“It was a six-month process, Jetpets (Animal Transport) were great — 25 injections later, he’s here and loving it,” Maclaren said.
“It cost $12,000 to get him to Australia. He’s that much of a son to me, I would’ve paid $60,000. He’s worth every cent.
“One day we were watching the old Lion King, I said when I had a dog I’ll call him Simba. And we’ve always had golden retrievers in the family.
“After Germany, when I went back to Scotland (in 2018), I thought I needed to change things, my routine was too similar, felt I needed more responsibility and felt like the time was right (for a dog).
“When I was in Edinburgh (with Hibernian), we went down to Birmingham, picked him up, named him Simba — drove seven hours there, seven hours back. Probably the best £1000 ($1925) I’ve ever spent.”
While Maclaren’s marquee wage — each A-League club is allowed two marquee players paid outside the $3.2 million dollar salary cap — is on par with some of the AFL’s top earners, his profile pales in comparison.
But he loves the rival code.
“Growing up it was AFL and cricket, but I was really into soccer. Coming back, I’ve taken more of an interest in AFL. I respect them so much as athletes, they’re just beasts,” he said.
“When you’re in a professional environment and take a lot of hits, you appreciate how hard they are as athletes, copping a pounding to the upper body, with no padding.
“I love the game now and go to as many games as I can, I took (City’s ex-Belgium defender) Ritchie de Laet to the Anzac Day game and he loved it.”
It is soccer, though, that will take centre stage in the AFL city when Melbourne City takes on Melbourne Victory in their highly anticipated derby at AAMI Park on Saturday.
Maclaren’s profile will only increase to coincide with his rising Socceroos status, in the wake of several turning points.
Despite his stellar Hibernian form, eight goals in 15 games including a hat-trick against Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers, Maclaren was overlooked for the 2018 World Cup squad.
Distraught, Maclaren posted an Instagram photo reading Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F--k while holidaying in Dubai.
Within days, he was called into the squad with an injury cloud hanging over fellow striker Tomi Juric. Maclaren made the final cut, just. Although he didn’t play, going to the World Cup was a huge confidence boost.
He then broke his Socceroos scoring duck — in his 10th game — at January’s Asian Cup, which preceded his move to Melbourne City.
Bagging four goals in his past two World Cup qualifiers last October, including a hat-trick, was a seminal moment.
“It’s everything that you dream of. I’m humbled every time I get selected for the Socceroos,” Maclaren said.
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The foundations of his persistence and success were laid in his Sunbury backyard, where his dad bought him football goals, before spending four crucial teenage years with then English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers, where he refined his game despite not playing for the first team.
A goal every two games is considered a stellar scoring record for a striker, making Maclaren’s 20 goals in 19 games for Melbourne City remarkable.
Hitting career-best form for club and country in 2019, Maclaren’s best is yet to come.