No one will forget Mile Jedinak’s name after his Socceroos heroics

MILE Jedinak was mistakenly referred to as “Mike” by then Prime Minister Tony Abbott before the 2014 World Cup, but there was no mistaking his name following his Socceroos heroics.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull takes a selfie with Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak. Picture: AP

WHEN then Prime Minister Tony Abbott posted a video on YouTube wishing Australia luck ahead of its 2014 World Cup match against Chile he referred to the Socceroos captain as “Mike” Jedinak.

On Thursday there was no mistaking Mile Jedinak’s name as the current PM, Malcolm Turnbull, celebrated the skipper’s three-goal heroics against Honduras the night prior, goals which catapulted Australia into a fourth-successive World Cup.

“Mile Jedinak, three goals, that’s the captain’s knock,” Turnbull said in front of thousands of fans at a celebration event in Sydney’s Martin Place.

He’s a quiet achiever, Jedinak.

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That could be seen in his “celebration” for the first of his three goals on Wednesday, evoking shades of Mark Bresciano against Uruguay at the same ground in 2005 when he basically posed as a statue for his teammates to climb on board.

It was symbolic as, for the two legs of this successful playoff, Jedinak shouldered an amazing burden both in terms of putting his own body through the wringer and also leading from the front when his country needed him most.

Mile Jedinak poses for photos with fans at Martin Place in Sydney. Picture: AFP

All around Australia on Thursday Jedinak was the man on everyone’s lips.

But there’s a fair chance a few Gen Y types will be having those lips covered in the months to come in widespread attempts to replicate the “People’s Beard”.

If his Wikipedia page was to be believed at various stages on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, Jedinak is favourite to win the Ballon d’Or for world’s best player of 2017 and is also “a God among men”.

Jedinak signing autographs. Picture: AAP

Not bad for a bloke whose professional career had the most humble beginnings: an injury-replacement at the Central Coast Mariners in 2007, won after he spent months driving back and forth between Western Sydney and Gosford in the hopes of securing a deal.

“This probably means more than I can describe,” Jedinak said when asked what World Cup qualification meant to him.

“It’s probably right up there (as a career-best moment). With all things considered, definitely.

“I’m a bit lost words on how I am feeling but I am immensely proud of everybody and what we’ve done tonight.”

Mile Jedinak celebrates one of his three goals against Honduras. Picture: Getty Images

Eventually the aches and pains will hit, but for now the euphoria is Jedinak’s main emotion.

Jedinak eventually succumbed to a nagging groin injury in June and underwent surgery after Australia’s World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia.

Between then and October 28 he only managed 45 minutes for Villa, in September, before two substitute appearances for the English Championship side on the eve of the Honduras games gave coach Ange Postecoglou scope to pick him.

The 33-year-old didn’t let him down.

But, to be fair, in a glittering career that has seen him play in Turkey, captain Crystal Palace in the English Premier League and now play for iconic club Villa, he rarely has let anyone down.

“My body feels OK at the minute,” he said.

“I am a little bit tired but that’s expected. There’s plenty time to worry about that later on.

“It’s a credit to everybody who helped me along the way. I didn’t have doubts so much, it was more just you can never predict how you are going to pull up.

“For that reason I am very grateful.”