The family ties that kept veteran Socceroo Danny Vukovic going

IT’S when he gets home from an away game that Socceroos goalkeeper Danny Vukovic can see the difference, and know that the enormous decision he took to leave Australia was ultimately the right one.

Danny Vukovic was unsure about his move to Genk but is happy with how life turned out.

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IT’S when he gets home from an away game that Danny Vukovic can see the difference, and know that the enormous decision he took was ultimately the right one.

Some 18 months after his son Harley had a liver transplant, and a year since Vukovic secured a move to Belgium at the ripe age of 32, the angst of Harley’s early years is gone, most of all in the boy’s own face.

Harley is too young to understand it now, but soon enough he’ll read about the year his dad went to the World Cup, on the back of winning player of the year in his first season overseas.

The decision to quit champions Sydney FC a year ago to take up an offer at Belgian side Genk was fraught with competing factors, most of all giving up the family support and excellent medical care helping his family in western Sydney.

Danny and Kristy Vukovic are enjoying an easier time at home now Harley’s liver transplant is behind him. Picture: Rohan Kelly

“There was a lot of thought went into it, and you have to ask yourself a lot of questions, especially around how it would affect my wife and my family,” Vukovic said.

“It was something I’d dreamt about for a very long time, and we came to a decision as a family that we could do it.

“When we were at Melbourne (Victory, two and a half years ago), Harley was in the middle of his illness, and he really wasn’t doing very well.

“Now I look at Harley and he’s just a normal little boy, you wouldn’t be able to tell that he’s had anything wrong with him.

“When we were in Melbourne you could see the moment you looked at him that he was an unwell child.

Socceroos goalkeeper Danny Vukovic will play in the Russia World Cup after a whirlwind year which saw him quit then-A-League champions Sydney FC for Belgium side Genk. Picture: Toby Zerna

“We’ve come a long way as a family, his health is the best it’s ever been, and we’re just very grateful for the position we’re in.”

It wasn’t quite so cut and dried in the early weeks of the season, with Vukovic confessing to a couple of nervous errors as he tried to establish himself at Genk - where Socceroos teammate Mat Ryan had excelled the year before.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself early on, especially after the season I’d had at Sydney FC. It was like I couldn’t do anything wrong there, and the moment I arrived in Belgium it felt like I was making mistakes.

Danny Vukovic in action for Sydney FC during the 2017 grand final win against Melbourne Victory. Picture: Mark Evans

“But once I relaxed and got used to the football life there, I started to come into my own. We got a new coach halfway through and became the form side - I’m expecting to have an even better year next year.”

What makes it even sweeter is the move to Europe came nearly a decade after a brutal two years, featuring a nine-month ban for striking a referee and an abortive move to Turkey which collapsed before he played a game.

“Playing overseas was something I wished I’d done, and for a long time I thought I wouldn’t, especially at 32” he said. “But now I’ve had a season, I want more.

“I’ve got another year and possibly two more; there’s so many clubs, so many people watching, so many opportunities.”

Originally published as The family ties that kept veteran Socceroo Danny Vukovic going