World Cup 2018: Socceroos star Robbie Kruse on how he turned his career around

A DECADE ago Robbie Kruse’s A-League career was at the crossroads. The then wayward teen was living a life completely at odds with the demands of a professional footballer.

A DECADE ago Robbie Kruse’s A-League career was at the crossroads.

The then wayward teen was living a life completely at odds with the demands of a professional footballer and he quickly exhausted three strikes at Brisbane Roar.

Now, on the eve of Russia 2018, Kruse is the fittest of the Socceroos’ 23-man squad, having overcome three horror injuries that have ended others’ careers.

A star in the German second tier, a remarkably frank Kruse, 29, opened up to the Sunday Herald-Sun, revealing how booze, buffoonery and black eyes almost extinguished his dreams.

“I probably hung around with the wrong people in Brisbane.

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Drinking flat-stick, going out all the time — got caught up in it, did a few stupid things, then they sacked me,’’ Kruse said.

“There was a period of about five months where I would just smack a bottle of scotch a day and not give a f.... It wouldn’t bother me. I just got into a routine of doing it consistently everyday, and then still going to training and waking up feeling fine.

“I was 18, living alone, playing every game and doing well at the start, too. Then they sacked me after a few offences.

Socceroos wingers Mathew Leckie (left) and Robbie Kruse. Picture: Toby Zerna

“Just dumb stuff. Someone would see you out and say something — one time I got clobbered (by) some dude in a Superman outfit. Lost my front tooth.”

Kruse said his parents were great influences, but moving away from home and the realities of professional soccer were recipes for disaster.

“I moved away and did well in my first season at Roar, then I went (on trial) to FC Twente,’’ he said.

“I was overweight as I was drinking a lot, it was off-season. They still wanted to sign me, this was when they won the (Dutch) title — it was just too early for me. It hit me a month later and I think that’s also why I started to play up a bit.

“A lot of players do it when they’re younger. People do wrong things and I now I’m so professional in the things I do. I’m strict with my prehab, rehab, recovery. I don’t skip anything.

“It made me appreciate what football was when it got taken away from me, because I didn’t know where I was going to sign after (Roar axed him).”

Kruse’s good pal Mat Leckie is another who’s grown up, conceding that soccer changed his life since he was plucked by Adelaide United from state league club Bulleen.

The Hertha Berlin attacker, who is consistently alongside Kruse in the fitness stakes, did not go through traditional pathways and had to refocus from part-timer to pro on and off the field.

“I didn’t really have any thoughts on what I was gonna do as a job, just played football. (If not for football) I reckon I just would’ve been a carpenter with my dad,’’ Leckie said.

“It all happened pretty quickly. I worked and trained hard, but we also enjoyed a night out. It was good fun and sometimes that’s what brings teams closer together, the nights out. I was never too silly. I don’t think.”

Robbie Kruse was sacked by Brisbane Roar before he found his A-League feet again with Melbourne Victory.

Kruse moved to Melbourne Victory in 2009 before a shift to German club Fortuna Dusseldorf placed him in cutthroat environments where discipline was a must.

“I definitely wasn’t professional, it was quite easy in the A-League back then,’’ Kruse said.

“Otherwise I would’ve done a trade also. When I moved out of my comfort zone in Germany you learn to adapt and work harder being a foreigner. All that prepared me to become more professional and not do stupid stuff.

“I wouldn’t change anything. Sometimes I look back and think of how far I’ve come. It was hard for my parents to see what I was going through because I come from a great family.

“I’ve had three really serious injuries where lots of people wouldn’t be able to get back to that level. Fortunately I’ve got over 60 Australia caps, played 10-12 Champions League games. To overcome that is a testament to my parents’ support.

“They’re also really proud of the person I’ve become from doing that stuff. It wasn’t that bad, just going out like a young kid. But it wasn’t for a footballer.”

The rewards will be reaped in the next fortnight, possibly beyond.