Danny Vukovic thrives at Sydney FC after unhappy spell at Victory

By his own high standards, Danny Vukovic wasn’t happy at powerhouse club Melbourne Victory.

Sydney FC goalkeeper Danny Vukovic trains at Macquarie University this week. Picture: Gregg Porteous

By his own high standards, Danny Vukovic wasn’t happy.

A big move to powerhouse Melbourne Victory at the start of last season should have been the ultimate in what has been a ­wonderful 12-season career in the A-League for one of the best goalkeepers in the country.

But it didn’t work out that way. A slump in form and the issues ­surrounding the health of his young son Harley saw the 250-game veteran of the national competition eventually lose his spot as No 1 at Victory four games before the end of the season.

A 5-0 loss to Brisbane Roar forced Victory coach Kevin Muscat to dump him in favour of Lawrence Thomas for the rest of the season and the finals. Vukovic had no qualms with the decision.

“I’ve always prided myself on my consistency, but for whatever reason I couldn’t do it last season,” an honest Vukovic, now at Sydney FC, said yesterday.

“It was tough to deal with. It was my first real slump (in form). There were issues off the field that didn’t help.

“But that’s life and football. You have your ups and downs. I’ve worked my way out of it now and I feel I’m back to my old self.”

The move to Sydney, to be closer to family and friends, to play under Sydney coach Graham ­Arnold and reunite with his goalkeeping coach John Crawley, was a no-brainer for him.

“Part of the reason for coming back to Sydney was to be in an environment that was good for me on and off the pitch,” he said.

“We hadn’t been in Sydney for 12 years. Being with family and friends again and renewing my link with JC (Crawley) was important.

“John especially knows me inside and out.

“He has been my goalkeeping coach since I was 12.”

While the 4-0 win over Western Sydney in the derby last week suggests an easy game, Vukovic was forced to make a couple of ­crucial saves when the match was still in the balance.

It was the Vukovic of old — brave, standing tall and sure of himself.

“It is only one game, but I am happy. I had a good pre-season and I know how hard I worked to get back to where I used to be,” he said.

“It was great to get the three points but we are not getting ­carried away and Arnie has made sure our feet stay on the ground.”

Vukovic said Arnold had also been a big influence.

“He has been great. He really knows me well and how to get the best out of me,” he said.

“The way he puts the team out is great. He is one of the best coaches in Aust­ralia and he has the team very ­confident in the way we play and the style of football he wants.”

Sydney play Central Coast Mariners at Allianz Stadium today and Vukovic says the Sky Blues won’t be taking his old club, where he spent the first five seasons of the A-League, for granted.

Interestingly, the game will ­feature players and coaches who have been involved at both clubs. Arnold coached the Mariners to their only title win.

Conditioner Andrew Clark and Crawley were also on the coaching staff at the time while Alex Wilkinson and Matty Simon also played for the Gosford club.

The Mariners will field three players — Mickael Tavares, ­Jacques Faty and keeper Ivan ­Necevski — who were at Sydney last season.