Winger Awer Mabil keen to make the most of his latest chance with Socceroos

A popular Socceroo has returned to the national team intent on playing a leading role helping Australia qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Socceroos winger Awer Mabil has found form with his Swiss club Grasshoppers. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Used to leading by example off the field, 2023 Young Australian of the Year Awer Mabil admits the time has come for him to set the standard on the park as he bids to become a permanent part of Socceroos coach Graham Arnold’s FIFA World Cup qualifying plans.

Having been sidelined for four months earlier this year with a quad injury, Mabil has found some much-needed form with his Swiss club Grasshoppers.

It’s a resurgence that has led to the 28-year-old winger – who conceded he was “doubting himself” during his time in Spain’s La Liga with Cadiz – being recalled to the Socceroos squad for Thursday’s clash against Bahrain on the Gold Coast and next Tuesday’s battle with Indonesia in Jakarta.

Mabil’s most recent appearance for Australia was 11 months ago in a 1-0 loss to England at Wembley.

Since then, the Socceroos have played 13 matches, with Mabil – who also received limited minutes at the 2022 World Cup – saying he had “missed it a lot”.

Great to see two #Socceroos crossing paths in Europe 🇦🇺

Nestory Irankunda 🤝 Awer Mabil

📸: awermabil10 / Instagram#AussiesAbroadpic.twitter.com/mY4vhS4xGb

— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) August 20, 2024

“But I’ve been following the boys, and it makes me happy to see what they have been doing also,” he said.

“It’s been a learning couple years. I will not look at the last couple years as something that I will change but more like something that I use as a motivation to continue to enjoy the process, the hard and the good times.

“I’m going to do what I can do to help the team. That’s what I’m focused on.”

Mabil admitted he had sometimes been his own worst enemy in terms of his fitness and welfare.

“I’m more appreciative of my health and just not taking things for granted,’ he said.

“That’s the biggest lesson. I’m just present. I am more present now than I was before.”

And that’s also being “present” for others.

Awer Mabil is living in the present. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Mabil’s generosity and caring nature is no secret, with his Young Australian of the Year award having come on the back of co-founding Barefoot to Boots, a not-for-profit organisation that helps refugees with health, education, policies and gender equality.

His guidance also spreads to his Socceroos teammates, including “little brother” and another former Adelaide United winger, Nestory Irankunda, the 18-year-old former A-League prodigy who recently embarked on a career with German giants Bayern Munich.

As well as being together in the current Socceroos camp, the pair also crossed paths last month when Grasshoppers travelled to Germany to meet Bayern in a pre-season match.

“To watch his growth in the last year has been amazing, but we also have to continue to let him grow,” Mabil said of the teenage sensation.

“He will make mistakes, but we just have to be there to give him a hand. We just have to allow him to be himself and continue to express his talent.

“He’s my little brother, so I try to give him the best advice that I can.

“I said (to Irankunda) ‘look around you, you’ve got everything here. You’re training with some of the best players in the world, so put your head down, just work hard and try to pick their brains. You can learn from every single player. Everybody your age would do anything in the world to be in your shoes’.”

Originally published as Winger Awer Mabil keen to make the most of his latest chance with Socceroos