Rowdy
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Kalac tells Jedinak - Don’t risk being crucified in the A-League:
Former Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak has been advised to give the A-League a wide berth by former golden generation goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac.
The ex-AC Milan gloveman, who had stints as goalkeeping coach at Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne City, says Jedinak, 36, should continue his career in Europe, rather than risk being “crucified” back in Australia.
Released by Aston Villa at the end of last season, Jedinak has been courted by expansion club Macarthur FC, though he will 37 when they enter the competition in 2020-2021.
Meantime, UK-based Jedinak - who has 90 Premier League appearances and 147 in the Championship - remains clubless on the eve of the A-League kick-off, and declined to comment on his immediate plans when contacted by The World Game this week.
Kalac cited players like John Aloisi, Harry Kewell, Vince Grella and Lucas Neill, who returned at the back end of their careers and struggled to make telling impacts.
“There’s the risk of going from cult hero status to being crucified by people - look what happened to Johnny Aloisi when he came back (from Spain for spells at Central Coast and Sydney FC),” explained Kalac.
“The guy was playing with no meniscus in his knees at the end there. But he’s the man who got us to a World Cup yet got hammered for one bad season.
“These players come back and cop all the criticism - it’s not worth it. There’s no respect in this country.
“If I’m Mile, I’d play on if I can find a club in Europe - and I’m sure he’s had offers - but I definitely wouldn’t return to Australia to play.”
Kalac did offer one caveat, saying if Jedinak got a gig at a Melbourne Victory or Sydney FC he would at least have better players around him and might be able to live up to some of the expectations heaped on returning national team stars.
“He’s a leader and a great professional - but a lot would be expected of him,” he added.
“If he went to one of the smaller clubs he’s waiting for trouble.
“Tell me which golden generation players who returned home really stood out? The reality is most returned past their use-by dates.
“Guys like Mile have played at such a high level, you want to stay there and bring up the players around you, but they won’t follow.
“There are good players here, but overall the cattle isn’t good enough.
“We probably have five or six young guys in each squad who don’t deserve contracts. But that’s the way the salary cap works.”
Kalac is convinced Jedinak, who led Australia at last year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia, will already have rejected a number of offers from English clubs.
“I’m sure there’s been interest - maybe it’s come down to agreeing on wages. But he could certainly do a job for a club (outside the Premier League).”
Having flopped in the 2018-19 A-League season, Western Sydney and Central Coast have cause to be optimistic heading into their opening round clash.
Former Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak has been advised to give the A-League a wide berth by former golden generation goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac.
The ex-AC Milan gloveman, who had stints as goalkeeping coach at Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne City, says Jedinak, 36, should continue his career in Europe, rather than risk being “crucified” back in Australia.
Released by Aston Villa at the end of last season, Jedinak has been courted by expansion club Macarthur FC, though he will 37 when they enter the competition in 2020-2021.
Meantime, UK-based Jedinak - who has 90 Premier League appearances and 147 in the Championship - remains clubless on the eve of the A-League kick-off, and declined to comment on his immediate plans when contacted by The World Game this week.
Kalac cited players like John Aloisi, Harry Kewell, Vince Grella and Lucas Neill, who returned at the back end of their careers and struggled to make telling impacts.
“There’s the risk of going from cult hero status to being crucified by people - look what happened to Johnny Aloisi when he came back (from Spain for spells at Central Coast and Sydney FC),” explained Kalac.
“The guy was playing with no meniscus in his knees at the end there. But he’s the man who got us to a World Cup yet got hammered for one bad season.
“These players come back and cop all the criticism - it’s not worth it. There’s no respect in this country.
“If I’m Mile, I’d play on if I can find a club in Europe - and I’m sure he’s had offers - but I definitely wouldn’t return to Australia to play.”
Kalac did offer one caveat, saying if Jedinak got a gig at a Melbourne Victory or Sydney FC he would at least have better players around him and might be able to live up to some of the expectations heaped on returning national team stars.
“He’s a leader and a great professional - but a lot would be expected of him,” he added.
“If he went to one of the smaller clubs he’s waiting for trouble.
“Tell me which golden generation players who returned home really stood out? The reality is most returned past their use-by dates.
“Guys like Mile have played at such a high level, you want to stay there and bring up the players around you, but they won’t follow.
“There are good players here, but overall the cattle isn’t good enough.
“We probably have five or six young guys in each squad who don’t deserve contracts. But that’s the way the salary cap works.”
Kalac is convinced Jedinak, who led Australia at last year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia, will already have rejected a number of offers from English clubs.
“I’m sure there’s been interest - maybe it’s come down to agreeing on wages. But he could certainly do a job for a club (outside the Premier League).”
Having flopped in the 2018-19 A-League season, Western Sydney and Central Coast have cause to be optimistic heading into their opening round clash.
