Round Ball hosts Nathan Butler and Scott Dickson with Josip Skoko during his last visit to the region.
Former Mount Gambier soccer player, Josip Skoko has signed for new A League franchise Melbourne Heart and CEO of Mount Gambier’s Community Football Development Program, The Round Ball, Scott Dickson is delighted for the benefits it will bring to the region. Melbourne Heart released details of the signing on Wednesday morning however, rumours of the signing had been circulating for months prior. “When Josip returned to Australia at Christmas it was well known that Josip had met with officials from the Heart” Dickson said. “Coaching staff from the Heart visited Josip soon after in Croatia and spent time with Josip and it is no secret that Melbourne Heart Football Operations Manager John Didulica is a family friend of the Skoko‘s” he went on to add.
However it is the opportunity to move home that was the main catalyst in Josip joining the new franchise, “Josip has had several offers from overseas teams and he could have stayed with Split, however the timing was right to move home and Josip is very close to his family that have remained in Geelong” added Dickson.
Skoko was born in Mount Gambier and played soccer for Mount Gambier Croatia. He left the local area and moved to Geelong when he was 11 to further his soccer opportunities. “When Josip left the Mount his family moved to Geelong and he travelled to Melbourne to train soon after. He later went through the pathway of state selection, AIS, Australian selection and then successful stints at some of the biggest clubs across Europe”
He played for Hajduk Split (1995-99), Racing Club Genk (1999-2003) and Gençlerbirliği (2003-05). In 2002, he captained the Genk side to the Belgian First Division championship. He was also an integral member of the Gençlerbirliği team, which progressed into the latter stages of the UEFA Cup in 2004.
Skoko joined English Premier League club Wigan Athletic on a free transfer at the beginning of the 2005-06 season.
In the 2006-07 season, Paul Jewell showed renewed faith in Skoko giving him an extended run in the side. He signed a new contract deal keeping him at Wigan until 2008. However, at the end of the season it became clear that Skoko had played his last game for the club. The two main reasons were because he did not play enough games for Wigan to trigger a clause in his contract and also the impossibility of receiving a visa for his stay in England due to his international retirement with Australia. Josip returned to Croatia to captain Hajduk Split and only last month led them to victory in the Croatian Cup.
“He has shown local kids that dreams can come true” stated Dickson “he grew up on Cardinia Street and went to Saint Pauls and regardless of what he has achieved he still remembers Mount Gambier fondly and he always makes time to keep in touch”.
In fact it was local radio show The Round Ball that was granted the first interview with Skoko from Croatia last week. “ We are delighted that Josip is so interested in The Round Ball and its progress. He is keen to return to Mount Gambier and work with our juniors and living in Geelong will give him a great chance to support the development of two of our Round Ball graduates, Callum Ferguson and Cameron Hart who are both currently being coached by Josip’s brother Ante at North Geelong” added Dickson.
Skoko who played 51 games for the Socceroos received the Key to the City of Mount Gambier in 2006 prior to travelling to Germany with the Socceroos for 2006 FIFA World Cup.
However it is the opportunity to move home that was the main catalyst in Josip joining the new franchise, “Josip has had several offers from overseas teams and he could have stayed with Split, however the timing was right to move home and Josip is very close to his family that have remained in Geelong” added Dickson.
Skoko was born in Mount Gambier and played soccer for Mount Gambier Croatia. He left the local area and moved to Geelong when he was 11 to further his soccer opportunities. “When Josip left the Mount his family moved to Geelong and he travelled to Melbourne to train soon after. He later went through the pathway of state selection, AIS, Australian selection and then successful stints at some of the biggest clubs across Europe”
He played for Hajduk Split (1995-99), Racing Club Genk (1999-2003) and Gençlerbirliği (2003-05). In 2002, he captained the Genk side to the Belgian First Division championship. He was also an integral member of the Gençlerbirliği team, which progressed into the latter stages of the UEFA Cup in 2004.
Skoko joined English Premier League club Wigan Athletic on a free transfer at the beginning of the 2005-06 season.
In the 2006-07 season, Paul Jewell showed renewed faith in Skoko giving him an extended run in the side. He signed a new contract deal keeping him at Wigan until 2008. However, at the end of the season it became clear that Skoko had played his last game for the club. The two main reasons were because he did not play enough games for Wigan to trigger a clause in his contract and also the impossibility of receiving a visa for his stay in England due to his international retirement with Australia. Josip returned to Croatia to captain Hajduk Split and only last month led them to victory in the Croatian Cup.
“He has shown local kids that dreams can come true” stated Dickson “he grew up on Cardinia Street and went to Saint Pauls and regardless of what he has achieved he still remembers Mount Gambier fondly and he always makes time to keep in touch”.
In fact it was local radio show The Round Ball that was granted the first interview with Skoko from Croatia last week. “ We are delighted that Josip is so interested in The Round Ball and its progress. He is keen to return to Mount Gambier and work with our juniors and living in Geelong will give him a great chance to support the development of two of our Round Ball graduates, Callum Ferguson and Cameron Hart who are both currently being coached by Josip’s brother Ante at North Geelong” added Dickson.
Skoko who played 51 games for the Socceroos received the Key to the City of Mount Gambier in 2006 prior to travelling to Germany with the Socceroos for 2006 FIFA World Cup.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.