Agostino to pull reigns on career at season's end
After an illustrious football career that went from Adelaide to England, Switzerland, Germany and then back to South Australia, Reds marquee signing Paul Agostino earlier today announced his retirement from professional football at the end of the current Hyundai A-League season.
Although he will remain with the club until the end of the season, Agostino today called an end to a career which saw him leave his home town of Adelaide at 17 years of age and spend 15 successful years in Europe before returning to finish his playing days with The Reds.
Speaking at a media conference today the 33 year old, who has made 20 appearances for the Socceroos (including 9 goals) and is one of many great football stories to come out of South Australia, confessed that while he still has the passion and desire to play, his body no longer allows him to compete at the highest level.
“I-ve had a long career and it has been a good one and I-m still as eager as ever but the body just can-t keep up anymore so I think it would be a good time to call it a day,” Agostino said.
“At the end of the day when I look back, I-ve had 18 years of professional football so I think that-s a good innings. My dream was always to come back and play in my home town and I managed to do that, just not as many games as I would have liked but the season-s not over yet.”
Unfortunately for Agostino, his time with The Reds has been interrupted by various injuries and illnesses including chicken pox, the striker admitting a small sense of frustration but saying that it made the decision to hang up the boots easier to accept.
“I thought it would be hard but it was actually very easy because my body made the decision for me. My body has basically let me know that I can-t do it anymore, whether it is games or training sessions, it-s getting too much for me and in the end it was a very easy decision,” he said.
“Yeah it has been frustrating but overall I-m really happy the way my career has gone.”
Adelaide United Coach Aurelio Vidmar said Agostino would leave a lasting legacy at the club, praising the professionalism that he showed both on and off the pitch.
“He-s had a really tough time over the last two years but over that time he has remained extremely positive. Someone who can play in the German first division for ten years and be a captain of that team tells you a lot about the person,” Vidmar said.
“I think he will leave a big legacy because he-s come from a professional environment and he has brought that to this club.”
“He-s had a tremendous career, I wish him all the very best with whatever he does in the future and he-s still very much part of the team-s plans until the end of the season and hopefully he might come on and score an important goal for us.”
A central striker who was a ‘battering ram- for much of his career, Agostino showed Adelaide United fans glimpses of what he could do during the Hyundai A-League 2007/08 Season when he scored four goals in three games, which included a brace against Melbourne Victory at the Telstra Dome.
“He (Agostino) was always a threat and it certainly makes you a little bit sad in the fact that if you could have kept him on the park, he would have been a prolific goal scorer here,” Vidmar said.
Spending time in Switzerland and England during his time in Europe, the most notable period was his decade with German club 1860 Munich, where he received legends status from the supporters. Agostino was a crowd favourite in Munich having captained the side for a period while also leading their attack during the club-s 2001 UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League campaign.
Agostino hopes he can still make an impact for The Reds before season-s end as United guns for the Hyundai A-League championship.
“I-m feeling good. I played with the Youth Team on the weekend and Viddie has asked me to stay fit and available for the up and coming games so I hope to be involved at some stage,” he said.
“I-d like to stay in the game but I might not. It-s still early stages, at the moment the priority is Adelaide United staying up there and winning something this season.”
Agostino becomes the second Adelaide United player to announce his retirement within a week, following Michael Valkanis- decision to hang up the boots just before Christmas.
United tackles Sydney FC this Saturday night at the Adelaide Oval (Kick-Off 7.30pm ACDT). Tickets are available from Venue*Tix.
Paul AGOSTINO Profile
DOB 9-Jun-1975
Place of Birth Adelaide
Position Striker
Number 9
Junior Club Salisbury
Club History
2007-Current Adelaide United FC 1997-2007 TSV 1860 Munich (Germany) 1995-1997 Bristol City (England) 1994-1995 Yverdon-Sport FC (Switzerland) 1992-1994 Young Boys Berne (Switzerland) 1991-1992 West Adelaide (NSL)
Adelaide United FC Appearances
Hyundai A-League 15 (4) Other 4 (0)
TOTAL 19 (4)
Hyundai A-League Debut Appearance v Queensland Roar (D2-2), Suncorp Stadium, 25 August 2007
Hyundai A-League Debut Goal v Wellington Phoenix (W2-1), Westpac Stadium, 30 November 2007
Representative Honours Socceroos, Qantas Under 23s, Qantas Young Socceroos, Qantas Joeys
Major Honours 2001 Australia World Cup qualifying squad 2000-2001 Played in UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League 1996 Australian Olympic Team 1993 Member Qantas Young Socceroos World Cup squad 1991 Member Qantas Joeys World Youth Championships squad
Additional information · Played in UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League for TSV 1860 Munich, 2000/01 · Captained TSV 1860 Munich · Socceroos, 20 apps (9 gls) · Member of Australia-s World Cup qualifying squad, 2001 · Australian Olympic Team (Qantas Under 23s), 1996 Atlanta Olympics