Mile Jedinak interview: Socceroos captain has always gone the extra Mile

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  • The eyes have it: Mile Jedinak has had to work hard to get where he is in the game.

    Complacency is not something Australia captain Mile Jedinak is cursed with. No gifts have been given to him during his career.

    Four years ago, he was a bit-part player at the World Cup and steady pro­fessional in Turkey flitting between lesser lights Genclerbirligi and Antalyaspor. For­tunes have changed in a short time.

    This sum­mer, he led his nation out in Brazil to face the globe’s greatest sides after a season in which he had been the inspiration behind one of the Premier League’s most surprising success stories.

    The transformation did not happen by chance for a defensive midfielder who was fea­turing at home in the A-League with Central Coast Mariners as late as 2009. Jedinak had to strive to be where he is today. Being in his pres­ence is to feel this calm determination to suc­ceed. It comes out in every purposeful answer, delivered in a measured tone.

    “Belief was always there. Belief that I would be there in such a short period? That was hard to see,” the bearded 30-year-old told Sport360° in Abu Dhabi ahead of Friday’s friendly against the UAE. “I knew it was a pos­sibility, definitely. Did I think it would happen to me? Potentially.

    “Holding onto that belief is what drives you to where you want to be. In my case, it is doing the job on the football field, and once you are there, knowing you won’t let it go. It is holding onto that.

    “How do you do that? You believe in other things, ticking the boxes as you go along. You have to be driven all the time. That is how I have been for as long as I can remember. I will continue to be like that for my entire life.”

    Leadership does not rest wearily on Jedi­nak’s sizeable shoulders. It sits comfortably. This was why coach Ange Postecoglou had no doubts who to select once the decision was made in May to end ex-Al Jazira and Al Wasl defender Lucas Neill’s long spell holding the Socceroos armband.

    Tim Cahill and Al Nasr alumnus Mark Bresciano had more caps. But neither possess the level of inspiration Jedinak exudes. A symbolic assignment now awaits. He will be captain when Australia host Janu­ary’s Asian Cup.

    “It is obviously a massive thing, huge,” Jedinak added. “To be part of that will be immense. If given the opportunity to lead out, it goes without saying it is a massive honour and huge privilege. Who wouldn’t want to do something like that in their own country?

    “We got to see first hand how it was for Bra­zil at their World Cup. To see everyone getting behind them and think that could potentially happen in Australia is really encouraging and blows your mind.”

    The sport is burgeoning Down Under, with the domestic A-League aiming to break the two million spectator barrier this season for the first time since its launch a decade ago.

    Cricket, rugby league and union and Australian rules football still dominate the sporting landscape. But are more children than ever before dreaming of being the next Cahill, rather than cricket skipper Michael Clarke?

    Jedinak answered: “I think so, without a doubt. Football at a young level is massive, it is one of the most popular sports up until the age of 12.

    “Kids will always be looking up to people like Tim Cahill, Mark Schwarzer and Harry Kewell. Football is a huge part of our country, and it is a game that is growing and develop­ing. Doing well at the Asian Cup will help. People will be in the moment and that is a huge plus.”

    Jedinak had skirted on the periphery of top-level professional football. That was until he took the bold decision to end his Gencler­birligi deal a year early in 2011.

    Selhurst Park was his destination several weeks later, choosing to join a Crystal Palace side then labouring in the second tier of Eng­lish football. The style of play was a natural fit for the grizzled battler. Tall, tough and with an unnerving eye for a pass despite the high tempo.

    The 2012/13 season was a breakout for club and footballer. Jedinak, already named skipper, guaranteed his place in the Eagles’ folklore with an 89th-minute winner on the final day of the season to secure a roll­ercoaster 3-2 win against Peterborough United and a place in the Championship play-offs.

    Promotion to the Premier League was secured in the final against Watford at Wem­bley. Even better followed in the top flight. The Eagles soared under now-departed man­ager Tony Pulis, a run of five successive vic­tories from March 29, starting with a 1-0 win over Chelsea, steering them to safety when relegation had seemed certain.

    When asked if the Palace move was life changing, he replied: “Definitely, there is no doubt about it. Having that step up to the Pre­mier League and staying there has been mas­sive. The job is not done.

    “You have to keep going, keep pushing. You have to try and better yourself, your team and your club. There was no secrets to last season, it was all about hard work.”

    Friday’s meeting at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium is one of Australia’s final assign­ments before the Asian Cup.

    Unsurprisingly for a player whose endeav­our has taken him far beyond the Sydney sub­urbs, the friendly is seen as a key step if the challenges ahead are to be met.

    “We mention the words ‘continuing the rise’ and ‘progression’ comes to mind about these friendlies,” he said. “Progressing our game, how we do things every time we come into camp. That is the message being driven.

    “We want to test ourselves and do it the right way. We are definitely taking the right steps towards that.”

    Jedinak on his…

    Toughest opponent?
    Luis Suarez. It is his determination and willingness to win and work incredibly hard to get there. You see how he is, and he lifted everyone of his team-mates.

    Favourite away ground?
    Villa Park, although I should say Everton’s Goodison Park as we’ve had two wins there in the last six months. I like Villa Park. I didn’t realise what a huge structure it was and the field was like carpet. To win there last year was a massive result which turned our season around.

    Favourite player growing up?
    There are loads. But I cannot go past Zinedine Zidane. Enough said. He was a magician. The things he used to do with the ball, and he was so elegant for such a big guy. He was so mobile and athletic. He had everything.

    Why do you love football?
    Recently, it has given me what I have got. I just enjoy the people you meet, friends you meet, mates you meet. The enjoyment of it, it is like you are a kid. Your enjoyment never goes out of it. It is to me, take away my family, everything.

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