Not every footballer who turns down a personal invite to play for Sir Alex Ferguson survives to tell the tale. But Brett Emerton’s United snub is par for the course for a player who likes to stay both grounded and loyal.
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By the time the 2000 Olympics came around, Emerton was the captain of the Olyroos and the hottest name on the local scene. Mitchell wanted to sign him for his club Parramatta Power. “But I think Brett was settled at Olympic and he had a lot of good years there until it was the right time for him to go,” adds Mitchell.
Captaining Australia’s Olympic side in a hometown event was too big an honour to pass up. And he’d given his word. Australia crashed out in the group stages after losses to an Andrea Pirlo-inspired Italy, Nigeria – when Emerton was red-carded – and Honduras.
“Brett was a quiet young man but he had incredible qualities which you need to have as a captain,” says then-coach Raul Blanco. “He lead by example in all ways. He typified this brilliantly.
“He was so unassuming that some were not sure that he would be a good captain but I was completely convinced and he did a wonderful job.
“I’d coached Brett in the Young Socceroos and we’d played in hot conditions, cold conditions, it didn’t matter, he was always there for you and be the same person and player. The testing we did proved he was an extraordinary athlete, probably the best in the squads we had, from endurance to sprints.”
Blanco adds that the red card against the Nigerians “was absolutely out of character”.
“He was a marked man in the national league, he could take any kind of knocks and go on. He never reacted to any kicking. But those games had some pressure after we’d lost to Italy.
“I think [Celestine] Babayaro had a go at him a few times and got away with it and Brett reacted. It was a bit of a ‘Liverpool kiss’ but it was minor and their player took advantage of the situation. Unfortunately it showed he can be human. It was very, very surprising.”
However, the disappointing Olympics wasn’t going to stop Emerton. Through Mitchell’s Feyenoord connections – he had played at the De Kuip for two years in the 1980s – he was able to recommend the player to the club’s technical director Rob Baan.
The future Australian technical director, Baan flew to Australia to tie up the deal. But it wasn’t all rosy in the land of the Oranje over the next three seasons, despite it being another smart career move.
The Aussie was converted into an attacking right-back at the Rotterdam club.
“Brett wanted to be a midfielder, says Mitchell, “and I think the thing that knocked him down a bit in Holland was that they wanted him to be a right-back.
“They felt he was better facing the play and running onto the ball rather than receiving the ball with his back to the play... they felt he was more suited to the other way of coming into the game. That was something he had with the club. They wanted him as a right-back to get forward as much as possible.”
However, after 92 appearances over three seasons and 11 goals, Emerton was ready for the league he always had wanted to play in: the English Premiership.
“A lot of players come to Belgium or Holland to learn their trade before they move to the big leagues, which is a good idea,” explains Mitchell. “Brett became a very important player for them, scored some great goals and made some good opportunities for his team-mates.
“So I think they were very, very happy with him. The time had come and he’d developed. The good thing about the Dutch is they know their place in world football. They know they can scout the world, get good, talented players. Then if they do well with them – because they also play in Europe competitions and the top league of Holland – big clubs in England and Europe will look at these clubs. And they look at it as a valuable situation to sell them on.”
The Emertons thought long and hard before deciding on Blackburn. And clearly, it has proved to be the right move. He signed in 2003 and has enjoyed a successful time at Ewood Park.
“Blackburn was chosen because then-coach Graeme Souness wanted him,” recalls Emerton Sr. “He’d ring up all the time, saying, ‘I want him.’
“He saw him play for Australia against Scotland and wanted to sign him ever since. And Souness was fair dinkum. Even though Newcastle United came in with a late bid, we knew it was the right move.”
It has worked out well. Emerton has played regularly, is settled off the field and has made good friends in and around the club.
“Brett’s both feet are on the ground,” says Mitchell. “He’s a Rolls Royce in that he has a strong body, he’s quick and he looks after himself. Brett could play till he’s 36, 37.”
Captaining Australia’s Olympic side in a hometown event was too big an honour to pass up. And he’d given his word. Australia crashed out in the group stages after losses to an Andrea Pirlo-inspired Italy, Nigeria – when Emerton was red-carded – and Honduras.
“Brett was a quiet young man but he had incredible qualities which you need to have as a captain,” says then-coach Raul Blanco. “He lead by example in all ways. He typified this brilliantly.
“He was so unassuming that some were not sure that he would be a good captain but I was completely convinced and he did a wonderful job.
“I’d coached Brett in the Young Socceroos and we’d played in hot conditions, cold conditions, it didn’t matter, he was always there for you and be the same person and player. The testing we did proved he was an extraordinary athlete, probably the best in the squads we had, from endurance to sprints.”
Blanco adds that the red card against the Nigerians “was absolutely out of character”.
“He was a marked man in the national league, he could take any kind of knocks and go on. He never reacted to any kicking. But those games had some pressure after we’d lost to Italy.
“I think [Celestine] Babayaro had a go at him a few times and got away with it and Brett reacted. It was a bit of a ‘Liverpool kiss’ but it was minor and their player took advantage of the situation. Unfortunately it showed he can be human. It was very, very surprising.”
However, the disappointing Olympics wasn’t going to stop Emerton. Through Mitchell’s Feyenoord connections – he had played at the De Kuip for two years in the 1980s – he was able to recommend the player to the club’s technical director Rob Baan.
The future Australian technical director, Baan flew to Australia to tie up the deal. But it wasn’t all rosy in the land of the Oranje over the next three seasons, despite it being another smart career move.
The Aussie was converted into an attacking right-back at the Rotterdam club.
“Brett wanted to be a midfielder, says Mitchell, “and I think the thing that knocked him down a bit in Holland was that they wanted him to be a right-back.
“They felt he was better facing the play and running onto the ball rather than receiving the ball with his back to the play... they felt he was more suited to the other way of coming into the game. That was something he had with the club. They wanted him as a right-back to get forward as much as possible.”
However, after 92 appearances over three seasons and 11 goals, Emerton was ready for the league he always had wanted to play in: the English Premiership.
“A lot of players come to Belgium or Holland to learn their trade before they move to the big leagues, which is a good idea,” explains Mitchell. “Brett became a very important player for them, scored some great goals and made some good opportunities for his team-mates.
“So I think they were very, very happy with him. The time had come and he’d developed. The good thing about the Dutch is they know their place in world football. They know they can scout the world, get good, talented players. Then if they do well with them – because they also play in Europe competitions and the top league of Holland – big clubs in England and Europe will look at these clubs. And they look at it as a valuable situation to sell them on.”
The Emertons thought long and hard before deciding on Blackburn. And clearly, it has proved to be the right move. He signed in 2003 and has enjoyed a successful time at Ewood Park.
“Blackburn was chosen because then-coach Graeme Souness wanted him,” recalls Emerton Sr. “He’d ring up all the time, saying, ‘I want him.’
“He saw him play for Australia against Scotland and wanted to sign him ever since. And Souness was fair dinkum. Even though Newcastle United came in with a late bid, we knew it was the right move.”
It has worked out well. Emerton has played regularly, is settled off the field and has made good friends in and around the club.
“Brett’s both feet are on the ground,” says Mitchell. “He’s a Rolls Royce in that he has a strong body, he’s quick and he looks after himself. Brett could play till he’s 36, 37.”
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