In November last year, FourFourTwo heard that a Young Socceroo had been arrested in relation to gang offences. Our reaction was steadfast: “Let it be anyone but Kerem  Bulut”. We had good reason too. Bulut had just won the Golden Boot at the AFC U-19 Championship – firing Australia to the final in the process.

Australia is suffering from a striker shortage and nothing excites like a free-scoring front-man. The 19-year-old Bulut  had the swagger and confidence of someone born to score. With a Mohawk Mr. T would be proud of, we seem to have found our goal-scoring Messiah (who did not need to be knocked out before flying).

The AIS graduate had impressed at Sydney’s NYL side, notching 13 goals in 27 appearances. Czech side FK Mladá Boleslav moved in before Bulut even broke into Sydney’s A-League side and took the promising youngster on trial in April last year, where a three-year deal was soon tabled, and signed.

For several years now the teenage Bulut has impressed at every youth level of representation for Australia. Back in 2008, he scored four goals (plus a penalty shoot-out conversion in the final) as Australia won the AFF U-16 Youth Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia. His Golden Boot-winning performances at the most recent U-19 Championship, plus his growing pedigree playing in Europe, suggested Bulut was nearing a Socceroos debut.

Then, in November, Bulut was arrested and charged with a range of gang-related offences. He was forced to hand over his passport and a burgeoning European career was controversially halted. In April, his passport was returned, with the outstanding charges likely to be greatly reduced, and Bulut could return to the Czech Republic to continue his career with FK Mladá Boleslav.

A few weeks after arriving back, Bulut agreed to speak exclusively with FourFourTwo about his time away from the game, settling into Europe and making the Socceroos.

How does it feel to be back in the Czech Republic? How is training and playing going?
It’s not too bad, a little cold today. I’m about 50km out of Prague but I try get there on my days off. Prague is an amazing city. Since I’ve been back I have been training twice a day for the last two weeks. I’ve scored three goals in three reserve games since returning too.

Before finding yourself in the Czech Republic you played in Sydney FC’s NYL team. What grounding did that offer? How effective is the NYL in developing young Aussie talent?
The NYL is great, it offers that next step once you have moved on from your state Premier League club. You look forward to making the NYL league and from there can look towards the A-League and then onto Europe.

How influential was Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka in engineering your move to the Czech Republic?
I don’t know the full story, but I would image FK Mladá Boleslav spoke to him and asked about me as a player and he gave good feedback which probably helped me out. I appreciate that from him.

What motivated that move – a lack of first team opportunities at Sydney or the chance to play in Europe?
As a little kid growing up, all I wanted to do was play football in Europe. So the best bet for me was to at least try my luck in Europe. If that did not work out I could return to Australia. Luckily for me, everything has worked out well for me here.

Should you have seen some A-League action while at Sydney? You’ve been billed as “the one that got away”?
I’m not the one that got away. If you want to perform for Australia at the highest level then it is better to learn your trade in Europe. It is a more professional set-up here.

You really came onto everyone’s radar when you scored seven goals at the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship. What went so right?
I worked hard in the lead-up to the tournament with my club and I was playing first-grade every week, which helped a lot. All of the boys in that squad trained hard when we went into camp. Everyone stepped up their game, we played well and that helped me score goals.

The final ended in disappointment, but your performances, and those of the team, encouraged everyone. Was it still a satisfying tournament in that sense?
The tournament was definitely a success for the team and me too. The main aim of going to the tournament was qualifying for the World Cup and we done that. We got unlucky in the final and that happens in football.

It’s not been an easy last 12 months for you off the pitch. Talk us through that?
It was tough, it was not easy. It was a massive stress on me and my family. I tried to not let it get to me and keep a strong mind. I tried to work through it and everything has paid off. It made me stronger as a person.

There has been a lot of talk of “negative influences” around you. How important is a fresh start in the Czech Republic?
It is about getting away first of all. Everyone makes mistakes, you just have to move on. I’m now over here, training and trying to play well.

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