How disappointed were you to miss out on international selection for so long?
I was frustrated more than disappointed. I felt overlooked. It was as if nobody knew of me. Even after playing for Adelaide [and finishing runners-up to Melbourne Victory in 2008-2009] I think five or six of the boys got called up: Jamieson, Mullen, Barbiero, Reid, Birighitti... I was the only one to miss out. It got me frustrated with the set-up. I felt like my form had warranted a call-up, but I was repeatedly overlooked.

We take it you’re not a fan of Pim then?
Look, it was his decision. Personally I think he took an underdone squad to South Africa and that lost us a spot in the quarter finals. But it’s every coach’s prerogative to make the best choices from the best players they have available.

So how’s your relationship with Holger?
Great! Obviously, he’s handed me this opportunity. I’ve missed out on playing in the last few games while he tests out a few players in my spot and that’s fair. You’ve got to give the other lads a chance too. But as for holding down that position in the future, I can only hope. So long as I keep fit and healthy and my form warrants it, then why not?

Who are your closest mates in the Socceroos squad?
A fair few, but the whole team, to be honest. You can easily sit down at a table and talk to any of those boys for hours. They’re all genuine, good people. All down to earth. You can literally talk to anyone and everyone. It’s important for the Australian national team. We can’t really afford to have any disharmony in our camp.

Fair enough. We were hoping to start a Dutch-style rift. And finally, is there the danger that Sasa Ognenovski has potentially hit his peak too late in life?
The way my body feels right now I’d say I’ve got at least two or three solid years left in me. Like I said, I’m 32 but my body is fine-tuned from the way I play in Korea. They’re very fit over there. Plus, in over three or four years I must have missed about ten games all up. Each of those were minor niggles, just a rolled ankle or whatnot. The body feels good. I back up game after game in Korea and I never miss training. I’ve got a couple of years in me, at the very least, and I can only improve.

So, hypothetically, what would be the ideal way to spend those last two years?
My dream, although I doubt it could come true, is to go to the Bundesliga and then go to the World Cup. Realistically me playing in Germany is not as obtainable a goal as us [Australia] going to the World Cup finals [in 2014], but if I’m still playing...

You must be pretty excited about the prospect of making it to a World Cup with the Australian team.
Of course! The experience of playing for Australia in the Asian Cup was amazing. To go to my first World Cup at 35 and get amongst it with the best players in the world on the world stage is very, very exciting.

And in Brazil too! There’s bound to be plenty of temptations for you and the boys to get up to mischief there...
I think Holger would have something to say about that. No doubt he’ll have us all under lock and key. It would be a good place to blow off some steam though...


It might have taken him longer than most but better late than never. Sasa’s not the first late bloomer in football history. Arsenal goal-scoring legend Ian Wright was still playing amateur football for Dulwich Hamlet three months short of turning 22 when he was scouted by former Crystal Palace boss Steve Coppell. His last appearance was for Burnley at 37 in 2000. Chelsea’s Didier Drogba, 33, wallowed in French Ligue 2 at the relatively late age of 21. And Lazio’s Miroslav Klose, also 33, reportedly once worked as a builder and bricklayer while playing for German association club FC 08 Homburg at 21. Yet Sasa, just a few months off turning 33 himself, seems to be just getting started. And, perhaps unfairly, offering hope for every amateur footballer nearing 30 in the country.

He’s officially the best player in Asia, a club captain, and just this year a Korean FA Cup winner with Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma. At national level, Sasa now has the backing of his manager and a reputation as a dependable professional on the field – a strong, commanding presence at the back with a penchant for scaring the living daylights out of opponents. Australia will be seeing plenty more from the big number four. Pim Verbeek must rue the day he overlooked the Ogre.

This article appeared in the February 2012 issue of Australian FourFourTwo magazine. To buy back copies of this issue call 03-8317-8121 with a credit card to hand.

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