Aloisi – and everyone else – in Socceroos camp in ‘07. Aloisi – and everyone else – in Socceroos camp in ‘07.
Images: Getty Images

Which teams do you think stand in the Heart’s way? 

Everyone is a major rival because the league is so equal. I don’t think there’s going to be any team who will run away with it. It’ll be the strongest A-League season ever because of the number of good foreign coaches who have come into the league, as well as the players.

Do you think the Melbourne derby can become an iconic fixture on the Australian sporting landscape?

No doubt about it. I think this fixture will be up there in Australia with the best derbies we used to have in the old NSL. Eventually it will be one of the biggest in the country.

You’ve won two Premier’s Plates and have a grand final winners medal, but you missed the last season’s grand final through injury. Does that serve as extra motivation this season?

Not really. I just want to do well because it’s my last season. I always want to win. It was disappointing that I couldn’t play in the grand final, but I felt part of that side because I played in most of the games leading up to it. It’s just one of those things that happens in football. That’s not going to motivate me more: I’ve always got that hunger for winning.

You’ll be coaching Melbourne Heart’s youth team full-time next season. Is the plan to eventually coach at a senior level?

Of course. This is a good starter for me and eventually I’d love to be able to coach at senior level. I couldn’t have learned from anyone better than John van ‘t Schip … Hopefully I’ll coach at a very high level.