Madaschi, 28, was a member of Australia’s famous Joeys team along with Josh Kennedy and Jade North that reached the U17 World Cup final in 1999.

He went to play for the Olyroos in 2004 and was also capped by the Socceroos that year. After a five year absence, he rejoined the Socceroos during the World Cup qualifiers of June 2009.

And in August last year under Pim Verbeek, he played the second 45 minutes of the 3-0 Ireland friendly victory, coming on as a substitute for his good mate Patrick Kisnorbo.

Now, after 13 years in Italy, the WA-born defender and club vice-captain says he’s ready for the best that the Serie B can offer – and is dreaming of possible promotion to Serie A.

His club Portosummaga kick off their Serie B campaign at home this Sunday against Cittadella. He spoke with Aidan Ormond...

How was your pre-season, Adrian?

For three weeks we were in the mountains between Italy and Austria in Sappada. Doing this at altitude and lower temperatures allows the body to work in ideal conditions. The training is very intense and there are two-three sessions a day, along with quite a few friendly games.

You’ve just signed a contract extension with Portosummaga – what attracted you to staying there?

It offers me the chance to play regular Serie B football which is very important this season. I am confident that playing regularly in Serie B will provide a strong claim to be involved with the Socceroo set-up and that is my second main goal for this year.

I am also the vice-captain of the club so I am 100% familiar with everyone involved. Over the past four years we’ve achieved two historic promotions so it’s an exciting time.

Tell us a little more about your team-mates and coach?

The team has retained the backbone of last year’s championship winning team, although three or four important individuals have moved. The club’s philosophy is bringing in quality young players with a mix of experienced players from Serie B, and slowly things are shaping up, with other players to still be introduced to the squad.

Our coach is Fabio Viviani and this is his first season at the club after Calori moved on to Padova last year. Viviani is a young coach, he’s enthusiastic and has a good work ethic, and I think he has good man-management skills which will hopefully create positivity amongst the squad and allow the team to achieve its objective - to remain in Serie B.

Who are some of the strikers you’ll come up against this season in Serie B?

Rolando Bianchi is an ex team-mate of mine from Atalanta and a former Manchester city player, now captaining Torino and was last year’s top goal scorer for Serie B. Francesco Tavano who is an ex valencia player now playing for Livorno and there’s Tiribocchi from Atalanta just to name a few.

You’re just one good season away from Serie A – has that crossed your mind?

Certainly. I came to Italy as a 15-year-old with Atalanta and my dream then was to play in Serie A. It seemed like something imminent around the age of 19-20 when things were going great for me and I was highly regarded at Atalanta. 

For various reasons it didn’t happen and it hasn’t happened yet, but the dream is still well and truly alive and I have more belief now than ever. I would like to use this season in Serie B as a catalyst to try and move to Serie A and fulfill that dream.

What did Scottish football give you as a player?

It gave me the chance at the age of 21 to play in the Scottish Premier League, a very competitive and respected competition on a regular basis. It specifically gave me the chance to play against great teams in fantastic stadiums, like Celtic and Rangers. On top of that it allowed me to be in good form and be selected for the Athens Olympics and also to make my debut as a Socceroo in 2004 under Frank Farina.

What were the best memories of playing at Partick? And the worst?

The best memories were those from playing in the biggest games against Rangers and Celtic at their home grounds in front of 55-60,000 people. Playing against Henrik Larsen and also the De Boer twins was a great experience for a young player at the time because they were all class acts. 

My football experience in Scotland was positive and the Scottish fans and people were great and very passionate. I don’t have many negative opinions, however the continuous rain in Glasgow was very annoying and far from the sunshine in Perth!

I recall when you came over to Australia for the Turkey friendlies in 2004 – what do you remember of that tour?

I think that was a growing period of my life and consequently I was no longer the boy that people had seen in the under 17s campaign in New Zealand in 1999. In 2004, I was a grown man  preparing myself for senior football. That was my first experience with the Socceroos and it was an extremely proud moment for me just being on the bench against Turkey at the SFS. It would be two weeks later that I’d make my full Socceroos debut against New Zealand in adelaide.

Max Vieri was in the Aussie squad, right? Do you ever play against him in Italy?

Yeah at the time Max was involved with the Socceroos and it was fun to have a bit of a laugh and Italian connection going on! I haven’t played against him  here in Italy. Currently he is playing for his hometown team Prato who just won promotion from Serie C2 to C1 last year.

You were back on the fringes of the national squad in 2009. What do you recall of the experience and what sort of feedback did you get from the national coaching staff?

It was a great opportunity to be back involved with the Socceroos after five years of absence and a lot of hard work in-between.  I was a bit nervous at first because I hadn’t been involved for so long. But gradually as the days and weeks went by I became more accustomed to the players and the coaching staff and really enjoyed my time.

I was given the opportunity to play half a game against Ireland in August 2009 under Pim Verbeek, and I thought my appearance was positive. On the back of that, I hoped to have been involved a bit more. Post World Cup, I’m sure things will be changing. The new German coach was appointed and I hope that by performing at club level I can get a chance to show myself to the new coach.

At 28, you’ve got probably your best four years ahead of you – that surely must give you confidence about getting back during the next World Cup campaign?

The last four years of my career have been a constant building process and the promotion results have been great. At this point, with Serie B football, I really feel I can take my game to a new level and that is what I will be striving to do this season to project myself forward for the next World Cup campaign, and with an eye on Serie B and pushing myself even further to Serie A.

Your former defensive partner in the Olyroos was Paddy Kisnorbo – do you speak often? Why does that combination work?

Pat and I have always been close, particularly in our time playing in the SPL when he was with Hearts and I was at Partick. We would catch up regularly between Glasgow and Edinburgh over an Italian meal to keep our Italian roots alive!

It’s always good to catch up with him and right now I send him best wishes for his recovery and road back to being where he should be in the heart of Leeds' defence.  

You're a member of the famous 1999 World U17 side that made the final... what sort of memories do you have of that tournament?

The memories are fantastic. I think to this date, World Cup qualifications aside obviously, it was one of the most important feats in Australian football and to have been a part of that team that came so close yet so far still makes me proud today.

We were doomed from the start in the "group of death" with Germany, the Euro champs, Brazil, the South American champs and Mali, the African champs. We defied all odds under the great management of "Boss" Les Scheinflug to lose heart-achingly in the final to Brazil on penalties 8-7

Your thoughts on the Socceroos’ campaign in South Africa?

I think that the first game aside, it was very positive. The team showed great spirit particularly in the second and third games. I think the referee was very harsh in red carding Timmy Cahill against Germany and unfortunately this affected the game, the final score and Australia's progression to the second round. 

What do you have to do to get back in the frame for the national team over the next four years?

I have to be playing regularly in a respected league, proving myself week in week out and striving to take my game to a higher level in any which way I can. Fitness is also an important key and I’m confident I have the technical qualities to take my game to a new level.

Where do you live?

I live in Portogruaro. It’s only a small town with a population of about 25000 people in north-eastern Italy. Venice is only 50 km away, so once or twice a month I try to get there with my fiancée, Rosie, to admire such a unique and admirable city and get lost in amongst all the little canals and back streets

Do you feel more Italian than Australian?

Ha ha ha! Australian. I will always be Australian and I am very proud of that, although I have been in Italy for the best part of 13 years now and Italy and its lifestyle occupies a huge space in my heart. It has played a very important part in moulding me into the person I am. All my grandparents were born in Italy and this has been a great life experience to be able to come back and live in the land of my origins and all the while do something I love.