The Perth striker has signaled the curtain will come down on his career at the end of this season.

He hopes to lift that elusive Grand Final trophy for his final club on a journey that began in Wollongong and took him around Australia, Asia, and Europe.

He played in the old NSL, Singapore, Belgium, Hungary, China and at A-League clubs Sydney FC, Fury, Western Sydney and now at Tony Popovic’s Glory.

Of course, not all went to plan, as the 36-year-old told Perth Glory’s official site.

“In China, I learned to see a different way of life and I learned a lot about myself and always keeping an open mind and respecting other cultures and people.

“Four and a half years there…

“My time in China was successful and that’s why I was able to keep re-signing for my two Chinese clubs.”

By re-signing in China, Santalab had to say no to Tony Popovic.

Not an easy task.

“He approached me twice but I was doing so well in China. But the third time I approached him!

“And I’m very lucky that after saying no twice to Popa, he believed in me and said yes.

“All I wanted to do was make him proud after that. And give back for the belief he instilled in me.

“I was able to play five years for him [at Wanderers] and I learned every day from him.

“It’s easy to turn up every day and go through the motions. You wanted to work your backside off for him.”

Santalab added he hasn’t yet reflected on the historic 2014 ACL win under Popovic at Wanderers.

But if Glory wins the Grand Final next month, that’s when Santalab’s thoughts will turn to his almost 20-year career in football.

 

So many things happen to footballers, some quite scary, as Santalab revealed.

“One morning I was getting ready to go to training in Belgium and two unmarked police officers turned up and put me in the back of a police car.

“I was taken to the police station. I’d had a car accident the week before and assumed it was about that.

“I was texting my brother from the back seat saying I didn’t know what was going on.

“But they said put your phone away, you’re not allowed to use your phone. I asked what am I here for? They explained it was in relation to match-fixing that had been going on.

“I had no idea this was even happening. I texted my brother but after 10 minutes of questions, they released me. I was in the papers… maybe I had a coffee with the wrong person. Who knows?”

“It was a crazy little time in Belgium.”

SEE PART TWO OF THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE