For those who missed it, “Football Superstar” was a local version of a UK show called “Football Icon”, a football reality TV show aimed at finding the next big star.

Hosted by Irish singer (and football fanatic) Brian McFadden together with photogenic former Matilda and TV news presenter Amy Taylor, the FOX 8 show was something new and exciting for the game here in Australia.. 

The first Aussie winner back in 2008? It was…. Adam Hett.

But what happened to the then-19-year-old from Perth, who won a Sydney FC contract after being crowned the winner in 2008?

Injuries, sadly, scuppered any chance of Hett making it as football superstar - or even just a pro - but he’s used the scholarship he also won to help set him up outside of football.

But with football, Hett just can’t stay away and he may yet become a coaching superstar.

And his coaching journey has started.

The now-30-year-old product manager at Macquarie Bank filled FTBL in on the decade since being crowned the inaugural ‘Football Superstar’ winner.

FOOTBALL SUPERSTAR DAYS IN 2008

“I didn’t really enjoy the reality TV side of it too much," Hett conceded. “Sometimes the producers would say, ‘you’re playing Central Coast today’ and they’d ask to film our reaction again with a little more enthusiasm.

“So you had to shoot it again and you’re thinking, ‘I’m not an actor, I’m just here to play football!’

“And I remember getting told off for not smiling enough.

“You watch reality TV shows now and people probably think it’s all live but I watch and think, “they would’ve shot that scene again!” I know the tricks of the trade,” he told FTBL, laughing.

“Some of us probably didn’t enjoy the ‘TV’ side of it. Others probably did.

“I was just there to play football.”

But play football he did. Very well. Hett caught the eye as a clever, skillful talent with a good work rate. And he delivered his best performances when he needed to. 

Hett pipped Melbourne boys Reno Damianou and Evan Christodoulou (now 28 and with Avondale in the Victorian NPL) for the title after a final trial match.

The hosts of the TV show made life easier for the boys, added Hett, McFadden in particular.

Hett with hosts Brian McFadden and Amy Taylor

“He was good with us young lads. He was the perfect fit with good humour and made us feel at ease because there was a fair bit of pressure as you’re trying to win that one contract.

“If I’m being honest, though, I never watched seasons 2 and 3 of the show.

“It’s just a shame that no-one who won it went on to have a really solid A-League career. When I was in England it was similar, none went on to have a full-on pro career [in Football Icon].

“I’d just come back from Coventry City in the Championship where I’d done my YTS. And a lot of the lads in the show maybe felt they’d missed their window of opportunity.

“It was a good opportunity to have a second crack at pro football with this talent show for football.

“I remember shaking Kossie’s hand when I won. It felt like a relief that I can start training with Sydney FC. That’s all I was there for.”

INJURIES SCUPPER SYDNEY FC STINT

It could’ve been awkward. Walking into your first session after winning a TV reality show contest, and you see Tony Popovic, Steve Corica and Socceroos legend John Aloisi.

Huge stars, big personalities; and you're some reality TV show winner. It wasn’t awkward, though. Kossie made sure of that at Sydney FC.

Hett training with Sydney FC *Pic Kevin Airs

“Such a credit to that group. They took me in as a regular signing. Made me feel right at home. No awkwardness at all,” recalled Hett.

“It’s ten years ago but I remember at the time being surprised by that.

“I’d come from England where it could be nasty at times. I remember thinking if I was in the same situation at Coventry it would’ve been a lot more cut-throat and mick-taking.

“I tore my ACL in my first season with Sydney FC [just days before he was due to make his first team debut].

“I had a couple of years off football. I was bitter at not being able to play. 

“So after Sydney FC released me I dropped down to NPL 2 with Northern Tigers and played there for two years but in the first season I got chronic groin pain, then some further problems that needed cleaning up and then I broke my ankle.

“But by the time I came back the groin pain started again.

“The medical staff said if you keep playing you’ll need a hip replacement by the time you’re 30. I had the signs of osteoarthritis.

"But injuries are a part of football,” he said. “So I had to stop playing."

CROSSROADS IN HIS LIFE

At 30 years old, Hett is at a crossroads.

His hips aren’t great but coaching is something he clearly loves and he has a good day job working for Macquarie Bank Group (“I’ve been here six years, I’m a digital product owner. I look after a financial portal that financial advisors use to manage their clients’ accounts”).

“This job has flowed from winning Football Superstar.

Hett now works at Macquarie Bank managing a digital portal

“I got a scholarship at Macquarie Uni while at Sydney FC as part of winning the show.

"And so after I stopped playing I finished my Uni degree from the Macquarie campus in the Sydney Institute of Business Technology and got the role here.

“Life at the moment, I’m busy with Macquarie Group. It’s full on. And I now coach Northern Tigers first grade in NSW NPL 2.

“My passion is coaching. And I feel I’ve learned a lot and I want to put it to use.”

Football’s in his blood with a dad who also played (David Hett played for the WA state team in the 80s).

“I’m at a crossroads. I’d love to pursue coaching but it’s hard to make an income from it. At the same time, I have this job with Macquarie Bank.

“But this is my first year coaching at NPL 2 and I’d love to get them promoted and I’d love to establish myself as a coach.

“And there are elements of coaching I enjoy more than playing.

Hett has taken to coaching and is ambitious for his second football career after injuries scuppered his playing dreams

“I hope a second division happens and there are more opportunities over time for coaches and players.

“Who knows what might have happened if I didn’t get injured. But winning it allowed me to go down the path of finishing university and getting into my job.

“I always just wanted to play football.

“I’ve no regrets.”