"ROONEY WAS UNDERRATED & NASTY" | Patrick Kisnorbo

A revealing interview with new Sydney FC Head Coach Patrick Kisnorbo who unveils a, perhaps, unexpected side of his character.

PK speaks of the Dutch, AC Milan and Premier League legend he hugged despite losing to him; of his religious side and why he'd like to invite Jesus, a Hollywood superstar and Socceroos pioneer to dinner.

The former international also divulges...

• Australia's current 'best player' he signed at his home aged 14.
• The real reason he had to leave Yokohama F. Marinos.
• A birthday party invite list of legendary football stars he calls friends.
• How he once missed training on Christmas Day.
• Insights into Leeds' famous Cup win at Old Trafford.
• And why his mum stopped ironing his underpants!

It's one We Are Sydney episode you can't miss - The Sydney FC Podcast.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

I used the couch for fun and we lost. A couple of the chini balls. Beautiful catch up. He was underrated. He had everything.

SPEAKER_03 0:12

What was he about to play? Yes!

SPEAKER_01 0:18

I was used to my mum owning my underpants.

SPEAKER_04 0:21

Norman coffee is number one. Fact. Chicken Pomyjama is palm me. That's palma.

SPEAKER_00 0:29

Let's your education in Sydney begin with the Italian restaurant.

SPEAKER_01 0:32

Was either gonna be a football manager or a security guard?

SPEAKER_00 0:35

Get him on the door.

SPEAKER_01 0:37

ID, please. It's a man.

SPEAKER_00 0:41

Welcome back to We Are Sydney, presented to you by San Miguel. My name's Sam, and this is Adama and Dums. We've got a huge guest, and he's already made time for us already.

SPEAKER_04 0:50

I know, Sammy. International break, but we're not taking a break here. We have the new manager of Sydney FC, Patrick Kiz Norber. Vicky, thank you so much for coming on. You've been doing the media merry-go-round. Correct. This is going out, you know, a day later, but this it's late. So thank you for squeezing us in because I'm sure you probably want to go home. How's the transition into Sydney life been for you?

SPEAKER_01 1:10

Yeah, look, it's been a quick one, which is probably even better to have to think too much. But look, everyone at the club has welcomed me with open arms, the staff, the players, you know, and it's great to be at a great club. It's awesome.

SPEAKER_00 1:22

And Patty, one thing that we do on this show, we get lots of questions. Yours, we say this every episode, but to be fair, we've got a lot for you. So I'm gonna delve into one of our fan questions. It's from Luke Mondello. Despite our fluctuatform, can we still go all the way this season?

SPEAKER_01 1:37

Look, I'll give you an honest answer. And you know, like for me, it's you know, we have to worry about you know every training every day first, which is you're gonna get that from myself. Um but if I didn't believe in the squad, I probably, you know, my option would have been different, but I do believe in the squad. But you know, we I think we need to concentrate just one game at a time, one training session at a time, just to get more time on the pitch to improve the players. But they've been great so far.

SPEAKER_04 2:04

Yeah. This one is from Sami 96. Did you forget they changed the burner? Yeah, it's my battery account. It's your burger account in it. What was one factor of Sydney that drew you to the position?

SPEAKER_01 2:15

Look, I think it's got a lot of history, the club, um, knowing what it's been through the past and how successful successful it's been. So you want to sort of be part of that and emulate that, but also you know what it takes to sort of do that, how hard it is. So you know, to to put myself in a position um where potentially, you know, it can be good. Um I wanted that challenge. Um it's a hard challenge, but I think it's a challenge that I'm willing to take, and I'm sure the players are too.

SPEAKER_00 2:45

What's a process been like? Because obviously it's crazy timing. What was it like, Sydney, bringing you in?

SPEAKER_01 2:50

Yeah, it was pretty much one one sort of phone call over a day, and like you know, you sort of had to make a 24-hour decision on a yes or no, and you know, in my head it was sort of clear. You know, before that I had I said no to a couple of jobs opportunities. So this one it was like, okay, yeah, I know the sort of what to do, what I need to do, what the role is, very clear, and you know, off we go.

SPEAKER_04 3:14

Yeah, I can imagine that would be the life of a manager is is is a is it's a it must be a merry-go-round. And but also you're not just uprooting yourself, your family, yeah, as well. Like, explain to me just the the challenges that come with that because it's not as simple as just like, yeah, I'll go there, you know, I'll just move to your Melbourne, correct, born and bred, like that through and through. So just tell me about yeah, that pro that decision-making process and the people that it involves as well.

SPEAKER_01 3:37

Yeah, look, I think before I said yes to the job, I spoke to the family and said, look, there's an opportunity here, knowing that my daughter just started high school um who wants me to say hello to everyone because yeah, look, so you know, there's a lot of things that go into it, but I I wanted them to know and be right with that. Um, and once they said, Listen, Papa, it's okay, um, that's when you know it was much easier for me, you know, um to go because obviously I'm leaving my wife and two kids alone, and um there are difficult times. Um, but also, you know, they know that dad's a football coach and they know you know you're always sort of on the move, and you know, you know, things can change at any time. So they're sort of sort of used to that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:22

You've obviously came at a weird, tricky time with a few games to go and then finals. How do you kind of balance that, you know, with only a few weeks to go, but then also implementing your um, you know, playing style? How have you found that?

SPEAKER_01 4:34

Yeah, look, I think you've just got to be very simple but clear. Um, you know, the players know sort of what I want, you know, for them to do without changing too much. Um, and it's trying to repeat that process and get better and better at it, um, you know, and look forward to other games.

SPEAKER_04 4:51

Uh PK, there's I think I'm excited that you're back in Australian football managing, and we were speaking off camera about you don't have social media. No. So because of that, I feel like I don't know how to put this, we don't know what you've been up to. And I and it's you had a very you had two experiences overseas. Sure. You were the first Australian manager to manage in one of Europe's top five leagues when you went to France. Yeah. And then you had the abrupt time at Melbourne victory, and you've now addressed that in press conferences. You get to finally give your version of events. How did those two experiences overseas shape PK today?

SPEAKER_01 5:26

Yeah, look, I think they were two different experiences, to be honest. Um, when I went to Touai, it was uh basically like a phone call to say, listen, PK, you gotta go, because the Citigroup owned the clubs. Um it was like, listen, we need you here. Okay, now it's time to for sort of you to transition um into sort of a club over there where it was all about developing. We they want to develop, sell, bring financial gain to the club, but also promote young kids. Um but we know in modern-day football it is it is difficult if you don't have any experience around you because you have promotion relegation. Um but it it taught me a lot in terms of to understand you know the dynamic of sort of the way they want to run it and how to how to get everyone on board. You know, um there was some issues myself and the football director, we didn't agree on things a lot. Um, so that taught me that you have to sort of get people on side and work with the people you have because you you want the common goal. But sometimes if you're not aligned, it doesn't work. Um so that was disappointing because I thought that we'd done a great job. You know, I had all the Aussies there from um from Melbourne. Um I thought we'd done a great job. But obviously Powers F did think so and we sort of moved on. Um but the plan we had in place, they're doing that now in Twa, where it's a bit of experience, a bit of young. But you gotta cop it. Yeah, you know, and you know what? It is what it is, you know. So you you learn those things, you know. In Japan, I went as an assistant, so you know, um Steve Holland rang me, uh, who's at Man United now, and said, Listen, I wouldn't mind some help. And look, it was a it was a hard decision. It was a hard decision because at the time, I was at Melbourne Victory, and look, great people there, great club, and we're flying at the time, and I thought we could have done something special with the group. But also, I'm not arrogant, arrogant and ignorant not to learn more. So I thought Steve Holland, his coach, Chelsea, England, well, he's a great of that. Yeah, and you need to learn in football. I don't care what anyone says, you know. I don't know everything, and I never will. I want to be great, but you learn from greats, you know. So I went there to learn and try and help, and obviously things didn't really work out for him. Um, but also there were some problems in the club. And it took me at least, I reckon, about three weeks to actually say yes to the role. You know, I knew what was happening in behind, and um, again, I talk about alignment. There was, even though it was a city club, they didn't have full share of it. So Yokohama sort of ran it the way they wanted to, which is fair enough, you know, they pay the money and stuff. Um, then I took the job, but they knew I had a something, a personal problem here. And not a problem for me, but uh yeah, look, my mum wasn't well at the time, so it was the trade-off, you know, the trade-off. So I decided to to stay, but in that I said, look, listen, at any time I might have to go because my life to my mum is more important than football, right? So I said, but you need to support. If we're gonna do this and I'm gonna sacrifice, we need a support. Um but that didn't end up happening. So I thought, well, you know, what am I doing here? I've got someone that needs me, um, and I'd be I wouldn't forgive myself if anything bad happened. So I said, look, listen, if you're not gonna support me, you know, no point me being here, I I'm gonna resign. So I didn't resign because of bad results. And at the time we're not too bad. Again, we we I took off, I took over a club that was second-last. Yeah. We're just staying afloat. Now I resigned because you know I felt at the time that you know my mum was more important than football. And that's what it was, that's the truth. Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 9:18

And how did you find culturally as well? Because two very different countries, two different languages, how did you find resonating with players? Like at Trois, but then also at Yokohama, how's that for you?

SPEAKER_01 9:28

Look, you've got to adapt. You know, at Twa we try to learn French and we sort of try to.

SPEAKER_04 9:34

Because also, sorry to cut you, but you're a very animated manager as well. Yeah, very animated. I think of your team talks that I've seen videos of, I can imagine like almost then having to go through a translator, it's like you lose them up. You know, you're giving this mad speech and then the translator's like, eh, yeah, yeah. He said, like, play well. I don't imagine they could.

SPEAKER_01 9:52

So, like what we're to do was sorry, what what we had to do was sort of like say the speech with writing French.

SPEAKER_00 10:01

Really?

SPEAKER_01 10:01

Yes, they would sort of mix it together. Um, it wasn't ideal because in the moment gets lost. Yes, it is the but I think they sort of knew the way I was, and a lot of them actually spoke English as well. Oh, that's good, which was uh it was good with the the Japan, you know, we had um translators.

SPEAKER_00 10:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:21

So they were used to working with Ange, they were used to working with Kevin, yeah, all the odds, yeah, and all that, you know, Hachi. So, you know, for them it was the norm, you know, where you'd portray something and they would just re repeat or you hope they repeat exactly what you said, you know, and you've got to trust their judgment that they've been there and done that. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:38

How's your French and Japanese? Any words for the teachers?

SPEAKER_01 10:42

Terrible, terrible, you know. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:45

Obviously, you had yeah, a few challenges there overseas. Do you feel like you've had um unfinished business here in the A-League?

SPEAKER_01 10:51

I've got to know if it's unfinished business. Um, I I I think for me it's you know getting back to what you love and and doing it as best as you can. You know, no one's des no one's you know destined for or success or you know, you've got to go through a couple of speed humps first, I think, in life to understand what this job means to people, to you. And you know, it that doesn't deter me from anything. You know, if anything it makes it makes everyone stronger. You know, if life was Smith sailing, yeah, it would everyone would be at the top, right? But it's not. It's you know, I don't think it's where you start, I think it's where you finish. And I think I've had that pretty much as a kid growing up as well. You know, that's been my life. So just another challenge that you know you want to do well and you know, on we go.

SPEAKER_04 11:37

Speaking of challenges, do you think that the attitude since you've started managing and you're still a young manager, but do you think that the attitude towards managers has changed? Because we were talking off camera about like who would want to be a manager? Now you look at Tottenham every second week, they're sacking their manager. Do you feel like the the leash that certain teams and just I feel like the general public give managers is getting shorter and shorter?

SPEAKER_01 11:56

Yeah, I I think I think with you know with clubs, they think because they pay money, they and they they make the decision, right? So I think you've got to understand the role. As a manager, you're there for one thing and you've got to accept it. If you don't, then there's no point being one. I think, you know, and and the world's gone crazy if you know this, that, but it just shows you that football clubs, even at the highest level, if there's no alignment and you don't know what you're doing, or you're a bit undecided, how things can just snap and f and fail. And uh Totems, I think, is the perfect example. Yeah, you know, where you know, I think sometimes you've got to be careful what you wish for. You know, they can say yeah, Andrew finished 17th, but at the end of the day, he does something that no one else could do. You're a big trophy. You know what I mean? And a trophy is so hard, as we all know. So stick with, I think, trying to get it better and trying to improve it, then think that change is always better. You know, I think you'd have that balance. Yeah, change might work, but as you've seen, change hasn't worked.

SPEAKER_00 12:58

It's pretty wild. Uh, you manage some city teams who, you know, players went overseas, players made the soccer roos. How rewarding is that for you to have seen them succeed?

SPEAKER_01 13:08

Yeah, for me, it's Jordan Boss. Yeah. You know, I'm the best Australian footballer at the moment in Bordeaux. What a player. He's got a photo of me and him. I saw him at 14. Really? Wow. I went to his house and assigned him.

SPEAKER_00 13:18

That's amazing.

SPEAKER_01 13:18

Yeah. So, like, when you see that, you know, see the way his journey is, it it's incredible. You know, even Tilio, Marco Tilio, he came through this sort of system here, and you know, he obviously ended up with us, and you see him overseas, Aiden O'Neill, yeah, you know, Tom Glover, kind of many. You know, so like even Jamie McLaren, even at old age, getting a move, it doesn't matter, but you know, you gotta move. So, like, you see all these players that have come through the system, you think, well, I had a little bit to do that, yeah. But I'm proud that they're representing our country in the highest possible way because too many people think that you know our country is bad. You know, and it hurts me. You know, where you know how hard it is to pay for the country, you know how hard it is for Australian players to make it. Like it's so hard. But you've got to understand like what they've done to get there. So say well done for once. You know, it's it's being positive isn't isn't so hard, you know. And like I think this generation or the way the world we live in is always the first to criticize instead of saying, well, well done there, look how hard it is for them. Excellent there, excellent there, maybe we can improve this, no problem. You know, but our first judgment is to criticize, which I don't like.

SPEAKER_00 14:32

Pretty cool. I think people forget, like, what a great playing career you've had, like 18 caps for the soccer is right. So it's pretty cool you've been able to then help players reach their dream as well. It's awesome.

SPEAKER_04 14:41

Yeah, absolutely. And do you see similar I I was looking just through that Melbourne City, and of course, Sydney FC fans will remember that grand final. We've got him on our side now, so let's go. But I look at that team and I think, wow, that is a that is one of the all-time great A-League teams, youth experience. Do you see similarities with this current C team and that Melbourne City team, that mix?

SPEAKER_01 15:01

Yeah, I think they've got a bit a good a good mix, you know, um, and the and the L promotes that, which is which is great. There's certain characteristics the same. Um but yeah, I I think this team has a bit of youth and experience, which is exciting, you know, because you always want to start to filter and bring up some young some young talent, which I think Sydney have always always been at a high level through the academies. Um, but it's great to see some of them you know out here and you get to work with them. Yeah, now very cool.

SPEAKER_04 15:30

You're playing career, Sammy just touched on. You're from South Melbourne, and you went to Hearts. Hearts. Now we're talking, this isn't that long ago. You're a young guy, but we're talking this was 20 20 years ago. So we're not we're not talking in the Europe when in the Europe when you had to write Mumma Letter. Okay, you know, we're talking I can imagine that would have been very hard. Like you're not Scottish, so it would have been a culture shock. Like, what was that move like for a young Patrick Kidson Orbow making the move to Hearts, which we're now is a club where we're seeing Aussie 16 years, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:55

Look, it was it was eye-opening, you know. Um what you think was normal here was definitely not normal over there. You know, look, uh it taught me some good lessons. Number one is you gotta work hard. Oh, yeah. You know, we I think we take sometimes things for granted, and you know, they taught me, yeah, look, there's competition, you need to work hard to get your spot. Um number two, yeah, it taught you taught you resilience. You know, I was used to you know, my mum ironing my underpants, you know. So you tell your mum right now. But now I was a guy that had to do his own washing, had to cook for himself. Um so it taught me about survival, resilience, that not everything is gonna be perfect. So if you want to make the career that you want to, this is what you need to do, you know. And again, the careers if there are bad days, but it's about the next day and the next day and the next day. So those were for me the the teaching days of sort of trying to build up for for the like sort of the next step. But Scotland was amazing. Honestly, it was it was uh amazing. You know, I remember it was that cold on Christmas, and I thought we'd never train on Christmas because yeah, it's hot. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're at home, and I didn't turn up to training, and the the gaff was really like, Oh no, hey Patty, where are you? I'm like, I'm at home. Like, we've got training. I'm like, oh, here we go. Do you know what I mean? So the the little the little boy from Melbourne had to learn quickly what reality of football was like. So yeah, it was it was great stories, but a great time in my life.

SPEAKER_00 17:26

How did you find that football and jump? What was the level of difference like?

SPEAKER_01 17:30

It was it was high, yeah. You know, honestly, you got plays out running for 90 minutes, and it's competitive football. You know, it was hard, competitive, going away. You know, I never had a chance about you before, you know, in Australia, in the old NSL, there wasn't really that that many. So yeah, it was a really footballing shock or culture shock, but one that prepared me for, you know, sort of the next step.

SPEAKER_04 17:53

Yeah, yeah, and then you make that jump. Your career, I feel like you were speaking about teaching before. I feel like you are the perfect teacher for a young footballer because you really had everything. Like you had the move overseas, you've experienced local football, international career, injury setbacks as well. Like, how has your playing career helped you resonate with the young footballer?

SPEAKER_01 18:10

Yeah, it's it's just not perfect. People gotta realize you're not perfect. So you're gonna go through some some good times and bad, but the the main thing is is to don't let that deter for what you want to achieve. You know, again, there's always setbacks, you know, but it's up to you that to know that where you want to go and go for it. It doesn't matter what comes in your way, or it doesn't matter who says that you can't, because we've all had people that said that, oh, you can't do this, you can't do that. That should turn you, that should inspire you more, you know, to prove people wrong. Um, and there's no better feeling or you know, if that or when that day comes. Oh, that's awesome.

SPEAKER_00 18:46

Going on to you as a manager, who shaped you as a manager and was that always the plan post-football?

SPEAKER_01 18:51

Yeah, look, uh it was either gonna be a football manager or a security guard of badass school.

SPEAKER_00 18:56

To be fair, because you're both get him on the door as a ID, please.

SPEAKER_01 19:02

You know what I mean? Um yeah, look, I I I knew that football was the only way that I wanted to continue. Um, and again, you learn when you play, you learn off managers also like what not to do. So you learn what to do, but also what you didn't like. So you take it through your journey. Um, and I think Warren Joyce and uh Eric Mombards were probably the biggest influences with me. Yeah, you know, I was always about working hard, but Warren Joyce showed me a lot of things about working hard, about behind behind the scenes, how to manage up, you know, which I didn't really understand. Um Eric brought in a way of play, a playing style, and then try to link them all together and how it looks and how do you put that in your in your football and how it looks like. So again, those two guys were were fantastic for me in my sort of you know coaching journey.

SPEAKER_04 19:58

How do you look back on your international career? Because I feel like you came through in that era where you had so many good players, like so many great players, and I feel like you go into that category of super underrated soccer roos.

SPEAKER_01 20:10

Look, I I think you know, as a kid, you always wanted to put in that green and gold. Yeah. You know, and you look back, and I used to look at Mehmet Durakovic, Alex Tobin, yeah, Milan Bulkovich, I used to look at the old boys and think, oh, one day, you know, and then next thing you see Craig Moore, Papa, you know, all these type of players, defenders I used to love. You know, Dukes is there, I know he's a defender, but you think, wow, that's where you want to be, and then next thing you're there, you know. So I I I think that what's what motivated me because you wanted to be there. So you know, as a kid, you always strive to play for your country, and when you get that opportunity, you know, you you never take that for granted because you know before how hard it was and what they did to represent our country. So you want to leave a l a little legacy. So these plays beforehand, they left a legacy, same with the plays you know, coming up. So you wanted to be part of that. Um, and again, I was very you know lucky and fortunate to be to be part of some some great squads and to play with some great players, Harry, uh Timmy, you know, all these scokes, you know, that they can just keep going. Emmo, yeah, wow, you know, Vinny Gala, Mark, you know, you know, Spider Kalic, you won a Champions League, yeah. AC Miller like you know, these plays here set, you know, set the stool out for generations and the generations before, you know, so it's great to be part of it.

SPEAKER_00 21:34

Are you still friends with a lot of these players? I know you've got a few football game dropping. I knew you I knew you were gonna tell who are you friends with?

SPEAKER_01 21:44

Mark Mark Bruchano is a close friend of mine who lives in the time. Yeah, I speak to Kaletch, one of us with stories with the things. Um A bit of everyone, you know, you still sort of see around and you and you speak to. Um but Mark's sort of like my neighbour sort of thing is the closest thing. He's so good, you know.

SPEAKER_00 22:09

Um have a coffee with him.

SPEAKER_01 22:12

Well every day, honestly, every day while I was just at home, we used to go for lunch and just talk and it was the normal thing and you know, go on his boat and go to the beach and you know, um yeah, it was just good to like have someone like that close to you, but something that can resonate with you, yeah. So yeah, he's we've become very close.

SPEAKER_00 22:30

That's so cool. Very cool.

SPEAKER_04 22:31

I imagine what his birthday party would be like. I'm sure you'd have to I want to talk about one moment of your Leeds career, the cup set against Manchester United. Yep. Tell me about that because this is Leeds when they were in this is 2010, so they were in League, you were in League One. Everyone knows Leeds United, Manchester United. What a rivalry but you were at Leeds when they were still coming back from that financial trouble. Tell me about that cup, because this is Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United, and Leeds United upset them.

SPEAKER_01 22:58

Yeah, look, at that that year when I went there, um I had another, I caught a lot of Derby County, but I decided to go to Leeds just for the fact that I think I had more ambition. So I I went there and you know that time we're fine. So when we when we went to Manchester, I think we'll play ahead by the league by about 15 points. So confidence wasn't an issue. It was playing MA United away against world-class players. Um and the level, I don't care what anyone says, but the level from the top to sort of mid bottom, it's it's a it's a lot. Um but we sort of knew that collectively we could we could achieve something special. And and the manager said that Simon Grace and he goes, someone's gonna be a hero today. You know, and we look, we defended a bit of lives, we we had a bit of luck, you know. It was like it was just I think it was just one of those moments that it was gonna write history. Ah, so yeah, we'll never, I don't think we're gonna lose. We didn't feel like we're gonna lose at all. Yeah, and we had some chances to score more goals. So I I just I think it's just one of those days in your career that you knew that it didn't know no matter what happened, that you were gonna win that game and you're gonna be part of some history. And I was fortunate to be that. That's so cool.

SPEAKER_04 24:14

And just and uh we're saying cool a lot. It's so cool. And also it's such a to use the buzzword again, it's like a cool rivalry. It's united, it's leads, and then you look at all the Australians at Leeds, very cool. Yeah, yeah, very cool part of it. I'm gonna say something. Cool break. I'm gonna say one more. The reason why it's it's on our brain pad, because we have a segment called The Cool Break brought to you by San Miguel, where we just we change the line of questioning, you know, that like the air conditioning, it can get nice and cool. I've got these questions. You ready?

SPEAKER_00 24:38

Yes, okay. What do you do to switch off? Coffee with brush, probably.

SPEAKER_01 24:42

Yeah, well, now or in general.

SPEAKER_00 24:45

Yeah, in general.

SPEAKER_04 24:45

You're a Netflix guy, you a golfer?

SPEAKER_01 24:47

No, no. I look to be honest, just spent time with my kids.

SPEAKER_00 24:50

Oh no, you're a good dad.

SPEAKER_01 24:52

I try to be. That's a nice answer.

SPEAKER_04 24:53

Maybe whatever they want to watch on Netflix, then it's a good idea.

SPEAKER_01 24:55

Yeah, you've got no choice, but uh look, like Disney likes a bit of Ratatouille.

SPEAKER_04 25:01

Oh, Disney.

SPEAKER_01 25:02

Yeah, I I like better looker. Oh, yeah, yeah, I like it.

SPEAKER_04 25:06

But there's a lot of fake news out there now. You know, you hear a lot of rubbish, AI, it's so hard to tell. So you see a video, you see a news article, it's so hard to tell. So this game's called fact or fiction. I'm gonna just make some statements and you tell me if it's fact or if it's fiction.

SPEAKER_00 25:20

It's a new game appears.

SPEAKER_04 25:21

Sure. VAR has made football worse. Fact. Yeah. Yeah. How annoying. Can you imagine? I'm just trying to think. Did it come in when you towards the back end of your career as a player? Or did you just miss it, thankfully? Because who would want to be a defender nowadays?

SPEAKER_01 25:34

Yeah, I just I just missed it. Oh, that's good.

SPEAKER_04 25:37

It would suck as a player, but then I can also imagine as a manager, you know, you can't get the goal. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Movies are better when you watch them with subtitles. Like, do you watch Ratatouille with the subtitles on? No. You're not a subtitle person.

SPEAKER_01 25:52

No, but I have watched movies with subtitles. Well, I mean it's a Japanese movie. Yeah, no, that does help.

SPEAKER_04 26:00

Melbourne coffee is number one. Fact. Patty, we're gonna meet in about four weeks' time. Right. And I reckon your answer's gonna change, okay? I think your answer's gonna change. Because you're Melbourne through and through. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:10

And you've just landed in Sydney. Well, I haven't been there to a cafe yet.

SPEAKER_04 26:12

We have a recommend Italian sports couple of years. Yeah, we'll reconvene after we win the title this season, and then we'll we'll touch base. The correct abbreviation for a chicken parmigiana is palm me, not parma. That's palmer.

SPEAKER_00 26:30

Oh no.

unknown 26:31

Oh no.

SPEAKER_00 26:32

They've got you, haven't they?

SPEAKER_04 26:33

Oh no. Oh no.

SPEAKER_00 26:35

How do you know? Definitely palmies.

SPEAKER_04 26:37

Oh no, it's gotta be palmies. Guys, let us know in the comments. What is it? Uh, center backs can only wear black or white coloured boots, no multicoloured, no pinks, no oranges. I'd be worried if I saw my centre back in orange boots. He better be, not even Maldini walk, can't we? He better be Maldini's reincarnation.

SPEAKER_01 26:51

Well, I think if you if you're gonna judge from the top, if the top didn't wear it, then why should you?

SPEAKER_04 26:55

I love that.

SPEAKER_01 26:55

I love that. That's a perfect way to end this game. That is brilliant.

SPEAKER_00 26:59

Okay, what's more stressful? Playing or coaching?

SPEAKER_01 27:03

Coaching.

SPEAKER_00 27:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:04

Because you gotta you gotta try and get your message and ideas across to 11 players. As a player, you're selfish and you're worried about yourself.

SPEAKER_00 27:14

Do you do you find that hard, like communicating with different players? Because I know they would need different things. You've got youngsters coming into the squad, you've got more experience. How do you find that?

SPEAKER_01 27:22

Well, I think you just gotta adapt and learn. I think that's part of the learning the journey when you come become as a coach, it's your communication. There's some things you can say to other players, other players you can't. You can yell at one, you can't yell at the other.

SPEAKER_04 27:34

Like this guy can take it, so I can get him the hairdryer, but this guy maybe not say I've got to be diplomatic as well.

SPEAKER_01 27:40

Uh on the on the pitch though, yeah. It's the same thing. Everyone's coping the chair on the other. But behind closed doors, you gotta put your arm around the players, which I think is great. Yep. Um, you need to know them as a person, and I think first and foremost, that's the most important thing.

SPEAKER_04 27:53

What did you resonate with as a player? What fired you up from the manager? Were you the arm around? I can imagine you getting jammed. The manager sprays you and I'm like, I'm two footing somebody, let's go.

SPEAKER_01 28:01

No, no, no, no, no, I didn't really get the hairdryer.

SPEAKER_04 28:05

Um what was what was just like what what made you click? As in like click in a good way, like that resonates with the nice talk.

SPEAKER_01 28:12

Yeah, no, not really. If I got like hit first or head butter first, that's when the rest of the taste of blood and you see the red. Yeah, okay. I had to get hit first and uh or there was a tackle like no no no, I'm gonna get this one. Yeah, like yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 28:25

Oh, who was your footballing idol?

SPEAKER_01 28:28

I had a couple.

SPEAKER_04 28:29

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 28:30

I I actually had I had Maldinia's one.

SPEAKER_02 28:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:33

Which the greatest. I had Rude Hullet.

SPEAKER_02 28:37

Oh.

SPEAKER_01 28:37

Who was the coolest. Yeah, it's a cool cat. Yeah, I played a game against Feyenoord. Oh, and after he was the coach of Fineud, we lost and I went to hug him. I didn't care if we lost. I feel like I could hug that.

SPEAKER_03 28:51

No way it was cool.

SPEAKER_01 28:53

I'm gonna cry, like you know what I mean. And yeah, Carnaval. I think I'm a carnaval for me was the ultimate defender. Um centre-back small, but his timing was immaculate, it was immaculate. Um bled for who he played for. Yeah, Carnaval was amazing.

SPEAKER_00 29:11

Great idol.

SPEAKER_01 29:12

Yeah, that is great.

SPEAKER_00 29:14

Okay, you can have a meal with three people. Who are you inviting and what are you having? Oh gosh.

SPEAKER_04 29:18

Let's start with the people first. I mean, you make the three groups. Why don't we we make it you can you can't have one non-footballer? We have a non-footballer in there as well.

SPEAKER_00 29:26

So get to know PK outside of football. Who are you having?

SPEAKER_01 29:29

I'm gonna say Jesus. Yeah, that's cool. I'm a faithful guy. Yeah, that's cool. Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah, he's sort of, you know, we're we're the ones that always ask for help sometimes with him, and he's the one that sort of can help you, I think.

SPEAKER_00 29:41

So especially with Easter this week, would be a nice part.

SPEAKER_01 29:44

Yeah, so I I think one will be him.

SPEAKER_00 29:46

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 29:47

Uh non-footballers, right? Yeah, you can have an actor, you can have I would I would have Al Pacino. Yeah, I'm a godfather freak.

SPEAKER_02 29:58

This is a great um, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:02

I I've always loved those sort of gangster sort of old school movies.

SPEAKER_00 30:06

Yeah. Love the godfather.

SPEAKER_01 30:08

Um this can be a footballer. Footballer? Yeah. I was going to say that, but I'd say Johnny Warren.

SPEAKER_00 30:20

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:21

I never get I never got to meet him. And I think he'd done so much for our game. Oh that is an awesome dinner that I that I thought, you know what, he's done so much for our game without sort of I don't know, without him getting a lot of he got recognition, but you know, what he'd done for Australian football.

SPEAKER_04 30:37

And he and he tragically passed away right before we've now got it. Can you imagine that he's he's in the football football pitch in the sky?

SPEAKER_01 30:46

We forget about a lot of these point news. Yeah, Les Murray, these guys that you guys are doing your thing, you know.

SPEAKER_04 30:52

Um and the influence, what they players, bands, everything.

SPEAKER_01 30:56

So, you know, uh what a great answer.

SPEAKER_04 30:58

We've done that a couple times, that's hands-necked. Honestly, that is the best thing.

SPEAKER_01 31:01

That's the best thing to buy the way.

SPEAKER_00 31:02

What do they say of those?

SPEAKER_01 31:04

Is it three courses or one? Yeah, yeah. If you want to get specific, I'll love it. Look at it it's Italian cuisine. We'll start with the an antipasto.

SPEAKER_00 31:16

After this?

SPEAKER_01 31:17

Yeah, it's a stock standard. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 31:18

What do we have in there? Is it short?

SPEAKER_01 31:22

Yeah, a couple of other chini balls, a bit of a focaccia. Um start with. Yeah, I'm gonna get a I'm gonna get a ragu.

SPEAKER_00 31:34

Oh, nice.

SPEAKER_01 31:35

Yeah, it's it's a cold night. Yeah, you know, yeah, it's a ragu with a bit of pan, a bit of bread. Mop it up, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 31:45

Yeah, so go.

SPEAKER_01 31:46

Then I'm gonna go for a stock standard uh cotoletta.

SPEAKER_00 31:49

Oh, nice with pork, pork cottolet.

SPEAKER_01 31:52

Nah, veal. Veal with potatoes, peas. You're making me hungry. Yeah, we're shooting this at night as well, right? Salad, yeah, you know, and end it with a cafe and some tirimi soup, fruit or panatone.

SPEAKER_00 32:06

Beautiful.

SPEAKER_01 32:07

So that's a dinner. That's a dinner.

SPEAKER_00 32:09

I'm gonna recommend a restaurant we actually went to the other week called Pan Divino, and we had a nice cotoletta that you should try. Sorry, heels. Yeah. Let your education in Sydney begin with the Italian restaurant. Okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 32:19

Best player you played, let's go with and against. Can we national team as well?

SPEAKER_01 32:24

Yeah, look, uh, I think with I might have to say probably Dave Via.

unknown 32:28

No.

SPEAKER_01 32:28

Like when he only came here for four games. But what you saw after pitch was amazing. He always practiced. And his time your runs were immaculate. We didn't get to see too much in the A League, but I saw enough to go, well, this is that's why he's one of the all-time greats. Yeah. This guy's exceptional. Um I'm gonna probably say Rooney. I think he I think he had it, he has it all. I think he's underrated. He had everything. He's he's got everything. Um, yeah, what a what a player.

SPEAKER_03 33:03

What was he like to play against? Is he is he like he's nasty? Yeah, is he? He was hard, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 33:09

Tougher than a two-dollar stake. Yeah, no, I think he he he's just wants to win. What a player, like what a player, and like he's quick, strong, powerful, both feet, technically very good, could score, could tackle, could run back. He had everything. Um, there's there's other plays that play, but I think him as a general all-round, I think it was amazing. Oh, that's incredible. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 33:30

Looking ahead now to this week, you're thrown straight into it. We have two games coming up in a week. A message to the fans. Do you have anything you want to say to the fans as we gear up for this run home? Because of course the form wasn't the best leading up to this international break. There's been a lot of discourse. Fans aren't happy, and I think rightfully so because you look at this squad, it is a squad that should be competing in Silverware. So if you have a message to fans as we gear up for this run home, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 33:51

Look, it's just to say, you know, number one, thank you for you know supporting the players through the whole season, through good and through bad. Um, I know things have been sometimes a bit inconsistent, but hopefully we can reward reward you with that. So, um, with their support, you know, thank you. And you you know, you've always stuck by the team, so we want to stick by you.

SPEAKER_00 34:11

How are we looking for Thursday? Because obviously Ocon Junior is away with the Socceros as well. So what's the team news and everything looking like?

SPEAKER_01 34:19

Oh you have to find out Thursday. I'm sorry, but yeah, look, everything everyone's okay. Yeah, obviously he's in camp and you know, he'll be back tomorrow.

SPEAKER_04 34:27

There is a lot of giving a big way. Is there a small chance he could play potentially, like depending on what happens with the socceros?

SPEAKER_01 34:33

Yeah, look, for me, I'm a firm believer of you know, you can play for your nation's team, but also you have to back it up. Yeah, yeah. That's the modern world now. And he's young as well. Yeah, yeah, he's young. Look, I don't know what's gonna happen tonight, but you know, whatever happens, he'll be in contention whether he plays or not. I can't tell you that, but of course, he'll be in contention.

SPEAKER_02 34:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 34:51

Okay. And then Sammy, do you want to give the final question that we ask everyone? He kind of answered it kind of already.

SPEAKER_00 34:56

I hope it's not a sacking. If you weren't a footballer, what would you be?

SPEAKER_01 35:00

Oh gosh. Look, I I I don't know. I have to be honest.

SPEAKER_04 35:05

So plan B was always just execute plan A. There was never a it was always always football.

SPEAKER_01 35:09

Always football, you know. Um, yeah, football's my life, so I couldn't imagine anything beyond that. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 35:18

Yeah, I've all worked out.

SPEAKER_04 35:19

So uh well, the reason we're for all the scafuffle, we do this where everyone signs the jersey. Sure. It's looking really nice now. We're gonna give this away at the end of the season. Yeah, PK, it's time to show off your signature. Okay. Do you want me to hold it for you? I've been told that that helps when you like when I make it like that. Yeah. That is a signature back. You're a shop.

SPEAKER_02 35:40

You've done that. You've done what's going on to be extra smooth on that.

SPEAKER_04 35:43

The second one was the second one was that very, very nice. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. And PK, thank you so much for coming on. You've done a lot of media. You've moved states to the best state in Australia, male as well. It's very exciting, and uh, we wish you all the best. Good luck this week and for the rest of the season.

SPEAKER_01 36:00

Yeah, and thank you guys. You I think you guys do a great job promoting the club and and the game. And without people like you, we want to get bigger. So thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_00 36:09

You want to get this been the best.

SPEAKER_04 36:10

Well, when you win the title, we'll have you on in a celebration, and then we can chip coffee and be a godfather and stuff like that as well. We can get into the really good stuff. But yeah, thank you so much. And guys, thank you for watching.

SPEAKER_00 36:21

Yeah, thank you guys. Make sure you like, subscribe, keep those comments coming in because we had even more this week, as always, and it's been uh yeah, amazing. There's only a few apps to go.

SPEAKER_04 36:30

So I know we're at the business end of the season now. We're gonna go all the way to the end of the season and potentially finals as well. But guys, we will see you next week. Until then, ciao. Ciao.