James Troisi scored the winning goal that secured Australia's first major piece of silverware. The 36-year-old represented his country at the World Cup and the Olympics, and was even on the books of Juventus at one point. Yet Troisi never forgot the four-and-a-half years he spent as a youngster at Newcastle United.
Troisi may not have played a competitive game for the Magpies, but the Aussie admitted it was 'every boy's dream to say they were involved with a club like that' between 2004 and 2008. Troisi was not just involved, of course; the attacking midfielder rubbed shoulders with senior pros like Shay Given, Nicky Butt and Michael Owen, who gave him a special nickname.
"They used to call me Messi," Troisi told ChronicleLive. "I was far, far from it but that was something special for me because you've got all those players calling you it.
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"I had long hair as well so it was a nice feeling because you get chewed up and chucked out straight away if you can't mix it with those boys. If you can't handle it, you're out of there, but there were quite a few of them who took me under their wing."
Funnily enough, Troisi went on to play against Lionel Messi with Australia. Troisi may have left Newcastle by then, but pitting his wits against a powerhouse like Argentina on the big stage was what the wonderkid dreamed of when he first joined the club at the age of just 15.
Troisi had previously caught the eye while playing against Newcastle's youngsters during a tour of Europe with the Burning Ambition Soccer Academy, which was set up by his father. Before he knew it, Troisi, his parents, Alby and Stacia, and younger brother, Isaac, were boarding a flight to the other side of their world to start their new lives on Tyneside.
There was no language barrier, of course, but Troisi quickly realised that this was going to be a very different environment to the one he left behind 10,000 miles away in sunny, laidback Adelaide. In fact, in Troisi's own words, it was 'very dog eat dog' at a time when there were not that many overseas players in Newcastle's academy.
"The history behind the club, the culture and the love and hunger for it is amplified," he said. "Me coming over there and potentially taking a young local Geordie boy's spot when his great-grandfather supported the club and they bled the Toon meant it was completely different.
"It takes a lot of time to feel welcome, especially at the academy, because everyone wants that dream, that deliverance, to get that professional contract and play for the first team. The boys were all very good but it did take a lot of time.
"It wasn't, 'Hey, how are you mate? Anything you need we will help you out.' It was, 'Who are you? What are you? What have you got? Let's see how tough you are. We will give you plenty of kicks, bumps and bruises and see if you can cut it.'"
It was rather fitting, then, that at one point, Troisi trained alongside Kuno Becker as the actor prepared for the film 'Goal!' by learning from the club's youngsters. Like Becker's character, Santiago Munez, the resilient Troisi did not give up, vowing he 'wasn't going to let anyone sway me'. That perseverance paid off.
Before Troisi knew it, the Aussie was called up to train with the first team under Glenn Roeder and took his place on the bench alongside fellow academy graduates Andy Carroll and Fraser Forster for Newcastle's UEFA Cup tie in Palermo in 2006. To put that rise into perspective, Troisi had not even signed his first professional contract yet.
"There was a little bit of hype behind myself, Andy and Fraser at a young age travelling with the squad and being on the bench," he said. "You would walk around town and people would know you. It was a nice feeling. St James' is unbelievable, but the fans are next level."
Troisi's promise as a technical, two-footed prospect with pace was not just going unnoticed on Tyneside. A Today Tonight news report back home opened up with the following remark: "According to those in the know, this young man could very well be Australia's next Harry Kewell".
It may seem hyperbole now, of course, but there was a reason why Kieron Dyer and Emre Belozoglu were among those who took Troisi under their wing or why Mark Viduka and Craig Moore also kept a close eye on their countryman. The club's experienced internationals liked and rated Troisi and the youngster showed promise, even setting up two goals in a pre-season win against Hartlepool United in 2007.
However, Troisi never ultimately got his chance at a time when Charles N'Zogbia, James Milner, Alan Smith and Damien Duff were among those also on the club's books. Desperate to play, Troisi had an 'up front' chat with Kevin Keegan, who returned as manager, in 2008.
"I can speak about it now, but I couldn't really speak about it then," he said. "Kevin Keegan was pretty open with me.
"He had not been there for long and said, 'You've been at the club for some time now and have ability, but I need more time with you. It's up to you. A contract is here for you but, at the same time, if you choose to go, we will say that we will release you and your future club does not have to pay a training compensation fee.'
"It was a nice gesture from him to do that for me because I ended up going for free and he didn't have to do that. It was something that doesn't usually happen."
Troisi joined Genclerbirligi in Turkey and went on to represent clubs in Italy, Belgium, Saudi Arabia and China as well as winning 37 caps for his country during a lengthy career. The shaven-headed veteran is still playing today, at Western United in Melbourne, and will come up against one Garang Kuol in the A-League next month.
Newcastle are working on a move for Kuol and few are better placed than Troisi to comment not only on the Central Coast Mariners wonderkid's potential but, also, how a move to St James' Park would 'change his life'.
"There's definitely something there," Troisi added. "He's young, he's raw, he's fast. He has not played a lot of football but the bits he's played, he's shown he's got a bit about him. It's not going to cost Newcastle too much and if it works out, what could he potentially be worth to the club?
"It's definitely a different ball game and, if it ends up happening, he will realise very quickly what it's about. In Australia, a young kid with ability gets blown up quite quickly, which it has done with him. He has not played many minutes at all - he's just made his debut for the national team - but we need good young players.
"There's plenty of ability there. You just hope he gets led in the right direction and keeps his head switched on and doesn't get cocky. If he does, he will get knocked back pretty quickly."
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