Canberra is calling for your Caltex Socceroos, who will host Nepal this October in what is Australia’s second match on the road to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
GIO Stadium is the venue for Graham Arnold’s side against the South Asian nation currently ranked No. 166 in the world.
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So, with the return to home soil looming on the horizon, we at www.socceroos.com thought we’d shine the spotlight on some of the best Caltex Socceroos to emerge from the nation’s capital.
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Caltex Socceroos from the ACT
Tomas Rogic (47 appearances) 2012–2019
Celtic wizard Rogic played his youth football for Tuggeranong United and Belconnen United before lighting up the Hyundai A-League with Central Coast Mariners.
Since moving to the Scottish Champions in 2013, Rogic has won four Premierships, four Scottish Cups three Scottish League Cups and made multiple appearances in the UEFA Champions League.
He has also represented Australia with distinction 47 times and featured for the Caltex Socceroos at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Carl Valeri (52 appearances) 2007–2014
Valeri progressed through the Australian Institute of Sport and finished his youth career with Serie A giants Inter.
The midfielder enjoyed a successful career in the third and second divisions of Italian football before returning to Australia with Melbourne Victory and guiding the club to two Championships, a Premiership and an FFA Cup.
He currently plays for NPL Victoria club Dandenong City.
Ned Zelic (40 appearances) 1991–1999
An all-time Caltex Socceroo great, Zelic starred for Borussia Dortmund in the 1990s and also played in France, Japan, Austria, Georgia and England, as well as Newcastle Jets in the Hyundai A-League.
Andrew Bernal (21 appearances) 1989–1996
A powerful defender who played for Sydney Olympic in the National Soccer League, Bernal also featured for England’s Reading and La Liga team Sporting Gijon, and played 21 times for Australia – mostly for Eddie Thomson.
Jim Cant (14 appearances) 1983–1984
Cant was born in Edinburgh but emigrated to Australia and played for Canberra City, Marconi-Fairfield and Sydney City in the NSL. The forward played 14 times for Australia.
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Jason Geria (1 appearance) 2016
Geria won the Hyundai A-League Premiership and Championship double with Melbourne Victory in 2014/15 and made his Caltex Socceroos debut against Greece in 2016. The fullback now plays for JEF United in the J2-League.
Sebastian Giampaolo (2 appearances) 1978–1981
Giampaolo played for APIA Leichhardt, Inter Monaro and Heidelberg United during the 1980s, and was inducted into the Capital Football Hall of Fame in 2009.
Tony Henderson (50 appearances) 1979–1984
A former Blackpool youth, Henderson also played football in South Africa before joining Canberra City in the club’s inaugural season in the NSL. The defender also featured for Marconi Stallions, Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Blacktown City.
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Matthew Kemp (1 appearance) 2010
Kemp was an inaugural 2005/06 Premiership winner with Adelaide United and played five seasons with Melbourne Victory, where he would clinch the Premiership and Championship double 2008/09. His sole Caltex Socceroos cap came in 2010 against Kuwait.
Ante Juric (4 appearances) 2002
Juric enjoyed many years of success in the NSL for the likes of Melbourne Knights, Sydney Olympic and in his hometown for Canberra Cosmos. He is currently the Westfield W-League coach of Sydney FC.
George Kulcsar (3 appearances) 1996–1997
Kulcsar was born in Budapest, Hungary and played for Canberra City and St. George in the 1980s. He also played for four-time Belgian Champions Royal Antwerp, English sides Bradford City and Queens Park Rangers, and Home United of Singapore.
Danny Moulis (4 appearances) 1980
Moulis played for Canberra City and Sydney Olympic in the NSL before injury forced him to retire at a young age. He has since established a successful career as a trademark lawyer.
Kaz Patafta (1 appearance) 2006
An Australian Institute of Sports graduate, Patafta began his career with Portuguese giants Benfica before featuring for Melbourne Victory and Newcastle Jets in the Hyundai A-League. He played for Canberra FC in 2013.
Nikolai Topor-Stanley (4 appearances) 2008–2014
Topor-Stanley has become the modern-day Hyundai A-League ironman thanks to his remarkable feats of endurance for Newcastle Jets.
The defender began his senior career at Belconnen and has also played for Sydney FC, Perth Glory and Western Sydney Wanderers, with whom he helped win the 2014 AFC Champions League.
