Football Australia to launch Socceroos ‘Team of the Century’ voting on August 1
Football Australia is excited to announce that voting for the Socceroos’ ‘Team of the Century’ will go live in August as part of ongoing celebrations for the 100th birthday of the Socceroos – Australia’s senior men’s national football team.
100 years ago today Australia played its first ‘A’ international match in Dunedin when a squad coached by Alf Morgan and captained by Alex Gibb took on New Zealand at Carisbrook.
Now Football Australia, in partnership with fans, technical experts, Football Australia’s Panel of Historians, and media, will determine which 23 players from the 622 men who have represented the Socceroos in ‘A’ international football since 1922 will be formally recognised in Australia’s ‘Team of the Century’.
Full details regarding the voting process will be launched on Monday, 1 August 2022, with the final list of eleven (11) starting players and twelve (12) substitutes to be revealed on matchday when the Socceroos take on New Zealand on home soil in September.
Recently it was announced that the Socceroos will venture to Auckland in September to take on New Zealand in an international friendly to mark the 100-year anniversary of the first senior men’s international fixture between the two nations.
The New Zealand leg of the series and celebrations will take place on Sunday, 25 September, with kick-off at Auckland’s Eden Park set for 4pm local time (2pm AEST). Australia’s celebrations will take place in the days prior, with the host city and venue to be announced soon.
The Australian leg of the series will also be the official send-off match for the Socceroos prior to their participation in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
Today’s announcement that Football Australia will launch a process to determine the Socceroos’ ‘Team of the Century’ comes just three days after one of the Socceroos’ most iconic moments was realised. On Tuesday morning (AEST) Australia defeated Peru on penalties to secure a place at a fifth-consecutive FIFA World Cup™, adding to the strong and storied history of the team.
In its Centenary year, the history of the Socceroos and men’s football in Australia will be detailed in numerous publications, and through the Socceroos’ ‘History Hub’ – a Football Australia digital initiative.
Fans can purchase the following books to delve into the rich history of the Socceroos this year.
Socceroos: 100 Years of Camaraderie and Courage
Author: Martin Lenehan
Release: May 2022
About: An image-focused publication reflecting on some of the greatest moments and characters in Socceroos history.
Please click here to purchase
Encyclopedia of Socceroos Centenary Edition (1922 – 2022)
Author: Andrew Howe
Release: November 2022
About: Profile of the almost 1,000 men who have played for Australia at both ‘A’ international level and ‘non-A’ international level.
Please click here to purchase (available November 2022)
Burning Ambition – The Centenary of Australia-New Zealand Football Ashes
Authors: Nick Guoth and Trevor Thompson
Release: June 2022
About: The people and environment that helped shape the beginnings of football international for Australia and New Zealand.
Please click here to purchase
From Grassroots to Green and Gold: A Centenary of Australian Internationals (1922 - 2022)
Author: Greg Werner
Release: August 2022
About: How the Socceroos have developed through five generations.
Book to be available via www.fairplaypublishing.com.au
Portraits in Football
Author: Bonita Mersiades
Release: January 2022
About: A pictorial history of Australian football up until the 1990s, with 162 photographs drawn from the 19,250 former Fairfax Media archive, now known as the Fair Play Collection.
Please click here to purchase
