Australian society is a fusion of different cultures and heritages and the Socceroos have continued to be a shining example of our nation’s strength through diversity over many years.
Harmony Day is held on March 21 each year and is Australia’s celebration of cultural diversity. It is a day which embraces inclusivity, and looks to recognise and celebrate the many nations and cultures that make Australia rich and vibrant every single day.
The divergent backgrounds of Australia’s national team stars highlight the vast and varied communities they also do proud when they represent our nation in the green and gold.
Since 1922, Socceroos sides have boasted players originating from over 40 different countries and the current squad continues to be a melting pot of ancestry and influences.
EXCLUSIVE: Socceroos legend talks Maradona, Aloisi's penalty and captaining Australia
MORE: Deng – I want to open doors for other Australian players
Current Socceroos born overseas include Martin Boyle and Harry Souttar, who were both born in Scotland, while Awer Mabil is of South Sudanese descent but was born in Kenya prior to coming to Australia as a refugee.
Milos Degenek was born in the Croatian town of Knin, while James Jeggo hails from Vienna where he now plays for hometown club Austria Wien and Apostolos Giannou was born in the Greek town of Naousa.
And, of course, even those Socceroos that were born in Australia also come from rich and diverse roots.
Sydney-born Mustafa Amini boasts both Afghan (father) and Nicaraguan (mother) heritage, while Brisbane-boy Kenneth Dougall is a blend of Scottish and Thai ancestry.
There are those that come from the ‘big smoke’ like Adam Taggart (Perth), Jamie Maclaren and Jackson Irvine (Melbourne), Craig Goodwin and Brandon Borello (Adelaide) and Aaron Mooy and Danny Vukovic (Sydney).
While Adam Federici (Nowra), Rhyan Grant (Canowindra), Mitchell Langerak (Emerald) and Andrew Redmayne (Gosford) forged their path to the national team from the regions.
The diversity of our Socceroos is something to surely celebrate this Harmony Day.
SOCCEROOS - BIRTH COUNTRIES all players (since 1922)
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- China
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- England
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iran
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kenya
- Lebanon
- Lithuania
- Macedonia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Montenegro
- Myanmar
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Northern Ireland
- Poland
- Samoa
- Scotland
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United States
- Wales
