3 minute read
Veteran goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic has retired after 288 A-League appearances at three clubs.
Former Socceroos goalkeeper and A-League title winner Eugene Galekovic has hung up his gloves after a 20-yearprofessional career with few peers.
Galekovic, 37, called time near the top of his game, having won Melbourne City's player of the year after a season in which he kept nine clean sheets.
"I'm sad to call it a day but proud of my career and what I have achieved," he said.
Galekovic has achieved plenty; personally and for his teams.
He began with Gippsland-based National Soccer League club Eastern Pride in 2000 and then joined powerhouse South Melbourne.
He played for Melbourne Victory in the inaugural A-League campaign in 2005-06 and again in 2006-07 before he moved to Adelaide United and held down the No.1 position for a decade.
Galekovic established himself as one of Australia's premier goalkeepers during his time at The Reds and also played in the Asian Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup.
He kept goal for Australia at the 2004 Olympics, travelled to two World Cups, and was a part of Ange Postecoglou's 2015 Asian Cup-winning squad.
He won a string of goalkeeping awards with Adelaide but club success eluded Galekovic until United's 2014 FFA Cup win and 2015-16 double-winning season under Guillermo Amor.
In 334 senior matches for club and country, he was never sent off.
In a short statement, Galekovic thanked his family for allowing him to "live out his dreams".
He spent the final two seasons of his career at Melbourne City, which hailed his impact on the club.
"Eugene retires as one of the most decorated and capped Australian goalkeepers of a generation," City football boss Michael Petrillo said.
"His mentorship of our younger players over the past two seasons will have benefits for years to come."
Galekovic said the past two seasons at City had been "very rewarding".
"I've enjoyed sharing my experience and helping along the younger players.
"There is a lot of talent in the ranks at City and I'm sure success is just around the corner," he said.
Galekovic is expected to return to Adelaide as the club's goalkeeping coach.
He was one of six players released by Melbourne City on Wednesday after their elimination final loss to Adelaide.
Loanees Riley McGree (Club Brugge), Ritchie de Laet (Aston Villa) and Shayon Harrison (Tottenham Hotspur) will return to their respective home clubs.
Veteran defender Iacopo La Rocca and James Delianov have also exited with the rookie goalkeeper signing for expansion side Western United.
City also announced that on-loan pair Dean Bouzanis and Denis Genreau, who both moved to Dutch club PEC Zwolle which was under the tenure of former City boss John van 't Schip, will return to Melbourne.
EUGENE GALEKOVIC: A GIANT IN GLOVES
* Stats
:: Socceroos caps: 8
:: A-League matches: 288
* Titles
:: Melbourne Victory: 2006/07 A-League championship, premiership
:: Adelaide United: 2014 FFA Cup, 2015/16 A-League championship, premiership
:: Australia: 2015 Asian Cup
* Awards
:: Named in the PFA's team of the A-League's first decade
:: Four-time A-League goalkeeper of the season
:: Two-time Adelaide United player of the year and one-time Melbourne City player of the year
