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West Australian
16-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Son of a gun called into Socceroos training squad
The son of former Socceroo Paul Okon is set to get his first taste of senior national team football after being selected in Australia's warm-weather training camp in Abu Dhabi. Paul Okon-Engstler, a 20-year-old midfielder on the books of Portuguese side Benfica, was on Friday named to attend a Socceroos camp in the United Arab Emirates later this month. Okon sr is part of Tony Popovic's coaching staff and while his son is unlikely to receive a call-up proper for next month's must-win World Cup qualifiers with Japan and Saudi Arabia, he is clearly viewed as a player of potential. Okon-Engstler was part of the Young Socceroos squad which won the U20 Asian Cup earlier this year. Hibernian defender Jack Iredale and Aberdeen-bound Western Sydney Wanderers playmaker Nicolas Milanovic are also called into the Socceroos' set-up for the first time. The squad is drawn from players whose seasons in the A-League Men or Europe have already finished. "I'm very grateful to Football Australia for their support with this training camp which is invaluable for the players and staff ahead of our games in June," Popovic said. "We've got players finishing up their seasons at a range of different times, so it's important they remain physically and mentally sharp in the weeks leading up to the final squad selection. "I'm looking forward to the chance to work together for an extended period. "There are also a lot of players who are currently in-season with their clubs, and we'll be monitoring them closely over the coming weeks." Striker Kusini Yengi, who was released by Portsmouth earlier this week, is included after injury curtailed his involvement in the March qualification window. Encouragingly for Popovic, Middlesbrough's Riley McGree and St Pauli's Connor Metcalfe are back in the fold as the Socceroos boss looks to cover the loss of Jackson Irvine. Irvine will miss the June 5 clash with Japan in Perth and the June 11 meeting with Saudi Arabia in Jeddah with a foot issue. Two wins will guarantee the Socceroos qualification for next year's World Cup in North America. SOCCEROOS TRAINING SQUAD Goalkeepers: Mat Ryan, Joe Gauci, Paul Izzo, Tom Glover. Defenders: Milos Degenek, Jason Davidson, Cam Burgess, Lewis Miller, Ryan Strain, Alex Gersbach, Jack Iredale. Midfielders: Riley McGree, Connor Metcalfe, Keanu Baccus, Anthony Caceres, Max Blard, Nectar Triatnis, Paul Okon-Engstler. Forwards: Martin Boyle, Adam Taggart, Brandon Borrello, Kusini Yengi, Nicolas Milanovic.
Perth Now
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Son of a gun called into Socceroos training squad
The son of former Socceroo Paul Okon is set to get his first taste of senior national team football after being selected in Australia's warm-weather training camp in Abu Dhabi. Paul Okon-Engstler, a 20-year-old midfielder on the books of Portuguese side Benfica, was on Friday named to attend a Socceroos camp in the United Arab Emirates later this month. Okon sr is part of Tony Popovic's coaching staff and while his son is unlikely to receive a call-up proper for next month's must-win World Cup qualifiers with Japan and Saudi Arabia, he is clearly viewed as a player of potential. Okon-Engstler was part of the Young Socceroos squad which won the U20 Asian Cup earlier this year. Hibernian defender Jack Iredale and Aberdeen-bound Western Sydney Wanderers playmaker Nicolas Milanovic are also called into the Socceroos' set-up for the first time. The squad is drawn from players whose seasons in the A-League Men or Europe have already finished. "I'm very grateful to Football Australia for their support with this training camp which is invaluable for the players and staff ahead of our games in June," Popovic said. "We've got players finishing up their seasons at a range of different times, so it's important they remain physically and mentally sharp in the weeks leading up to the final squad selection. "I'm looking forward to the chance to work together for an extended period. "There are also a lot of players who are currently in-season with their clubs, and we'll be monitoring them closely over the coming weeks." Striker Kusini Yengi, who was released by Portsmouth earlier this week, is included after injury curtailed his involvement in the March qualification window. Encouragingly for Popovic, Middlesbrough's Riley McGree and St Pauli's Connor Metcalfe are back in the fold as the Socceroos boss looks to cover the loss of Jackson Irvine. Irvine will miss the June 5 clash with Japan in Perth and the June 11 meeting with Saudi Arabia in Jeddah with a foot issue. Two wins will guarantee the Socceroos qualification for next year's World Cup in North America. SOCCEROOS TRAINING SQUAD Goalkeepers: Mat Ryan, Joe Gauci, Paul Izzo, Tom Glover. Defenders: Milos Degenek, Jason Davidson, Cam Burgess, Lewis Miller, Ryan Strain, Alex Gersbach, Jack Iredale. Midfielders: Riley McGree, Connor Metcalfe, Keanu Baccus, Anthony Caceres, Max Blard, Nectar Triatnis, Paul Okon-Engstler. Forwards: Martin Boyle, Adam Taggart, Brandon Borrello, Kusini Yengi, Nicolas Milanovic.
Perth Now
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
The 17-year-old who swapped school for A-League finals
Dylan Leonard is getting a different education this year. While his mates are preparing for exams, the 17-year-old Western United sensation is studying up on strikers under the tutelage of one of Australia's greatest ever marksmen. United coach John Aloisi can't stop praising the talented young centre-back who has looked mature beyond his years at the heart of defence. And Leonard is soaking up every bit of Aloisi's advice. "He says to play with confidence, especially when you make mistakes - don't change, don't do anything different, like you're there for a reason," Leonard told AAP ahead of his finals debut. "Play the way you play." Last year, Leonard was juggling studies and football. But battling with fatigue, he dropped out earlier this year. Leonard started believing he could belong at A-League level when he went toe-to-toe with Melbourne City stars Marco Tilio and Andrew Nabbout in a pre-season friendly. After a calf injury to James Donachie created a starting opportunity, Leonard hasn't looked back. Leonard could have gone with the Young Socceroos to the U20 Asian Cup - where they won silverware and U20 World Cup qualification - but chose to stay behind to cement his spot at United. He has no regrets. "As much as an honour it is to play for your country, for me, I felt like the right footballing decision was to stay," Leonard said. "We had a few tough games coming up, and I wasn't too happy with the way I was playing, and really wanted to get back onto the next game and get better. "I felt if I'd gone away, it wasn't the right thing for me or for the team. "I'm happy they won it. It brings a lot of confidence and shows the level of Australian football." Leonard, whose family is Scottish, dreams of one day playing for Celtic, while he'd love to emulate former Sydney FC young gun Hayden Matthews in cracking the Socceroos. "It shows that the coaches are willing to put trust in young players," he said. "That's something the A-League's starting to do as well, not just the national team, and it's paying off. "There's a lot more players going overseas, and then because of that, we're building a better national team." After beating Auckland last Saturday to seal third place, Western will host Adelaide United in their elimination final at Ironbark Fields on Friday night. Although golden boot winner Archie Goodwin (hamstring) won't feature, Leonard is wary of Adelaide's attack. "I wouldn't be surprised if they threw something different at us this week," Leonard said.
West Australian
07-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
The 17-year-old who swapped school for A-League finals
Dylan Leonard is getting a different education this year. While his mates are preparing for exams, the 17-year-old Western United sensation is studying up on strikers under the tutelage of one of Australia's greatest ever marksmen. United coach John Aloisi can't stop praising the talented young centre-back who has looked mature beyond his years at the heart of defence. And Leonard is soaking up every bit of Aloisi's advice. "He says to play with confidence, especially when you make mistakes - don't change, don't do anything different, like you're there for a reason," Leonard told AAP ahead of his finals debut. "Play the way you play." Last year, Leonard was juggling studies and football. But battling with fatigue, he dropped out earlier this year. Leonard started believing he could belong at A-League level when he went toe-to-toe with Melbourne City stars Marco Tilio and Andrew Nabbout in a pre-season friendly. After a calf injury to James Donachie created a starting opportunity, Leonard hasn't looked back. Leonard could have gone with the Young Socceroos to the U20 Asian Cup - where they won silverware and U20 World Cup qualification - but chose to stay behind to cement his spot at United. He has no regrets. "As much as an honour it is to play for your country, for me, I felt like the right footballing decision was to stay," Leonard said. "We had a few tough games coming up, and I wasn't too happy with the way I was playing, and really wanted to get back onto the next game and get better. "I felt if I'd gone away, it wasn't the right thing for me or for the team. "I'm happy they won it. It brings a lot of confidence and shows the level of Australian football." Leonard, whose family is Scottish, dreams of one day playing for Celtic, while he'd love to emulate former Sydney FC young gun Hayden Matthews in cracking the Socceroos. "It shows that the coaches are willing to put trust in young players," he said. "That's something the A-League's starting to do as well, not just the national team, and it's paying off. "There's a lot more players going overseas, and then because of that, we're building a better national team." After beating Auckland last Saturday to seal third place, Western will host Adelaide United in their elimination final at Ironbark Fields on Friday night. Although golden boot winner Archie Goodwin (hamstring) won't feature, Leonard is wary of Adelaide's attack. "I wouldn't be surprised if they threw something different at us this week," Leonard said.
Perth Now
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Young Socceroos to face side who ignited Messi's career
Nestory Irankunda could be in line for his first Young Socceroos call-up as Australia's under 20s begin their preparations for their first World Cup in a decade with mouthwatering warm-up friendlies against Argentina in Buenos Aires. Fresh off winning the U20 Asian Cup in China earlier this year, Trevor Morgan's side are expected to receive a baptism of fire when they face Argentina on June 6 and June 9. Argentina hold the fortunes of their youth national teams dearly and the two home friendlies, just a few months out from September's U20 World Cup in Chile, will likely garner significant interest. Argentina have won the U20 World Cup a record six times, with Diego Maradona (1979), Lionel Messi (2005) and Sergio Aguero (2007) crowned player of the tournament on the way to lifting the trophy. "The Argentinian federation, through various contacts we have, showed an interest in hosting us," Morgan told AAP. "It fits perfectly with what we've tried to do with this group over the whole cycle. "It's possible to play top teams - we played Chile and Uruguay last year. "But Argentina's interest would be sparked by playing a team that's going to a World Cup. "Winning the tournament (the U20 Asian Cup) maybe makes it a touch more interesting for them when they see there's a team that will have some quality about it." Australia qualified for their first U20 World Cup since 2013, by being crowned Asian champions in March. The feat - just Australia's third major trophy since joining the Asian confederation in 2006 - was all the more impressive considering Morgan was without some of his most high-profile names. Irankunda, who has five senior Socceroos caps to his name, didn't make the trip, having just sealed a loan move to Grasshopper in Switzerland from parent club Bayern Munich. The likes of Rhys Youlley, currently with Belgian side Westerlo, Portsmouth striker Tom Waddingham and PSV Eindhoven winger Marcus Younis also remained with their clubs. Waddingham and Perth Glory's Zach Lisolajski are likely to miss out due to injury but Morgan is hopeful he will have an all-star cast at his disposal for June's friendlies with Argentina. "They should all be available with it being a FIFA window, it's not like the Asian Cup where you are asking permission to have players released," Morgan said. "There is good competition in this team and that's why the team was successful in the Asian Cup. "We were missing seven or so very good players who normally might have been part of the squad and we were still good enough to win it, so these boys know that there's competition for every spot."
