The Australian National Team made it to the World Cup, but this time the hero was not Tim Cahill; With a badge on his arm and a rebellious beard, Michael John Jedinak led his country to a new joust of stars, a place where he belongs even if he is late.
The lanky midfielder is 33 years old and has an unexpected treble on his account: A free kick and two penalty charges confirmed him as an idol of the Socceroos, one of the two teams for which he could have played and although in Croatia they do not surprise him, today recognize his right leg.
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‘Mile’, as he is known, is not a stranger to global soccer, but he was slow to jump to high competition. He has never been the brightest in his team, and he is even out of the limelight, but he is a born leader since his work in the youth; at Sydney United, his first team, he showed it from the age of 14.
His endless energy makes him a bulwark in the midfield and although today he shines for everyone, the road was never easy: He debuted in 2001 with his hometown team, but had to gain minutes with Varteks from Croatia. When the loan ended it was already 2004 and there were still four more years to go before the real challenge.
Spending your life between Sydney United and Central Coast Mariners is not the way to go and against all odds for an Australian, the Turkish League became the next step; From 2009 to 2011 he belonged to Genclerbirligi, the last step before reaching the fulfillment of his dream, English football.
At the age of 27, Mile Jedinak signed with the Premier’s Crystal Palace, his first opportunity to transcend and mark an era for his team. Five years at the club and more than a hundred games, a great harvest for the eternal dreamer who left behind the comfort of local football.
Reaching the elite was not easy and staying in it even less so, but the 33-year-old still clings to the last hope, now with Aston Villa in the English Championship, a Second Division that knows first class for Australian pride, just like knows a World Cup ticket achieved on time.