There is more to Tomislav Uskok than meets the eye. The Macarthur FC defender chats to aleagues.com.au.
Footballers; they’re more than just that. Peel back the layers and you’ll find what inspires them or makes them tick away from the field.
When it comes to Tomislav Uskok, there is more to the Macarthur FC defender than meets the eye.
Not only has he been part of the club’s resurgence in the Isuzu UTE A-League, but he is a man of deep faith as a catholic. It is unwavering belief, in his own words, he is not ashamed of.
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“The deeper I’ve got into it, the more I realise how important it is in every aspect of life,” Uskok told aleagues.com.au ahead of Macarthur’s clash against his former club Western United on Friday.
“I’m a father of four – my oldest is five and my youngest just turned one. I just want to be a good role model for them and a good father for them. I think my faith goes hand in hand with that. If I can teach them little things of the faith as they’re growing, it will try to shape them as good humans as they grow.
“As a father, husband and footballer, for me it’s probably the most important thing. I try to centre myself towards that because football will come and go, many things will come and go.
“Just humble myself to know I can do everything in my control and power help myself to be the best version of myself, but in the end, Christ is in control and the holy spirit will takeover. That’s all I can do.”
With his faith has come the emergence of – Beaded Armour; handmade rosary beads.
Rosary beads are used to count the set of prayers. The prayers that compose the Rosary are arranged in sets of 10 “Hail Marys”, called ‘decades’ this is preceded by one “Our Father” and traditionally followed by one “Glory Be”.
It is something that started between himself and one of his daughters during COVID. From that, it is has gone to touch the lives of others across the globe.
“I don’t shy away from it,” said the 32-year-old. “I try to be faithful to Christ and it’s probably not something people really want to talk about or (are) fond of in today’s society but I’m not ashamed.
“I make handmade paracord rosaries specially for men. My faith, with the rosary I had a reversion many years ago and came back to the faith – Catholicism. The rosary helped me in my journey and I felt like men that I know who might need it and might help, if I could make them some beautiful rosaries, they would appreciate it and hopefully make them pray more.
“It’s something I’m proud of. All glory to God. I got asked to do it obviously through prayer. It’s something I felt like I had to do. I continue doing it.
“I’ve probably made by hand well over 1,000 rosaries for men all over the world – Sydney, Melbourne, Croatia, America, Philippines. They’ve gone everywhere. It’s a nice thing when you get the response you get when you send it out and they love it, and they want to pray more.”
Fulfilling a childhood dream
Growing up in a Croatian family in Melbourne, Uskok had one dream – to play for Melbourne Knights.
Coming through the junior setup at Somers Street, he looked up to the likes of Josip Simunic, Tom Pondeljak and Mark Silic. But there was one name that stood out.
“Big Dukes. Mark Viduka. I loved him,” Uskok said. “We always used to play on the outside pitch but on the odd occasion, once in my juniors I played on the main ground and you see the Viduka Stand sign and I still remember that to this day. It was pouring rain and I would’ve been 10 or something.”
Uskok spent some time away from Knights, playing for Richmond and local rivals St Albans Saints before returning to his boyhood club in 2011.
In 2014, he scored a 120th-minute winner in the Dockerty Cup final to lead Knights to their first piece of major silverware since 1996. The following year, he was handed the captaincy.
“It’s funny you say that now because at that time when I was growing up, it was a little bit different,” Uskok reflected on his journey with the historic Victorian club.
“Knights were in the national league and they were a big club. At that time, my dream was to play for Melbourne Knights in the national competition.
“For me to grow up there, my father was on the committee and helping… I feel like I was there everyday as a kid. You’re spending hours and hours there playing outside on the grounds while your dad is working.
“When I first captained the club, it was special for me. You feel a burden as well because you want to bring success. We were lucky one year when we won the cup with Andrew Marth as coach. That was definitely special for me.
“I love the club. It holds a special place to me. It was a beautiful time for me. My dad still goes and watches games. I’m always going to have a connection.”
The return he wasn’t ‘chasing’
Uskok’s first shot at the A-Leagues and his first professional contract was as a 24-year-old in 2015.
Having starred at NPL level with Knights, he impressed on trial and secured a short-term deal with Central Coast Mariners until the end of the 2015-16 season.
Uskok made six appearances for the Mariners, starting four matches.
He had to wait four years for his next chance in the Isuzu UTE A-League, returning to Melbourne to sign for Western United in 2020 following spells with Knights and Sydney United.
Asked if he had ever given up hope of returning to the A-Leagues, Uskok said: “To be honest, it wasn’t so much that I was chasing it. I was very happy with the job I was doing. Happy playing for Sydney United.
“I was in a really good place in my life. I wouldn’t say that after the Mariners I was chasing going back to the A-Leagues. A lot of people might think that but for me, I just wanted to be happy in my life. Doesn’t matter where I was.
“I had worked with Marko Rudan previously at Sydney United and he got the gig at Western United. That’s probably what enticed me working with him previously and I really enjoyed my time under him. I’m glad I did in the end because it’s worked out.”
Uskok spent one-and-a-half seasons with Western, scoring two goals in 33 appearances before being lured to Campbelltown to play for Macarthur in 2021-22.
The veteran has experienced a mixed bag with the Bulls.
He was part of the team that won the 2022 Australia Cup under Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke before he departed and Macarthur finished bottom of the Isuzu UTE A-League standings last season.
But the Bulls looks like a team rejuvenated with Mile Sterjovski at the helm in his first full season, challenging both domestically and in Asia, where they are through to the AFC Cup ASEAN Zone semi-finals.
“It’s hard to come halfway through a season and try to implement things,” he reflected on what’s changed for Macarthur in 2023-24.
“We’ve had time to settle with him and taken his information.
“The boys have been trying to do it well. Stages we’ve done it quite well. confidence comes when you win games, you get that belief. It’s a bunch of things. It’s that confidence.”
Macarthur are sixth in the standings and six points adrift of league-leading Melbourne Victory after their 12 matches, while they are preparing to face Sabah in the AFC Cup next month.
“It has been different. Obviously with the AFC Cup and travelling so much, probably something a lot of boys here aren’t used to. But it’s been good,” Uskok said.
“It’s been a good challenge. I think we’ve handled it pretty well so far. Credit to the staff for how they’ve prepared us. It’s been enjoyable, going to places you’d probably wouldn’t ever go to.”
