Luke Brattan has only been a Macarthur FC player for four months – but the experienced central midfielder has already made a big impact at the Isuzu UTE A-League club.
The 34-year-old wasted no time settling at the Bulls after his departure from Sydney FC; Brattan’s move to Campbelltown coincided with the club’s surge to the Australia Cup final which Macarthur ultimately won against Melbourne Victory on September 29.
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Brattan played every minute of the Bulls’ 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory to secure Macarthur’s second Australia Cup title after the club’s 2022 triumph. In the process, Brattan became the first player in the competition’s history to win the Australia Cup title at three separate teams (Melbourne City, Sydney FC and Macarthur).
It was the 10th piece of domestic silverware collected by Brattan throughout his career (three Australia Cups, four Isuzu UTE A-League Championships, and three Isuzu UTE A-League Premierships).
“I hate losing,” said Brattan, after defeating Victory in September’s Australia Cup decider.
“I’m a serial winner, I’m not going to apologise for it.”
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Speak to enough of Brattan’s new Macarthur teammates, and it becomes clear what kind of impact the 278-game Isuzu UTE A-League veteran is having at the club in the lead-up to the 2024-25 domestic season.
Take Ivan Vujica for example, whose opinion couldn’t be higher of his new teammate.
“Brattan? Up here,” said Vujica as he raised his hand to eye level.
“Big, big player. Big player.”
“He’s a player you don’t want to play against,” Vujica continued. “Because when he’s got the ball at his feet he can just ping it left, right, over your head, in the pocket, he finds passes. You watch him on TV and you’re like: ‘I still don’t see the pass he saw on the field’.
“But having him on my team now – one for the footballing abilities, for his leadership abilities, because he’s overall a top human being. So just to be around him in all three of those aspects, he’s a real pleasure to be around, and really easy to be around.
“His signing undoubtedly has helped us tremendously.”
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Vujica was joined by Macarthur teammates Marin Jakolis, Kealey Adamson and Matt Jurman at a club media event, and each player was asked for their thoughts on Brattan as both a player and a leader.
“I hated to play against him,” said Jakolis, formerly of Melbourne City.
“It was hard to play against him. Every time you play against him you’re like: Luke Brattan this, Luke Brattan that.
“You know the guy is just good technically, and as Ivan said: the leadership he has on the pitch, you need someone to help like that on the pitch, to help you through the times that you are suffering – but you have some voice in the back of your head that is just pushing you. I think we’ve shown that in a couple of games already.”
Jurman, who played with Brattan at Brisbane Roar between 2011 and 2013, has reunited with his former teammate in Macarthur and has enjoyed both playing alongside Brattan once more, and firing some friendly barbs in his direction following the “serial winner” remark after the Australia Cup final.
“It’s great,” said Jurman.
“I’ve known him a long time. He’s copped a bit of (flak) about that quote because it’s gone everywhere – I think there was a bit of a personal joke behind it.
“But it’s good, me and Brattsy go way back and when I heard he was coming to the club I only thought good things that were going to help the team. We’ve started off with a cup win so it’s been great.”
Adamson, who was a teammate of Brattan’s at Sydney FC before his move to Macarthur last season, spoke as a young member of the Bulls’ squad looking for guidance from experienced squad members – and finding it in his fellow former Sky Blue.
“In his position with his experience, (he’s) the bit of extra glue to bring us together,” Adamson said.
“He’s a great passer of the ball, a great leader, he keeps us all involved.”
Brattan and the Bulls get their 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season underway against Perth Glory at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 20. Get your tickets TODAY!
