In just over three years, Nishan Velupillay has gone from boyhood fan and academy graduate to Melbourne Victory star and now a maiden Subway Socceroos call-up.
It has been an incredible rise for the 23-year-old forward, who has been selected for Australia’s crucial pair of 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan this month.
At the heart of this incredible journey has been the new man in the Socceroos hot seat; Tony Popovic.
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The pair spent three years together at Victory between 2021 and 2024.
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Popovic was at the Victory helm for Velupillay’s first full Isuzu UTE A-League season in 2021-22. He was in the dugout as the youngster announced himself with his first professional goal against rivals Adelaide United in December 2021.
It was the first of two goals that season which also featured an Australia Cup triumph before Velupillay added another three goals in 2022-23. But it was last term that really saw the emergence of the Australia youth international.
Velupillay established himself in Popovic’s line-up, scoring four goals across all competitions as Victory reached the 2023-24 Grand Final.
It proved to be Popovic’s final match of his Victory tenure following the conclusion of his contract. However, the duo have been reunited in the national team setup after the former replaced Graham Arnold last month.
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“Ever since I’ve come in as a youngster, he’s always been able to help my game in every single way,” Velupillay said of Popovic in an interview with aleagues.com.au last season.
“I take on everything he says.
“My third year with the boss, our relationship has grown together. He has more faith and trust in me. Just as an individual, you kind of mature into a footballer, on and off the pitch.
“I feel ready to play. I feel ready to deliver on the big stage.”
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Velupillay is not the only Victory player in the Socceroos squad, joining teammates Jason Geria and Daniel Arzani as China await in Adelaide before a trip to Saitama to face high-flying Japan five days later.
He has been rewarded for his form with Victory, which includes a flying start to 2024-25.
While the Isuzu UTE A-League campaign is not due to get underway until October 18 when Victory meet two-time reigning champions Central Coast Mariners in a Grand Final rematch, Velupillay has already scored five goals under new boss Patrick Kisnorbo.
Those five goals came in Victory’s run to the 2024 Australia Cup final before falling to Macarthur FC at AAMI Park.
It is reward for Velupillay’s growth, dating back to the start of 2023-24.
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“I’ve just been working on the mental side of the game. Information that I can take in wherever. Spoke to a few people,” he told aleagues.com.au at the time.
“I feel the mental side is so important. When you play at a club like Victory, you’re going to have to deal with pressure. I feel the mental side I’ve made stronger and there’s even more potential to make stronger.
“It helps when my goal is go out there and play with joy, and have fun with a smile on my face. That kind of relieves everything.
“I feel like I’m doing that now and that’s translating into how I’m delivering more consistent performances across 90 minutes.”
