Auckland FC midfielder Jake Brimmer has been called up by Malta for their upcoming FIFA Men’s World Cup qualifier against Lithuania.
It is a maiden international call-up for Brimmer after the 2021-22 Isuzu UTE A-League Johnny Warren Medallist switched his allegiance from native Australia to the world no.168 in Europe.
Brimmer, who qualifies for Malta through his grandfather, is in the provisional squad ahead of the September 5 qualifier in Lithuania before Emilio De Leo’s Malta host San Marino in a friendly five days later at Ta’ Qali National Stadium.
Prior to that, Auckland FC face NPLM VIC giants Heidelberg in the Australia Cup semi-finals on Saturday.
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Newcastle Jets youngster Lucas Scicluna, meanwhile, has been selected by Malta’s Under-21 side for their UEFA Euro U21 qualifier against Greece.
“Malta has been chasing me for a good seven years if I’m being honest,” the former Australia youth international told aleagues.com.au in August.
“Obviously, earlier on, my dream was to play for the Socceroos. Football is a matter of timing and stuff and at that point in time, two years later I won the Johnny Warren medal and there was an opportunity and a chance for me to do that. I never got picked for that.
“I’m 27 years old now, and I still want to play in Europe. I still want to live out a dream of playing over there, and getting as high as possible.
“I spoke to my wife, and we sort of both agreed that it was an opportunity and a perfect time now to start getting my name out there again. Although there’s some difficult teams that you come up against, you never know, it takes one game to impress and you might find yourself back over there.”
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Now, Brimmer is following in the footsteps of Central Coast Mariners legend John Hutchinson, Wellington Phoenix great Manny Muscat and former Newcastle Jets forward Trent Buhagiar, who have all represented the European nation.
Putting himself in the European shop window is a big part of Brimmer’s international switch.
The midfielder enjoyed an historic season with Isuzu UTE A-League debutants Auckland FC, who claimed the Premiership in their inaugural campaign.
The former Liverpool youngster scored three goals and created another three goals as the Black Knights narrowly missed out on the 2024-25 Grand Final.
“This isn’t a decision based on me not getting picked for the Socceroos, or me not believing that I will get in the Socceroos,” he added. “It was a decision that at this point in my life, it was an opportunity for me to be over in Europe.
“We play against good opponents and who’s to say that you don’t have a good game over there and and all of a sudden, you might find yourself in Europe again. So that was a decision that my family and I made, and I’m true by it.”
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Brimmer’s addition to Malta’s international talent pool is part of a growing list of diaspora being recruited by the Malta Football Association (MFA) after former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher’s son, James, recently accepted an invitation to represent the country.
Malta – who have never qualified for a major tournament – are currently led by new Italian boss De Leo. The 46-year-old was Sinisa Mihajlovic’s assistant with the Serbia national team as well as Bologna, Milan and Torino.
Ex-Melbourne City forward Michael Mifsud holds Malta’s record for most caps and goals.
The Reds are in Group G in 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup qualifying, alongside the Netherlands, Finland, Poland and Lithuania.
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“When I won the Johnny Warren medal, that was like the peak of (Malta’s interest),” said Brimmer. “They obviously wanted to snatch me then and there.
“I had opportunities actually in Europe at that point in time and for reasons that I won’t go into, I decided to do that.
“Obviously now is an opportunity. This year from start to finish, they were messaging me, keeping tabs on me. Got to the end of the season, and I thought you know what? Like, why not? It’s an opportunity to again put my face out there.
“It all happened pretty quick. At the end of May when we lost in the Semi-Finals, I decided that is it.”
Brimmer is planning to seek advice from the likes of Hutchinson and Co. as he prepares to embark on his Maltese adventure.
He might not be the only A-Leagues star in the mix for Malta over the coming years. Western Sydney Wanderers’ Dylan Scicluna earned his maiden senior call-up last year before a serious knee injury delayed his debut.
Newcastle Jets youngster Lucas Scicluna and Sydney FC prospect Malik Amin have recently been called up by the U21s.
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“I can’t thank them enough,” Brimmer said of Malta. “For seven years, they’ve been trying to get me and part of me believes that, in hindsight, maybe I could have gone a bit earlier.
“But again, I’m a big believer in everything happens for a reason. Trent Buhagiar – what an opportunity. I look at all these players that have gone and changed association to play first team national football.
“As a kid, that’s a dream you want to do and, and that’s a dream now that I get to do with Malta.
“I can assure you that I’ll go there and be the best version of myself and put on performances that are to the best of my ability.”
