He’s played with and against some of the world’s biggest footballing names through nine English Premier League campaigns, but in 2022, Adrian Mariappa calls Campbelltown home.
The 58-capped Jamaican international defender arrived at Macarthur FC pre-season after featuring in England’s top flight as recently as July, 2020 for Watford FC. It was at the Hornets when Mariappa experienced the greatest moment in his career to date in 2019; but the 35-year-old isn’t finished making priceless memories in the game.
Speaking to Daniel Garb on the Official A-Leagues Podcast, Mariappa outlined how his first seven weeks at the Bulls have been anything but a stroll in the park, with the ultimate goal of earning silverware at the club spurring him to carry his high standards set through the Premier League into the Isuzu UTE A-League.
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“I was just looking for a new challenge,” Mariappa said. “Having played all my career in England (which) I’m very fortunate to (have done), I think I just needed something a bit different and something that still pushes me and challenges me.
“As soon as this came about it was something I really jumped at. The family were excited as well, obviously a new experience for them, but more importantly it was something (that) was about the challenge.
“I knew coming here, it wouldn’t be easy. I wouldn’t have the flip flops on, I knew it was going to be a testing league and it has proved that. It’s something I’m thankful for.
“The overriding thing (I’ve noticed) is definitely a lot of athleticism in the league. Coming here I knew from speaking to players who have played over here, and are still playing over here who I played with in England, I knew the standard was going to be high.
“I knew it was going to be difficult, so I came in with the right mindset. I trained really hard, I was still playing international football even though I was out of contract so I came in match fit, and I’m thankful for that. I know if I hadn’t it would have been a really tough ask.
“I’m just enjoying the experience as a whole because it’s so different to England, even just the supporters around the place as well, the lifestyle and culture is very different, it’s just something I’m trying to soak up and really take note of, and not just let the days tick past without taking it in.”
Mariappa impressed by Milicic’s ‘incredible attention to detail’
Formerly teammates at both Watford (2010/11) and Crystal Palace (2014-16), Mariappa and Jordon Mutch have reunited in Campbelltown this season.
Mutch joined the Bulls in July, 2021 – four months prior to Mariappa landing in New South Wales – and it was the English midfielder’s assessment of Macarthur head coach Ante Milicic which helped seal Mariappa’s signature for the club venturing into its second Isuzu UTE A-League campaign.
“I spoke to Jordon Mutch before I came and he gave me a really in-depth view on the manager, how he really enjoyed his style of football and the way he trains,” Mariappa said.
“I know Mutchy, he’s a hard person to please as well, (so) I knew (Milicic) had to be good coming in.
“He’s been terrific with me personally but from the coaching and managerial side he’s been brilliant. Even though I’ve been here a short time I’m trying to learn, because he’s got a wealth of experience coaching, and you can see that in the way he sets up day to day.
“He’s got incredible attention to detail. brilliant coach, very methodical in the way he sets up his sessions, the whole week gearing up to the way he wants to play on the weekend. I’ve been really impressed.”
2019 FA Cup run ‘a standout moment’ in Mariappa’s career
Watford may have lost the 2019 FA Cup final by six goals to nil at the hands of a ruthless Manchester City side.
But Mariappa’s memories of that magic cup run, which he embarked upon with his boyhood club, aren’t defined by the final score in the decider.
Watford beat Woking, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace on the way to the semifinals, where Javi Gracia’s side met Wolverhampton Wanderers at Wembley Stadium.
Wolves went two goals up through Matt Doherty and Raul Jimenez before second-half substitute Gerard Deulofeu broke the game apart. The Spaniard scored in the 79th minute and Watford legend Troy Deeney equalised deep into stoppage time with a 94th minute spot kick.
Deulofeu sealed the deal with a 104th-minute strike in extra time to send Watford to the final.
“If I was to go to one game, honestly, it would probably be the FA Cup final in 2019,” Mariappa said. “Not so much the final, probably the semifinal – that was a better occasion – but making the final was brilliant.
“I managed to make it in 2016 as well (with Crystal Palace) but the one in 2019, coming back in the semi final from two goals down to win and get through to the final, it was brilliant. It definitely was a standout moment for me, because Watford was my home club.
“Growing up at eight years old I joined them, so achieving that with them was massive for me. And we had a good season as well; we probably should’ve finished higher in the league, we finished 11th, but it was a great season for the club. That whole season in general was definitely one of the higher points I’d say.
“But saying that, i’m thankful for all the experiences I had. I don’t take any of them for granted, even the relegations, they teach you a lot about yourself as a player and a person as well, so like I said I just tried to take in all the experiences and improve on the good and the tough times.”
Jedinak ‘epitomises a leader’
From the very beginning of Mariappa’s three-season spell at Crystal Palace, one thing was abundantly clear: Australian legend Mile Jedinak was the archetype captain, and a coaches dream.
“I was one of the players who joined on deadline day at Palace,” he said.
“One of the things that stuck out for me early on was Mile. We were on a (run of) a few games where we weren’t playing well, we were getting beat, and he epitomises a leader to me, he leads by example, when he talks the whole changing room listens.
“He stands by whatever he says, and he really galvanised all the players that year. There were some really good leaders in the change room, I will say that.
“He was at the forefront of that. He’s a manager’s dream as a captain, he’s someone who can really get control of a changing room and have them breeding good habits day in, day out, and that’s what you want.”
Mariappa’s toughest opponents – Agüero was ‘something else’
As a central defender, there was no challenge more difficult for Mariappa than containing Manchester City’s Argentinian spearhead Sergio Agüero.
The City legend retired in December, 2021 at 33 years of age due to a heart condition. But in the years prior he tormented Mariappa, who was not the only Premier League defender to struggle to contain the Argentinian’s goalscoring prowess over the years.
Mariappa identified Agüero as the best player he’d ever defended against, with Delefeou and Gracia earning praise as Mariappa’s best ever teammate and coach respectively.
Best opponent… “I’m just going to say Agüero, because he scored the most goals against me. I think he got four in one game against me.
“He was something else to play against, the whole City side was so hard to play against, but having him at the top of the attack as a defender was really tough to play against. He could finish from anywhere on both feet, so I had some really tough games against him.
Best teammate… “Pure ability I’d probably say Gerard Deulofeu. A real top player. The FA Cup semifinal I mentioned, he came off the bench and scored a couple of worldies. He was a very good player.
“Ability wise I’d say him, but it’s a tough call, I’d be honest. I always used to say Ashley Young, because I played with him in the youth team and he pretty much did get released at one point, so to go on and achieve what he’s done in the game is just extraordinary, really. I got to see that first-hand, and I took a lot from that as a young kid as well.
Best coach… “My most enjoyable season I’d say Javi Gracia. I’m leaving some good names off the list there, by the way, but I would say him.
“I had a really good working relationship with him, and like I said one of my best seasons personally at Watford and the Premier League, just a really enjoyable time under him.”
