As he prepares to make Adelaide United history, goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic insists he hasn’t ruled out playing beyond his current long-term deal.
As he prepares to make Adelaide United history, goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic insists he’s never felt better and hasn’t ruled out playing beyond his current long-term deal.
Galekovic will become the first Reds player to reach 200 games for the club in Friday night’s crucial clash with Newcastle Jets at Hunter Stadium.
It’s a remarkable milestone for the 32-year-old, who originally signed on a four-month injury-replacement contract in 2007 and has been a part of the Adelaide fabric ever since.
“I remember my first game was against Brisbane and we ended up losing 1-0,” Galekovic told www.footballaustralia.com.au
“I was only an injury cover for Daniel Beltrame for four months and I’m still here now. You never know how your career is going to end up but I’m really enjoying my time.
“It’s a bit of a milestone for me but there won’t be too much of a celebration. In the end the main thing is to get a result on Friday night and hopefully get a home final. If we do that maybe I can have a quiet one.”
A Hyundai A-League grand final win aside, there’s not much Galekovic hasn’t achieved since he landed at Hindmarsh Stadium all those years ago.
He played a key role in the club’s surge to the AFC Champions League final and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2008 and was part of the beaten grand final side in 2009.
The impressive shot-stopper also became an international and was a part of the Socceroos squad at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
And he has no plans to slow down just yet and credits a change in diet and approach for his incredible form over a number of seasons.
“I’m not so much training differently but as you get older your body does change and you have to watch what you eat more than you did when you were younger,” he said.
“All the intake that goes into your body, you have to have knowledge of what’s going in. Little things like that make a difference.
“I’m like any 30-year-old. You have to train a little bit smarter and eat a little bit smarter too.
“But the body’s feeling the best it’s ever been. I’m injury free and enjoying my football and that’s the main thing. I’ll obviously play these three years and who knows after that.”
Adelaide are fourth heading into the final round of the season but playing the first game of the weekend gives them a chance to jump to second with a win over the Jets.
It would then put the pressure on Western Sydney and Central Coast to win their matches to leapfrog Josep Gomabu’s side.
Regardless of where they finish Galekovic believes the Reds are heading into the finals with momentum for the first time in many years.
“If you look at previous seasons, we’ve made finals before but in the past we’ve probably always been on the down slope,” he said.
“Last season we only won two of our last 11 games and we were out straight away against Brisbane.
“This year is a whole new ball-game. It’s the first time we’re going in with a lot of confidence, we’ve got a very fit squad and we can enjoy doing something in the finals.”
Adelaide United play Newcastle to open the final round of the regular season tonight at Hunter Stadium. Click here to purchase tickets.
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