All-time A-Leagues leading goalscorer Jamie Maclaren has been appointed the new captain of Melbourne City’s Isuzu UTE A-League side for the 2023-24 season.
Maclaren succeeds the most successful captain in the club’s history, Scott Jamieson, who led the club for five seasons before his retirement at the conclusion of last campaign.
The Socceroos striker wore the City armband on numerous occasions last season in Jamieson’s absence and will be backed by an experience leadership group, with Mathew Leckie, Andrew Nabbout and Jamie Young all named vice-captains.
“I know what it brings to carry the title of captain at this football club. I’ve been part of a
successful team here at City under a very successful captain in Scott Jamieson and have
worked under another in PK (Patrick Kisnorbo), so I know what it takes,” Maclaren said.
“Being from this city, to be named captain is a special and proud moment for me and my family. I love this club and I’m excited to lead this team into a new era.
“Over the course of my career, I like to work off my actions and then words come after, but now I’ve gotten older and I’ve started to realise that I can motivate the group in other ways.
“I’m very lucky that I’ve got such an experienced squad with me now and a lot of new faces that have had some very good experience overseas and Aziz (Behich) coming back and he’s going to bring another set of eyes and someone I can lean on as well and my leadership group.
“They lead by example on the pitch and off the pitch and inside this building, so I’m a lucky captain and I look forward to the season ahead.”
Maclaren became the all-time leading goalscorer in A-Leagues history last season, taking his tally to 144 career goals down under after firing home 24 for the season and as a result, winning his fifth Isuzu UTE A-League Golden Boot.
He also became the first player to reach 100 goals for a single A-Leagues club last season (in all competitions) and currently sits on 103 goals from 129 appearances for City, since arriving in January 2019.
“Jamie is a player who leads by example to drive the high standards that are expected of
everyone both on and off the pitch. Just as important for me, is the human side of leadership. When others need support, he is there for them,” City coach Rado Vidosic said.
“We’ve appointed a strong leadership group who will help navigate us through a season that
presents us with the exciting new challenge of midweek Champions League games, and give us the best chance of making it another successful year.”
City Director of Football Michael Petrillo added: “He is a Melbourne City person through and through, and he loves the dlub. He’s been very close to Scott Jamieson over those years, so he has learned a lot of leadership qualities and is a player who leads from the front.
“He’s always willing to press and do the hard work. He’s prepared to roll up his sleeves and set an example for other players but most of all, he’s a Melbourne City man.
“When he arrived at the club, like all strikers, his sole focus was scoring goals. His hunger for
goals remains but over the last five years he has developed into a strong leader with an
insatiable hunger to win trophies, that sets high standards and does whatever it takes to win for the team.”
His predecessor Jamieson believes the 30-year-old striker is a natural fit for the role, as he prepares to lead City into one of their busiest schedules yet, juggling league, Australia Cup and Asian Champions League duties.
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“Throughout the last few years, Jamie’s been a character and a person that’s had a massive influence on everyone in the change room and inside the football club,” Jamieson said.
“At times last year when I wasn’t playing, he was the next man up and he did an unbelievable job and I think it’s natural for him to take it.
“I believe it’ll help him as person and as a leader, but there’s no denying that last year he did a very good job and throughout the last few years has helped me. So in terms of my opinion, you know, he was a natural fit.”
His first game as official captain will be against NPL South Australia premiers MetroStars in the quarter finals of the Cup in September.
