Jamie Maclaren has admitted that catching Besart Berisha and claiming the Isuzu UTE A-League scoring record is what drove him to ‘selfishly’ return home in 2019.
The Socceroos striker is two goals away from equalling Berisha’s Isuzu UTE A-League record of 142 goals, with three regular season games plus finals remaining this season.
Maclaren will lead the line in Saturday’s epic clash away to fellow title contender Central Coast Mariners, after netting a timely brace in the 4-1 win over Wellington Phoenix, having recovered from a broken toe that ruled him out of the Socceroos’ games against Ecuador.
The striker had interest from rival A-League clubs and Europe after a Scottish Premiership scoring spree with Hibernian – including a hat-trick against Rangers – offset a disappointing stint with German outfit Darmstadt and prompted a host of offers.
Born and bred a short distance from Melbourne Airport in the north-western suburb of Sunbury, Maclaren opted against jet-setting, and the familiar surroundings have delivered goals and his most consistent Socceroos run.
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“It was a long-term deal and I wanted to obviously get married and really settle down. Sometimes football – it doesn’t take a backseat, but I actually chose myself for once and I just said, you know what? I’m going to make myself happy for a few years,” Maclaren told KEEPUP.
“But the minute I landed back in Melbourne, I flicked a switch in my brain, just said, you know what, I’m going to become the best goal scorer in this league.
“And, having said that, I knew Besart the animal that he was and I had to be a bigger animal. That was tough to do because no one’s as big as him in terms of his mentality and (I have) a huge amount of respect for him.
“But I knew that in this league I’m a 20-plus goal season striker with the right service and Melbourne City was a perfect fit. People probably laughed when I signed and said, ‘why is he coming back?’
“That’s why I’m coming back because I’m on the brink of something special and to have the support that I’ve got is huge. And yeah, it’s going to be something for the ages (when I break the record) because good luck to the next guy trying to catch me.”
City headhunted Maclaren at a curious juncture and a time when star striker Bruno Fornaroli was also on the club’s books.
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Fornaroli had a public falling out with coach Warren Joyce, the ex-Manchester United youth coach, and had been banished to the youth team, with City desperate to sign a prolific marksman with defender Ritchie de Laet and midfielder Riley McGree sharing the scoring load.
“It was an easy one (decision) to come back to Melbourne. At that time There was an issue with (Warren) Joyce and Bruno (Fornaroli) and, Melbourne (City) were really pressing. I wouldn’t say desperate, but they knew that I would bring instant goals, which is what they needed at the time,” Maclaren said.
“They were sitting sixth or seventh and had a very, very good squad with, you know, obviously Jamo (Scott Jamieson), Dean Bouzanis, Bart Schenkeveld, Ritchie de Laet. The list goes on.
“They’re the sort of players who are too good to be sitting mid-table. And I knew that they would create chances.”
Maclaren, who had scored 51 A-League goals with Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory before joining City in the 2018-19 season, has since overtaken Andy Keogh (59 career A-League goals), Mark Bridge (63), Matt Simon (66), Alex Brosque (75), Kosta Barbarouses (80), Bruno Fornaroli (89), Archie Thompson (90 and 129 all-time goals, including NSL) and Shane Smeltz (92) en route to his 140-goal tally.
Berisha finished his A-League career with Western United, retiring at the end of the 2020-21 season, after netting his 142nd goal.
