Australian Professional Leagues (APL) CEO Steve Rosich says he’s proud of the role the A-Leagues is playing in creating the next generation of international stars.
A handful of current Isuzu UTE A-League players played their part on Sunday as the Socceroos defeated Türkiye 2-0 in Vancouver.
Melbourne City goalkeeper Patrick Beach and Sydney FC youngster Paul Okon-Engstler shone from the outset for Tony Popovic’s side as they upstaged Group D favourites Türkiye to win their opening fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with A-Leagues graduates Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe bagging the crucial goals.
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City skipper Aziz Behich and Melbourne Victory Nishan Velupillay then played their part from the bench to help navigate the remaining 30 minutes of the contest whilst Socceroos veteran and City forward Mathew Leckie remained on the bench.
Five current A-Leagues stars were selected in Popovic’s 26-man squad and 19 in total have come through the A-Leagues ranks.
“(There’s) enormous talent developed in the A-Leagues, playing for Australia and also for New Zealand,” said APL CEO Rosich, when speaking to the ABC.
“Real A-Leagues players that are playing in our competition week in, week out.
“Two starting players and two others that came on as subs playing in the A-Leagues. The two goalscorers – Nestory Irankunda, former Adelaide United player and graduate from the academy, and Connor Metcalfe (from) Melbourne City, also from an A-League team.
He added: “A graduate from the academy, which is a great testament to what we’re doing here in Australia and New Zealand to develop young players with our clubs.”
In the case of Beach, the young keeper was given his shot by Melbourne City Head Coach Patrick Beach at the start of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign and has never looked back, helping City not only win the Championship but also perform admirably in the AFC Champions League Elite.
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“A young 22-year-old goalkeeper for Melbourne City, playing week in, week out in our A-League. He got that opportunity and (is) showcasing to the world that you can come from our league and match it with the best.
“So I dare say Patrick’s on the way to bigger and better things, liaising with his CEO and Director today, and what might be possible for Patrick!
Rosich went on to say: “Your 11-year-old son, and it’d be the same if it was 11-year-old daughter, can play the great game of football here in Australia and New Zealand, get their way through the academies and into the A-League, and then play on the world stage.
“There’s no other sport that gives you that opportunity at the scale.”
CLICK HERE TO HEAR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH APL CEO STEVE ROSICH, SPEAKING ON ABC RADIO MELBOURNE
