This week aleagues.com.au reporter James Dodd caught up with A-Leagues champion and Sunderland defender Nectarios Triantis, who could well find himself in the middle of a fascinating battle for his allegiance.
When deals are completed late in the transfer window and with a game 48 hours away, the player involved in said transfer is often spared from being thrown straight into the deep end that weekend.
That wasn’t the case for Triantis.
Fresh off sealing a return to Scottish Premiership side Hibernian having played 14 games on loan there last season, Triantis was picked from the start by Hibernian boss David Gray for their clash with Kilmarnock – a game which ultimately ended in a frustrating 1-1 draw at Rugby Park after Triantis and Co succumbed to a 92nd minute equaliser.
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“I just sort of got thrown into the squad,” laughed Triantis as he sat down to chat on what was a late summer’s evening in Edinburgh.
“But for me, it was already a familiar background and surrounding. So I felt comfortable to go out there straight away and play that game. I thought I done well… so did a few other people by the looks of it!”
Despite operating as a central defender during his time at the Central Coast Mariners, Triantis was often selected in the middle of the park as a number six during his first spell at Easter Road, a role handed to him by his former Mariners boss and then subsequent Hibernian head coach, Nick Montgomery.
Now back at the club for a second spell, the Sydneysider has again been trusted to operate within the side’s engine room, with Gray praising Triantis’ ‘strong defensive mindset and discipline to dominate the middle of the pitch.’ – It’s a tactic that’s clearly working.
“I’ve always had that versatility. Growing up, I’ve always been a midfielder and more of an attacking player, so I think that’s why I’m comfortable with the ball at my feet now playing in midfield.
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“I think being in midfield in Europe helps me bring out that style of my play, I think it suits me better now, playing in midfield. In Australia, I did really well at centre back but having that ability to be versatile and flexible where I play always helps me.
“As a player you want to try and step out on the field as much as you can so being able to play two positions really helped me. I think now I’m flourishing more in midfield than I am at centre back.”
However, should the young Australian continue to flourish he could well find himself in a fascinating international tug-of-war as two nations look set to compete for his allegiance.
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Despite being a regular within the Subway Olyroos set-up, scouts from the Greek national team have been attending his matches and are keeping a close on the player’s development, with a view to potentially luring one of Australia’s most talented young players away in order to represent Greece.
“It’s obviously a good feeling that there’s other countries that are wanting you,” said Triantis when asked about the interest in him from the Greek FA.
“For me, both my parents are Greek and I grew up in a Greek household based in Sydney, so Greece does hold a strong and tight place in my heart.
“But growing up in Australia I think it’s always been my dream to play for Australia. So in terms of countries, it’s sort of a mixed feeling because I could play for either so it’s still not completely decided. But yeah, my heart does have a close spot with Greece.
“I’ve got love for both countries and just it’s an honour to have that tick of approval from Greece but obviously I’ve represented Australia at youth level, so I know that honour and that feeling of playing for Australia too.
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“But I think my heart is with Australia. I’ve always had that dream to play for Australia and I think that’s sort of linked with my move to Hibs going on loan back to them.
“I’ve seen a few players from the SPL (Scottish Premiership) going on and playing for the Socceroos, obviously two teammates of mine in Martin Boyle and Lewis Miller, so I think that did have an effect on my decision.
“I think it gives me the best opportunity to play for Australia. I’m playing at a good level, week in, week out, and hopefully soon knocking on the door to play for the Socceroos.”
Despite now seemingly being accustomed to life in the UK, the last two years has been somewhat of a rollercoaster ride for the 21-year-old from Sydney’s west.
After excelling in his debut season with the Central Coast Mariners which culminated in Nick Montgomery’s side winning a first Isuzu UTE A-League Championship in 10 years, Triantis was soon whisked off to the bright lights of English football and to a huge club in the form of Sunderland.
But while that move was certainly one Triantis jumped at, the challenges of moving your life to the other side of the world at short notice often only appear once the ‘honeymoon period’ has ended.
“It is a thing the whole adaptation process, it is a thing that all players, especially coming from Australia, have to go through,” he said. “It does get hard with not speaking to family and not seeing them, but it’s all worth the sacrifice for living your dream.
“I think the sacrifice is all part of it. Every country has a different style and you sort of have to adapt to that. Even from England to Scotland it’s a different style of play.
“So for me, I just took my time to really adjust and to settle and I think now people can sort of see that I’m playing in a much more comfortable manner and really starting to flourish here in Europe.”
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He added: “I think the boys at Sunderland really helped me because it’s do or die really when coming to Europe, because of how far it is.
“Just little things like taking me out for coffee, showing me places, helping me out with my place, moving in. They don’t really notice how much I appreciated it but it did go a long way.”
While the lifestyle of a professional footballer is the stuff of dreams for many, life in a football-obsessed city like Sunderland for a player can often be a challenging and outright difficult experience – especially when the whole city’s happiness can often feel as though it hinges on what happens every Saturday at 3pm.
However, Triantis’ triumph in the 2022-23 season with the Mariners would go on to help him in more ways than just securing a move to the big time, given a couple of other members from the Championship winning squad found themselves in a similar boat.
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Following the conclusion of their title-winning campaign, winger Sam Silvera was poached by fellow north east giants Middlesbrough while teenage forward Garang Kuol had already made the move to Sunderland’s great rivals, Newcastle United.
“Yeah, him (Silvera) and Garang as well, being at Newcastle, we always kept in contact and Garang especially because of him being 20 minutes away,” Triantis said.
“So it’s a really good thing to have more Aussies just being around each other, knowing what each other are going through… we really helped each other.”
Despite being more than 10,000 kilometres away and in the process of forging out his own path in Scotland, Triantis admits he still keeps a close eye on matters back home when it comes to the Mariners and the Isuzu UTE A-League.
“Yeah, it was a crazy season,” beamed Triantis when discussing the Mariners’ treble-winning campaign of 2023-24.
“I think a lot of people sort of write off the Mariners year in, year out and especially in the last couple years, we’ve really, I wouldn’t say surprised people, but gone beyond expectations.
“Four trophies in two years and now in the Champions League so who knows where that could take them but now I’m just watching on as a fan and just praying for their best successes.”
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