If it wasn’t already clear it is now. Craig Goodwin is the best player in the Isuzu UTE A-League and after his display in Qatar it’s got many dreaming of brighter lights for the Socceroos star.
There’s absolutely no doubt he’s capable of playing at a higher level. He was one of the standouts for Graham Arnold in the Socceroos history making run at the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup and strangely it felt like a breakout performance in the green and gold despite his reputation.
But when you consider all the facts the chances of Goodwin actually leaving Adelaide United are very, very slim. Here’s why.
The least likely move would be to one of the world’s top five leagues. Obviously despite his talent he’d still be a long way off the radar for most clubs in the Premier League or Bundesliga. I’d highly doubt there would be any clubs at the top level of European football interested in him.
If you take him purely on ability then yes, there is a chance a club in one of these leagues, possible in the bottom half of the table, might be keen to secure his talents but when you consider he’s days away from turning 31 and months into a three year deal with Adelaide, money is a factor.
As a marquee player if any smaller clubs in the top leagues were interested, few could match his salary. Premier League clubs could, of course, but even if they were willing to, I would be shocked if any were keen to pay a substantial transfer fee for a player of his age.
While Adelaide would obviously be open to big offers of a player of his quality, he’s not a player they need to let go cheap or fits the mould of a younger player they would let go below value to help them advance their career.
With the World Cup done and dusted there’s little motivation for Goodwin to go and prove himself at a higher level. He’s already done that in Qatar.
If we look at Asia and focus on the East, Japan and South Korea are the only two destinations you’d consider.
Again, the amount it would take to pry him from the Reds would put most clubs off.
With the flippant nature of managers in the K League 1, players are often left on the bench or out of the squad for little or no reason at all, it wouldn’t be a wise move with the Asian Cup next year.
Goodwin still needs game time and to be playing regularly if he wants to be the main man again in 12 months time. While Japan is appealing, I’m not sure J1 League clubs would be keen to use an Asian quota spot on a 31-year old Aussie who has never really had a successful career outside of the A-League.
Craig had a stint in Holland making 47 appearances at Sparta Rotterdam in his mid 20s but was never able to establish himself. His most successful stint came in Saudi Arabia playing for Al-Wehda. He scored four goals in 29 games and he helped the club qualify for the AFC Champions league for the very first time.
But like a lot of leagues in Asia a change of manager brought a change of fortunes and despite the club extending his deal by a further three seasons, he spent the next few years on loan in Saudi Arabia and Adelaide, before making his return home permanent in the off-season. Adelaide offers stability, playing time and the perfect lifestyle.
The Middle East, namely Qatar and the UAE, are probably the best options should Goodwin wish to test the waters.
There would definitely be interest and money is no problem for teams in this part of the world. There is still only a handful of teams you’d want to play for. You don’t want to be in a relegation battle and would want to be part of a stable club with regular football. The last thing Goodwin needs is to be on the outer in a foreign country.
While Goodwin had some success in the region, things have changed since then. He now has a young family and has stated on many occasions how much he loves Adelaide and how much the club and city means to him.
I’m not sure a move to West Asia for any amount of money would interest him.
When you take into consideration he’s on a long-term deal, on good money, at a club he loves, playing some of the best football of his career, his age and his family situation; a move seems nothing more than speculation.
He is the perfect example of the type of player the league needs to stick around. The A-Leagues (APL) and FA should try and keep current Socceroos to promote the sport in Australia. Players like Goodwin, Jamie Maclaren, Mathew Leckie and Jason Cummings.
Whether they can help clubs financially to retain these stars is another question.
Big name marquees like Nani and Charlie Austin create some headlines and give the league some star power but it’s our home grown Aussie talents football fans can connect with.
They are one of our own.
Look at the reception the Socceroos received when they touched down at the airports across the county. More than 100 people turned out at 9PM on a Tuesday for Goodwin alone.
Let the young ones go and test themselves in Europe, and let’s try and keep some of our ‘older’ Socceroos at home. Our league is good enough.
Don’t take watching these guys week in, week out for granted.