As Nikolai Topor-Stanley prepares to break the A-League appearance record in his 359th game, the veteran defender picks out his top five.
Professional debut
Sydney FC 1-0 Central Coast Mariners, August 26, 2006
“It was a great start to get a win in my first professional game, but then I had been around that group for a while, the season before I was training with them under Pierre Littbarski. I knew the talent and the level of football that they produced was very high. There were a lot of talented individuals and a good team. After they’d won the first A-League championship, to be given the trust of taking the field with that group was very satisfying.”
National recognition
Singapore v Australia, March 22 2008 & 2008 Olympic football tournament
“It’s hard to really distinguish between them both – clearly being an Olympian is a dream for anyone, any sports person in the world, and that was a great honour. Didn’t really pan out the way I think we envisioned it in a very, very talented group (with Serbia, Argentina and the Ivory Coast). We had a strong qualifying campaign against very strong opposition and we were more than competent going to that group. Then playing for your country at the highest level is the ultimate. I’m not done yet but one day I can look back with a lot of pride at both those moments.”
First Premier’s Plate
Newcastle Jets v Western Sydney, March 29, 2013
“It was very energizing, you know, there was a great buzz about not only the new team but around the league. I’ve had a lot of people tell me, but also I lived it, that re-energised and revitalised the league with a much needed push. It gathered the tribes in Western Sydney, and brought a lot of ethnic groups under one banner. To win silverware in our first season was, I guess, a surprise for a lot of people but for that group and led by a superb coaching staff it was no surprise to us because we put in a lot of hard, hard work.”
Winning Asian Champions League
Al-Hilal v Western Sydney, 1 November 2014
“There’s so many things we can talk about there, how the formation of a club leads in a very short space of time to the ultimate in club football in Asia. I remember Ante Covic’s heroics, who’s ever seen a goalkeeper play out of their skin like that? We were fortunate on the night with a few refereeing decisions go our way but we weren’t fortunate to get there in the first place. And we played a lot of great football to get there. To share that with a lot of people, friends and family and the people of Western Sydney celebrating in an airport that was closed off to us… it was very special.”
350th A-League game
Western United v Melbourne City, January 29, 2022
“The best thing I’ve ever done in my life – forget football – is find my wife and she’s given me two beautiful kids. They like watching me play, every time I wear this shirt they can see that little Western United logo and it puts a smile on their faces. They’ve got their two little shirts too and they love it. Seeing them connect over my life’s work with me is a pretty special feeling and having them walk out on the field with me that night was great.”
