Medin Memeti is enjoying a fruitful first season in the Isuzu UTE A-League after graduating from Melbourne City’s academy. aleagues.com.au looks at the numbers behind the talented teenager.
It wasn’t long ago Medin Memeti was playing in the second tier of Victorian football with Melbourne City’s academy.
But the teenage sensation continues to make an impact in the A-Leagues, such has been his rapid rise through the ranks in Casey Fields.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
In July, the 17-year-old signed his first professional contract. Now, he is City’s joint-leading goalscorer in the Isuzu UTE A-League, alongside Israeli import Yonatan Cohen on four goals.
Memeti has scored in back-to-back matches to help Aurelio Vidmar’s title hopefuls take down Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners.
WONDERKID WATCH: Aussie great’s son who ‘can create a goal out of anything’ eyes A-Leagues call
“He has a hell of a lot to learn,” Vidmar said after the Dandenong Thunder junior’s goal took down two-time reigning champions Central Coast last week.
“But that’s quite normal. He is still 17 and was playing U21s not long ago.
“For him to come in and score a couple of important goals for us… he is a guy that’s strong, powerful. He is only going to get better physically. He is still a baby really at 17.
“It’s a long journey. You have to continue to work and be consistent.”
Only Adelaide United star and Golden Boot leader Archie Goodwin (12) and Sydney FC’s super-sub Adrian Segecic (10) have scored more goals than Memeti among players aged 20 or younger this season.
In the history of the Isuzu UTE A-League among players aged 20 or under, Memeti ranks in the top 10 for goals scored. In fact, he is eighth on a list that includes Nestory Irankunda.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
It says a lot about Memeti’s quality. While, as his coach says, he still has a lot to learn, the young gun is trending in the right direction.
This is an academy graduate, that for large parts this season, has been shouldering the goalscoring load.
Memeti – boasting a 60% shooting accuracy – has been scoring a goal every 212.8 minutes in his debut season.
In the history of the competition among players aged 20 or under, he is in the top 11, while he is seventh for minutes per goal among players 20 or under who have played at least 500 minutes.
In fact, only Irankunda (10) and Mohamed Toure (7) have ever scored more Isuzu UTE A-League goals before their 18th birthday than Memeti (4), who will celebrate his birthday in June. He sits level with Garang Kuol on that list.
“He possesses the right mentality and technical abilities needed to be a City player, so we believe that he has a bright future ahead of him,” City’s director of football Michael Petrillo.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
Memeti has always been highly rated at City, having joined the club’s academy in 2022.
After arriving from Dandenong three years ago as one of the first South East-based talents to join the club, he scored a hat-trick on his NPL debut as a 15-year-old in 2023.
Memeti scored 9 goals in 15 appearances in VPL1 last season.
During his time within the academy setup, he scored 64 goals for City’s youth teams.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
“Medin has a unique story, he was one of the first signings we made in the Academy after moving to Casey Fields from his junior club, Dandenong Thunder,” City’s academy senior manager Simon Zappia said in July.
“After joining our U16s as a 14-year-old, we saw a rapid rise in his development, and he progressed through the Academy to train with our A-League team within 18 months.
“Medin has showed great resilience to bounce back from a few setbacks and he’s built some strong consistency in the VPL.
“I’m really proud to see the progress he’s made.”
