New Zealand head coach Darren Bazeley hailed the “great” Isuzu UTE A-League and the pathway it’s providing for players as shown between the All Whites and CommBank Socceroos.
Bazeley was speaking after the Socceroos ran out 1-0 winners over the All Whites in their ANZAC Soccer Ashes opener in Canberra on Friday night.
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Max Balard was the hero for Australia after capping his international debut with the game-winning goal. He also highlighted the A-Leagues’ pathway after he won two Championships as a Central Coast Mariners player before making the move abroad in 2024.
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There are 21 Isuzu UTE A-League products in the Socceroos’ squad for the two-game series, which concludes in Auckland on Tuesday. Reigning Johnny Warren Medallist Nicolas Milanovic also made his international debut having swapped Western Sydney Wanderers for Scottish club Aberdeen ahead of 2025-26 as Adelaide United product Nestory Irankunda made an impact as a substitute along with Mohamed Toure.
As for the All Whites, they had two current Isuzu UTE A-League stars in the starting XI against Australia – Auckland FC’s Francis De Vries and Wellington Phoenix full-back Tim Payne, while ‘Nix captain Alex Rufer, Auckland defender Callan Elliot, Wanderers forward Kosta Barbarouses and Brisbane Roar recruit James McGarry came off the bench.
In total, 18 players from New Zealand’s current squad have either come through the A-Leagues or spent time in the competition.
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“The A-League has shown us and Australia that it’s a great league to start careers off and to progress from,” Bazeley told reporters post-match following Tony Popovic’s passionate A-Leagues message.
“The Australian players you’ve seen today…. recent A-League players have gone to good clubs and have progressed their careers. [The talent pool] is growing both here and in Australia.
“The inclusion of Auckland FC has been great for the country. It’s pretty much doubled the opportunities for young Kiwis to become professional players and [offer] pathways.
“We’re in good place and Australia also, they’ve got so many players now moving into good leagues around Europe and Asia and it’s good signs for this part of the world.”
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