This week’s KEEPUP Original centres on Perth Glory striker Adam Taggart and his emotional homecoming. Watch it below.
Adam Taggart’s playing career has featured many “small heartbreaks.”
They’ve come in the form of injuries which have regularly deprived Taggart of the opportunity to do what he does best.
They’re the kind of moments that can “make you feel sorry for yourself, disappointed and a bit upset,” Taggart says.
In 2022, one of those minor setbacks cost him a chance to go to the World Cup with the Socceroos. Prior to that, a two-year stint in Japan was impacted by injury, turning an exciting proposition into “one of the toughest” years in his career.
But through the struggles have come immense pride, says Taggart, who after returning home to Perth Glory in Western Australia, says his fondest memories in football stem from the biggest challenges of his career.
“That’s part of football, and part of sport,” Taggart tells KEEPUP. “You have these small heartbreaks along the way. I think it’s all about the journey, that’s what makes sport sport. There’s a lot of emotion, there’s a lot of feelings.
“You feel sorry for yourself a bit, you’re disappointed and a bit upset. I think (it’s about) trying to channel your energy into what’s going to benefit you and doing things you know work.
“It’s not something you think about too much. But I guess the right word is a proper journey… a lot of life lessons and developing as a person more so than anything else.
“To me, looking back on the journey, I’m proud of those moments. Especially my time through Korea and Japan, because I know how difficult it is. Difficult leagues, really high standard, a lot of games. That was probably my biggest challenge throughout my career in general, because physically, mentally, everything is put to a test.
“I think looking back, that’s definitely my proudest time.”
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In 2019, Taggart began his four-year stint abroad, split between Korean K League 1 club Suwon Bluewings and Japanese J1 League side Cerezo Osaka.
At Suwon, Taggart was at the peak of his powers, collecting the K1 League Golden Boot and Korean FA Cup in a memorable start to life overseas. Then came the move to Japan, which occurred in the midst of the COVID pandemic – and led to the most challenging spell of his career.
“There was so much hype and buzz around this move, to go to Japan, especially within myself, it was a fantastic place and I was really excited about it, and it is such an amazing football club,” he says. “But things didn’t really go my way that year, and as hard as I was working the success was hard to come by during that first year.
“I spent 122 days in quarantine or isolation, so I wasn’t in the best place by the end of the season.
“That’s when I had just torn my meniscus, so I needed surgery. I think that moment just topped off the year I was having on a personal level, it just wasn’t sort of happening. I think in a way, that injury was a blessing in disguise. Because you sort of start from scratch again. You get to do all of these things, and work on all of these things you don’t get to do when you’re chipping away at everything and pushing through.
“It sounds crazy to say, but I look back (at) that injury really positively, because it actually helped me and set me up for a great year the next year.”
Taggart spent his second season in Japan “enjoying the small moments”, relishing his return to fitness. And with the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup on the horizon, the Perth-born Socceroo was finally clocking the consistent minutes needed to contend for a spot in Graham Arnold’s 26-man squad bound for Qatar.
But an adductor strain suffered in Socceroos camp in June ruled Taggart out of Australia’s qualifiers against United Arab Emirates and Peru. Taggart was meant to play from the start against UAE.
“Going into those two qualifying games in Qatar in the June window was probably more disappointing for me than not making the (World Cup) squad,” he says. “I got injured a couple of days before the first game. I think those sort of things have always hurt me a lot more than those big decisions, like not making the squad.
“Those small moments contribute to that overall end product of not making the squad. It’s something you just need to get on with it, you move on.
“Everything is easier to look (at) in hindsight and say you could have done this, you could have done that. But at the time all you’re doing is working hard and doing everything you can.”
“Looking back on it, I did my absolute best to be a part of (the World Cup squad),” Taggart added. “And I think that’s why I’m content. I don’t feel like I could have done anything more personally.
“The things within your control, which is working hard and dedicating these four years, is what I did to be a part of the national team.
“I understand those (squad selections) are hard to make, as well, from the opposite side they’ve obviously got to pick a squad they believe is going to be the best fit for that campaign as well.
“I don’t have any hard feelings towards it or anything like that, it was fantastic to see how well they did, and to see good mates do well as well, which made it nice for me and enjoyable to support the boys.”
As a trying two-year spell in Japan culminated in an omission from the Socceroos’ World Cup squad, Taggart’s mind turned toward home and the Isuzu UTE A-League.
KEEPUP understands a number of Australian clubs pursued Taggart’s signature – but he put more than just his footballing future at the heart of his next move.
“There was obviously a few clubs interested – but I think for me it came down to what I was passionate about, (and) where I was going to enjoy playing football the most,” he says.
“It sort of brings you back to what you value… I think when you get older, you sort of appreciate being around family and friends, and playing your football in front of those people, because it’s a short career. I’ve spent a lot of time overseas and playing for clubs, as amazing as it was, but you don’t have that solid community around you.
“People don’t see the downside to it all. It is the best job in the world, but it comes with sacrifices. It comes with a lot of challenges.
“Especially being away from home, when you’re by yourself in different countries and places where you’ve got no-one around you, it definitely makes it more difficult. But I guess that’s just part of being a footballer. It’s also what makes success and achieving things all the more special, because nothing feels that great until you’ve worked hard for it, and know that you’ve gone through those obstacles and difficult times.
“Family, friends and people who can enjoy the small wins, and people to support you when you’re struggling a bit: those things are important to me, so I think in terms of decisions, and other clubs and things like that, it wasn’t just an obvious ‘go to this club, or go to that club’, it was a lot more deep and a lot more personal to me.
“Perth Glory is my home, and this is the place that means the most to me.”
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