NAB Young Footballer of the Year award winners have gone on to some big things since the gong’s inception in Hyundai A-League Season 2009/10.
Here’s the list of winners and their journey since being recognised as the competition’s best young talent.
Adam Taggart (Newcastle Jets) – winner in 2013/14
The 21-year-old finished last season as the Hyundai A-League’s leading scorer, winning the golden boot with 16 goals last campaign.
His stunning performances won Taggart a spot in Ange Postecoglou’s World Cup squad, where he played matches against Netherlands and Spain.
Taggart also secured a move to English Championship club Fulham, still awaiting to make his debut after a groin injury scuppered the start of his season.
Marco Rojas (Melbourne Victory) – winner in 2012/13
The Kiwi international took the Hyundai A-League by storm in 2012/13, not only winning the NAB Young Footballer of the Year but also the Johnny Warren Medal, banging in some stunning goals for Victory.
His 15-goal season and eye-catching performances won Rojas a move to German club VFB Stuttgart but has been loaned out to Bundesliga II side SpVgg Greuther Fürth for this season.
Mat Ryan – winner 2011/12 and 2010/11
The shot-stopper is the only player to have taken out the NAB gong twice.
Ryan, who also has a Hyundai A-League goal-keeper of the Year award and Joe Marston Medal as man-of-the-match in the grand final, had three hugely successful seasons in the competition before heading abroad.
He is currently Belgium giant Club Brugge’s first-choice keeper, winning the league’s goal-keeper of the year award last season and starting all three matches for the Socceroos at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Tommy Oar (Brisbane Roar) – winner in 2009/10
Oar was the inaugural winner of the award after a breakout season as an 18-year-old winger for Brisbane.
The left-winger’s pace and trickery on the flanks was sensational, earning him a lucrative mean to Dutch club FC Utrecht.
Oar, a regular member of the Socceroos squad playing all three matches at the 2014 World Cup, is still at the club and is among the leaders for goal-assists in the Eredivisie.
