Circati: It's a great honour to captain the Socceroos

Taryn Heddo 1760331104,1760340109

Alessandro Circati became the youngest Socceroos captain in 44 years when he took the armband against New Zealand in the September FIFA international window.

Against Canada - wearing the armband again - he celebrated his 22nd birthday by leading the team to victory and is hoping to continue his fantastic form against USA on Wednesday (AEDT).

Having landed in Denver, Circati spoke to the media about his approach to leadership, how the team is growing in every match, and learning his craft under Tony Popovic.

Wearing the armband

It's a great honour to captain the Socceroos. When Maty’s [Maty Ryan] playing, I think he’s the ultimate captain. No one knows what the plan is for the games ahead, but if the job has to be done, I’m there and I’m ready to do it.

I approach it like it's any other game. Someone can be a captain without the armband on. It doesn't have to change who you are, match day, and what you do, or your way of carrying yourself. I think the boys appreciate it when I'm the same person as I am, even when someone else has a captain's armband, because there's no reason for anyone to change for that.

Life post-ACL recovery

I think a year and 10 days has passed since my surgery - so not that long, but obviously a lot has happened during that time, on and off the field. I'm feeling really great. Every day that goes by, I feel more confident working on my strength and, most importantly, trying to become a better version of myself on and off the field.

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Growing as a team

Every game we're growing. Every game is getting better. We're getting used to playing with each other, which is very important. With the national team, we don't have many games, so the games that we do have, we really need to take it all in and really mould with each other as soon as possible, and to perform to the best that we can. Regarding the game [against Canada], I think we defended really well. We defended well as a whole eleven. Even the boys that came on did their role, which is not easy for them, coming into a game where we had to absorb a lot of pressure.

The team’s system

I think we're very solid. The last games have shown, with minimal goals conceded and the goals scored, with the players that we have. Going forward – Mo [Toure], Nestory [Irankunda] - those players who play off the opposition's back line, Boyley [Martin Boyle] as well - they’re rapid. Leaving them exposed in one-on-one situations with space in behind helps them. As a team, being so compact and hard to break down, it obviously helps us not concede goals.

Learning under Tony Popovic

I actually had the boss when I was 15 at [Perth] Glory. I was playing with the youth team. He called me up just before the Covid bubble of the A-League, I was training with them full-time. So I was familiar with him. He was familiar with me. I've obviously changed so much as a person and as a player. But regarding his experience playing in the back line, he's always giving you input. He gives you bits and pieces, which I take on board. It’s good to take in information from everyone. Everyone witnesses different things, and it's at the end of day, it's more experience and more football knowledge for me.