Danny Vukovic has gone out on top, announcing his retirement from football after leading the Central Coast Mariners to their third A-League Men's Championship on Saturday night.
The 39-year-old goalkeeper enjoyed a career which spanned over 20 years and went onto become an A-Leagues stalwart, holding the record for the most clean sheets in the competition and ranks fifth in the all-time appearances list.
A Mariners statement confirmed their treble winning captain will now complete his coaching badges, as he prepares to move into the Mariners coaching staff for the 2024/25 season.
On the international stage, Vukovic (cap #595) represented the Subway Socceroos on four occasions after making his debut in March 2018 on his 33rd birthday against Colombia.
He also played for Australia at Under 20 and Under 23 level, and was a member of FIFA World Cup Russia 2018™ side and the history-making squad at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ before retiring from international football in March 2023.
Vukovic began his career as a 17-year-old at Parramatta Power in the National Soccer League in October 2002. He later joined the Central Coast in 2005 spending five years in Gosford before plying his trade for the likes of Wellington Phoenix, Perth Glory, Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC.
The shot-stopper also had short stints in Turkey and Japan with Konyaspor and Vegalta Sendai respectively.
Following a successful 2016/17 campaign with the Sydney, Vukovic earned a move to Belgian Pro League outfit Genk, winning the league in 2018/19 and the Super Cup during a four-year spell.
A move to Dutch Eredivisie club NEC Nijmegen followed before returning to the Mariners in August 2022.
Vukovic's domestic honours and accolades consists of three A-League Men Championships and Premierships, one Australia Cup, one AFC Cup, five PFA Team of the Season inclusions and the A-League Goalkeeper of the Year award for 2016/17.
Vukovic explained his decision to call time on his decorated professional career in a statement via the Mariners' website:
“I couldn’t think of a better way to go out. It has been so enjoyable; I have loved being a professional footballer. To finish it off like this, with the club where it all began in the A-League, there is nothing more fitting for me,” Vukovic said.
“I have been feeling like the time is right for a while, it has a lot to do with my family and my boys. I can be replaced as a goalkeeper, but I can’t be replaced as a father and that is what it comes down to for me.
"I’m really excited to go into the coaching world, we have two fantastic young goalkeepers in the first team and more in the younger squads, so I look forward to continuing to work with them.”