From the Vidmar and Aloisi brothers to former skipper Alex Tobin, South Australia has had a rich history of producing top-quality footballers for the Subway Socceroos.
With Australia coming to Adelaide Oval for their crucial FIFA World Cup 2026™ Third Round Asian Qualifier against China PR next Thursday, we thought we would take a look at the active Socceroos players with a South Australian connection.
Awer Mabil - 35 caps, 9 goals
A South Sudanese refugee born in Kenya, Mabil and his family arrived in Australia when he was 10, calling Adelaide home and would go on to ascend through the ranks of his local clubs including Playford City and Campbelltown City. Then came a move to Adelaide United before earning a move to Denmark. He represented his adopted country at senior level in October 2018 and quickly established himself as a handful for opposition defences. The now 29-year-old has accumulated 35 caps with a return of nine goals for the Green and Gold. The winger has featured in two major tournaments for the Socceroos, including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Mabil currently plies his trade with Grasshopper Club Zurich in the Swiss Super League.
Craig Goodwin - 27 caps, 6 goals
Despite Craig Goodwin making his Socceroos debut in 2013 as a 21-year-old, it would not be until later in his career that the left-winger would become a regular. He had to remain patient but hasn't looked back since, becoming one of the most integral pieces currently in the squad. Affectionately known as 'Goody', the now 32-year-old is a fan-favourite seemingly wherever he goes, admired even by rival fans during his time in the A-League at Adelaide United.
It was a long road to professional football for the northern suburbs local and he had to graft extremely hard to reach the top and fulfill childhood dreams. Goodwin spent his juniors at Munno Para City before moving to Adelaide Croatia Raiders and Para Hills Knights. An interstate move to the local NPL in Victoria Oakleigh Cannons materialised in 2011 and, as the saying goes, the rest is history. Goodwin would go on to secure A-League contracts with Melbourne Heart (now City) and Newcastle Jets, before enjoying three successful stints with Adelaide United where he became the club's all-time top scorer with 60 goals and won the Johnny Warren Medal following an outstanding 2022/23 campaign. For his country, he scored against France at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and netted twice in the AFC Asian Cup 2023™.
Riley McGree - 25 caps, 1 goal
Another hailing from the northern suburbs of Adelaide, Riley McGree was one of the revelations from the 2016/17 A-League season. The dynamic and versatile midfielder spent his formative years with Gawler Eagles before progressing to Adelaide United's youth set up and into the first team. McGree was a surprise inclusion in the Socceroos squad as an 18-year-old in March 2017. His auspicious form sealed a move to Belgian giants Club Brugge, but returned to Australia soon after and later Adelaide United, where his career went to another level. However, it was not until 2021 when McGree made his senior international debut. The 25-year-old is currently at Middlesbrough in the Championship, looking to earn promotion to the Premier League and become a key player with the Socceroos, appearing at the previous two major tournaments.
Brandon Borrello - 11 caps, 2 goals
Born in Adelaide's north, Brandon Borrello spent the early part of his juniors in the South Australian capital prior to relocating to Queensland with his family following a scholarship with the Queensland Academy of Sport in 2011. While in his hometown, the 29-year-old played for Salisbury United, Salisbury Villa, Western Strikers and Modbury Jets. The speedy winger’s first appearance for Australia occurred in 2019 following strong performances in Germany after transferring from Brisbane Roar. Borrello scored two goals for the Socceroos in 2023 against Ecuador and Bangladesh.
Kusini Yengi - 9 caps, 4 goals
Another South Australian product, Kusini Yengi began at Fulham United and Adelaide Comets before joining Adelaide United Youth. After breaking into the Reds first-team, the imposing striker scored six goals before switching to Western Sydney Wanderers and subsequently earned a move to Portsmouth in League One. In his maiden campaign, Yengi netted 13 goals and helped secure promotion to the Championship. He debuted for the Subway Socceroos in November 2023, since finding the back of the net four times in nine caps.
Ryan Strain - 6 caps
Born in Coventry, England, Ryan Strain moved to Australia in 2015 with Modbury Jets and signed with Adelaide United’s youth team, and, after two years with the Young Reds, was upgraded to a scholarship in 2017. The right-back spent four seasons with Adelaide, winning two Australia Cups before landing a move to Maccabi Haifa. After a season in Israel, Strain signed with St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership which coincided with an international call-up and made his debut against New Zealand in September 2022. Strain’s starting debut for the Green and Gold occurred against England at Wembley a year later. In the recent summer transfer window, the 27-year-old swapped St Mirren for Dundee United.
Joe Gauci - 4 caps, 3 clean sheets
Regarded as one of the most promising goalkeepers in Australia, Joe Gauci is another from the city of churches. However, he did spend seven years in New Zealand before returning to Adelaide as an 11-year-old, spending time with Cumberland United, the Football South Australia NTC program and then made first-team appearances for West Torrens Birkalla. The goalkeeper had to bide his time at Adelaide United when he arrived in 2020, but once grabbing the starting spot he did not look back, producing a catalogue of consistent displays which caught the attention of the Socceroos. His first appearance for the Australia Men's National Team took place in Melbourne in March 2023 against Ecuador and he has since accumulated a further three caps. The 24-year-old was named in the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ squad and, towards the end of the tournament, completed a transfer to Premier League side Aston Villa.
Thomas Deng - 4 caps
Thomas Deng’s South Australian football connection is somewhat briefer than his fellow South Aussie Socceroos. His family moved to Adelaide in 2003, fleeing war-torn South Sudan and his first club as a junior was Adelaide Blue Eagles and later Playford City. However, in 2011, his family moved to Melbourne where his development continued, and he ultimately penned a deal with Melbourne Victory, establishing himself as one of the A-League’s best-young talents. Deng, who currently plays football in the J1 League with Albirex Niigata, has four caps to his name.
Nestory Irankunda - 4 caps, 1 goal
Arguably the most prodigious talent Australian football has seen since the ‘Golden Generation’, Nestory Irankunda and his family moved to Adelaide’s northern suburbs in 2013. The precocious footballer, who was born in Tanzania, spent time at Parafield Gardens and then Adelaide Croatia Raiders before being identified and offered a spot in Adelaide United’s youth system in 2021, aged 15. He became the second-youngest scorer for both Adelaide and the Subway Socceroos when he found the back of the net for the first time against Newcastle Jets and Palestine respectively. His electrifying performances garnered interest from several European powerhouses and ultimately, German giants Bayern Munich secured his signature.
Apostolos Stamatelopoulos - 1 cap
Apostolos Stamatelopoulos has just the solitary cap to his name, which occurred in Perth in June 2024 against Palestine. The striker spent his formative years with Adelaide Comets and then Adelaide United before stints with Western United and Newcastle Jets and a two-year spell in Greece followed. His return to the Jets for the 2023/24 season saw him score 17 goals and culminated in Socceroos selection and a transfer to Scottish Premiership club Motherwell.
Mohamed Toure - 1 cap
Born in a refugee camp in Conakry, Guinea to Liberian parents in 2004, Mohamed Toure and his family moved to Australia later that year. He played at Croydon Kings as a youngster and then Adelaide United’s youth team before becoming the youngest goal-scorer in the club’s history. After two-and-a-half seasons with Adelaide, he signed with Ligue 1 outfit Reims, where a loan spell ensued in his second year with Paris FC. In October 2023, Toure was called up to the National Team set up for the first time and made a cameo appearance at Wembley Stadium against England. He currently plies his trade in Denmark with Randers alongside fellow South Aussie Paul Izzo.
Paul Izzo - uncapped
As stated above, Paul Izzo plays in Denmark, having sealed a transfer back to Europe after two years at Melbourne Victory. But before his time in Melbourne, Izzo journey began in Adelaide with local side Campbelltown City. He trained at the AIS before signing with Adelaide United and learning under Eugene Galekovic. In need of game time, the then 20-year-old agreed to join Central Coast Mariners and in 2017 returned to become the Reds’ number one. Strong displays transpired and after three campaigns he joined Greek Super League 2 side Xanthi.
Yet to be capped for the Socceroos, Izzo has been called into a number of camps providing strong competition to his fellow goalkeepers and will no doubt be ready whenever called upon to represent his country at senior level.
