Every cloud has a silver lining, and that is certainly the case for Australian defender Matthew Jurman.
When the Socceroos failed to qualify directly for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, there was a palpable sense of disappointment right across the country and, although he was living in Korea Republic at the time, Jurman felt that as much as anyone.
But from adversity comes opportunity. Jurman, who had watched on from the sidelines as Australia battled their way through qualifying, was handed a first call-up by then coach Ange Postecoglou for the two play-off matches against Syria in October 2017.
And it was an opportunity he grasped with both hands after being given a starting berth for both legs, not putting a foot wrong alongside Trent Sainsbury in defence.
Possession, they say, is nine tenths of the law. After two composed performances, suddenly that left-sided central defender role was his and his to lose.
Jurman followed that up with two further standout performances against Honduras in November, and in the blink of an eye he was now an entrenched member of the Socceroos squad.
“If you want to look at it from one perspective, if the team qualified automatically I don’t know if I would have been at the World Cup because I wouldn’t have had those four games last year,” he said on the eve of the FIFA World Cup in Russia.
“So everything happens for a reason, the team didn’t qualify directly and I got my chance that way when Ange called me up for the Syria and Honduras games. I guess in that way it worked out for me personally and as a team we went through a lot more. It made us a lot more battle hardened.”
Jurman, who had represented Australia at both U-20 and U-23 level, had to wait patiently for his senior national team debut, with his first match against Syria coming at the age of 27. But the wait just made the experience all the more memorable.
“I played for the 20s and 23s and obviously my goal after that was to try and get into the senior team, and it took me a bit of time to get there,” he explained.
“But when I was putting the jersey on and walking out it was a very proud moment, something I’ve wanted to do my whole life, watching all these players that I’ve looked up to. It was just a really proud moment and something I’ll always cherish.”
It was the culmination of more than 20 years of hard work since he first started playing football in his home town of Wollongong, New South Wales.
“I started playing when I was four years old,” he recalled. “My dad played and he coached as well and he got me involved pretty early, and I was playing for Dapto in Wollongong.
“I fell in love with the game; I loved playing with the ball. I’ve still got them now, my first little boots and first little ball. Whenever there was a ball my brother and I were always kicking it around at home, on the street or going down to the park with my dad and having a kick around.
“As we got older we still went down to the park and did extra training together whenever we could. My dad being Croatian, he was always my hardest critic, watching my games and always picking out little things I could do better.
“And I always had the support from my mum, my dad and my brother and sister. They all helped me get here from a young age. My parents have done a lot for me. It wasn’t easy growing up, they both worked hard, the things they let me do to achieve my dreams won’t be forgotten.”
One of those dreams was achieved when Bert van Marwijk, Australia’s temporary head coach until the end of the FIFA World Cup, selected Jurman in his 23-man squad for the global showpiece in Russia.
Unfortunately for the defender, he did not get on the pitch during the Socceroos’ three group stage matches as they were eliminated following defeats to France and Peru either side of a draw with Denmark.
But with the FIFA World Cup now done and dusted for another four years, Jurman and his Socceroos teammates have their eyes firmly on retaining the AFC Asian Cup title in the UAE in January under the guidance of new coach Graham Arnold, someone Jurman knows well from his time with Sydney FC.
“We’d love to defend the title,” Jurman said. “It was a massive thing for the country to win it last time and everyone is going to be coming after us this time. So we’re definitely going to be ready when that comes around.
“I think Arnie’s (Graham Arnold) going to be great. I think he’s done a great job the last three years with Sydney FC and I was lucky enough to work with him. He gave me a lot of confidence, and he gave the team a lot of confidence, as you can see by them
playing great football and getting great results.
“So I think he will be great for the Socceroos and I think going forward hopefully we can see the country winning a lot more games and winning some more trophies.”
Playing in Asia is something Jurman has become quite familiar with over the last 18 months after he switched the sky blue of Sydney FC for the royal blue of Suwon Samsung Bluewings, a decision he admits was hard to make at the time.
“I think for me, when I first went, the toughest thing was moving from Sydney and knowing that the team we had was going to win some things that year,” he admitted.
“That was a year I felt really comfortable, and was playing in the team. I had to move away from that knowing they were going to win things.”
But looking back he wouldn’t have it any other way. “Korea was good, I enjoyed my time there,” said Jurman, who recently departed Suwon to join Saudi Arabian giants Al Ittihad.
“[Moving overseas] is something I’ve wanted to do. I was ready to move to the next step in my career and Suwon came in to sign me. I thought it was a great opportunity for me to move into another league and try and prove myself in another country.
“Obviously not everything goes to plan. Coming back from my injury there were some tough times, but overall it’s been a great 18 months for me.”
The support of two other Australian players, Bruce Djite and Adrian Leijer, who were playing for second-tier Suwon FC when he arrived, helped ease the transition.
“They helped me when I first got there if I didn’t understand something, or if I needed help,” he said.
“I still had my translator at the club, but it was good to have some Aussie boys there to help you and to catch up with them when you have some time off.”
Jurman will again have to start afresh following his decision to leave Suwon after the FIFA World Cup and join two-time AFC Champions League winners Al Ittihad.
With Suwon having reached the last eight of the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2011, the defender departs at a time when there is real hope of being crowned continental champions for a third time.
And while the 28-year-old is excited for the new challenge that life in the Saudi Pro League will bring, he also takes with him fond memories from his time in Korea Republic.
“From the day I became a Suwon Samsung Bluewings player, I loved every minute of it,” said Jurman.
“Being my first move overseas in my career it had its ups and downs, but I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and loved learning the Korean culture and way of living.
“I always gave my best when I played for Suwon and always tried to help the team win. I’ll miss the city, the fans, my teammates and all the coaching and office staff.
“Now, I’m looking forward to my next step in my career. I’m excited to have joined Al Ittihad and looking forward to my first game in yellow and black.”
Photos: Getty Images
