Celtic's Tom Rogic - From Nike Academy to Australian national team

17 October 2014 09:27

The Celtic midfielder's career was once not so enjoyable as it is now. When he joined Nike Football Academy in 2011, clubs have started to gain some interest for the youngster. Since then, it was all ups for this Aussie of Serbian descent.

Rogić began his senior career in local college five years ago, previously playing junior football at Tuggeranong United academy. While representing the Australian National University, the attacking midfielder tried out futsal for the national side.

And that was the first breakthrough of his career. An indoor sport really helped him establish further points of football progress which eventually resulted a move to Europe. The 21-year-old played seven matches for the futsal squad in 2010, with eight goals scored behind opponent goalkeepers.

January 2011 was when he had earned The Chance, at the age of 18. Rogić was picked in front of 75,000 other young players who also competed for Nike opportunity. One among eight, the Australian had no problem with impressing Jimmy Gilligan, the team coach.

Vying for professional football, Belconnen United took him in for a short period. Then, impressed by goalscoring skills of in-form talent, Central Coast Mariners made an offer he couldn't have refused in January 2012.

Shortly thereafter, he received a call-up from Holger Osieck to join the senior national team of his country. Two months after the international debut versus South Korea, in the winter transfer window of 2013, Rogić made a return to the United Kingdom where he signed for Celtic.

The debut in the Scottish Premier League was a great introduction for him to the local crowd. Kris Commons earned an equaliser due to the midfielder's assist who went on winning the Man of the Match award. Is this the future leader of an underachieving, yet big national setup?

Source: DSG