The golden generation Socceroo will also play his first match since retiring in 2011 in the Football For Fires charity spectacular at ANZ Stadium on May 23, as he puts a “scary experience” behind him.
Successful surgery to repair a faulty mitral valve in his heart - a condition with no apparent root cause other than bad luck - has sharpened the 43-year-old’s appreciation for life’s adventures, and stirred a hunger from within to jump back on board the stress bus.
“One of the first questions I asked the cardiologist after the operation was whether I would be able to coach again,” said the former Brisbane Roar kingpin.
“Fortunately, he said yes I could. A lot of questions came to mind when I was first diagnosed. Was it due to the training I have done throughout my career?
“Again the answer was no. Was it due to lifestyle the stresses of being a coach, although I didn’t really feel that at the time?
“He said it had nothing to do with that. I was just unlucky but once the valve was repaired I was told I would be ready to go again.
“Both the cardiologist and surgeon are football fans and wanted to see me out there doing my job again.”
Suffering from shortness of breath and heart palpitations, Aloisi never anticipated being so close to potential catastrophe.
“It was a shock when I first got told because I didn’t expect anything to that extent would be wrong with my heart,” he said.
“It was just one of those unfortunate things. Luckily they picked up on it, repaired it and the recovery has been a success.
“It was quite scary there. I had to get through it with my family and close friends because I didn’t really want everybody knowing about it at the time.
“You are going through quite a few emotions and I just wanted to focus on getting better.
“I’m thankful to the surgeon and cardiologist who did a great job.”
Aloisi walked away from the the Roar 10 games into last season, disenchanted with the financial constraints hampering the club from recapturing the glory years under Ange Postecoglou.
In his first year he missed out on the Premier’s Plate by a single point, and followed that up with third and sixth place finishes before pulling the pin.
But the desire remains undimmed, with potential vacancies at Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers at the end of the season piquing his interest.
“I would definitely like to bet back into coaching at some point,” he added.
“I feel really good physically and I’m waiting for the right opportunity to come along, and hopefully it comes along soon.
“I enjoy it and I’m ready to get back in there again and do a good job somewhere.
“We’ll see what’s around the corner. When I was in hospital lying there I thought about all the things I could look forward to and what I wanted to achieve.
“Being in there in that hospital bed actually made me hungrier than ever.
“I don’t want to speak too much about the jobs that are around at this moment because there are (caretaker) coaches in there at Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney until the end of the season.
“It’s a matter of waiting around until the end of the season, or maybe even before the season ends if somebody is willing to sit down and talk to me.”
Heading back to ANZ Stadium, where his penalty shootout winner against Uruguay back in 2005 is scorched into the memory of the nation, Aloisi is more concerned about his hips and knees than his heart.
“I’ve been training for what is such a good cause - we have all been touched by the fires here in Australia, how they have ruined communities,” he said.
“We just want to help in any way possible by raising funds.
“We want help those people rebuild again and what (match agent) Lou Sticca has put together, and the players he’s been able to bring out, it’s great.
“My last time there was for that incredible World Cup qualification decider and this will actually be the first game I’ve played since I hung up my boots.
“I have special memories of that night against Uruguay and the stadium.
“I’ve only ever been back as a coach and I’m hoping to maybe get to chance to relive that moment again, maybe get a penalty and score past Boza (Mark Bosnich).”
