Forgotten Socceroo Susnjar aiming to grab Arnold’s attention with Korea switch

One-cap Socceroo Aleksandar Susnjar is looking to force his way back onto the national team map by grabbing a Korea opportunity the defender hopes will catapult him to the K League 1.

Aleksandar Susnjar

Aleksandar Susnjar Source: Getty Images

The little-known centre-back was given a taste of the green and gold by Bert van Marwijk in the 4-1 friendly loss to Norway a year ago - and hasn’t been sighted in the national team since.

But Perth-born Susnjar, 23, doesn’t see that as the end of the story and believes joining fallen four-time K-League Champions Busan IPark on a season-long loan from Czech outfit FK Mlada Boleslav can fulfill both his and the club’s ambitions.

K-League 2 Busan have missed out on promotion with successive play-off losses in the past two seasons and are desperate to return to the top tier following their relegation in 2015, with Susnjar planning to provide the defensive steel to turn ambition into reality.

“They’re a big club and are determined to get back to where they feel they belong, and I’m excited to be a part of that,” said Susnjar, who has also played for Serbia as a teenager and Australia at Under-23 level.

“I’ve had my good and bad moments in Europe (playing in Lithuania, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia) and I see this as an adventure which might lead to promotion and the K1.

“Or it might open me up to bigger Asian clubs, who knows?”

The left-sided stopper is coming off a loan at Slovak outfit MŠK Žilina, and is looking to find a permanent home in which to progress his game, and perhaps grab the attention of Graham Arnold.

“I’m still young and I’ve got plenty to learn. Hopefully if I’m playing regularly and doing well I might get the chance to get another sniff with the national team," he said.

“I’ve experienced what it’s like to be in camp - I made my debut and of course I’d love to build on that again at some point.

“My name is out there now, I just have to do the right things and trust in my ability. I think there are a lot of opportunities ahead of me.

“I’m still a long way off my peak and have a lot to learn.”

Judging by Busan’s start to the season - a 4-1 home loss to Anyang - the sooner they get Susnjar on the pitch the better.

The Serbian-Australian missed last weekend’s season-opener because his visa had not been processed in time but will be available for Saturday’s trip to Suwan.

“It’s a different style but the coaching staff are excellent and I think I’ll develop as a player here,” he added.


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3 min read
Published 5 March 2019 4:03pm
By Dave Lewis

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