Ultimate Guide: Get to know your 31-man Socceroos squad
Following the announcement of the first Socceroos squad in 18 months, here is your opportunity to learn more about the 31 players bound for Kuwait as Australia's FIFA World Cup qualifying journey finally resumes.
The latest Socceroos squad is a blend of experience and young talent with some trusted names set to don the Green and Gold, while there will be a raft of new faces who could make their national team debuts.
Check out the following guide to every player who is set to assemble in the Middle East in the coming days.
Goalkeepers
Maty Ryan
Socceroo Cap Number: 555
Caps: 59
Club: Arsenal FC (England)
The Socceroos tried and tested number one goalkeeper is back with the national team following a loan spell with Premier League side Arsenal.
Ryan has been a shining light for the Socceroos in the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cup as well as the championship-winning 2015 Asian Cup.
Danny Vukovic
Socceroo Cap Number: 595
Caps: 3
Club: KRC Genk (Belgium)
Vukovic’s standout form with Genk over the last couple of seasons in the Belgian Pro League has not gone unnoticed with the former Sydney FC shot stopper earning another call up into Graham Arnold’s squad.
His time in Belgium came to an end earlier this season but he has been keeping fit in Sydney since jetting off to link up with the Socceroos squad last week.
Andrew Redmayne
Socceroo Cap Number: 603
Caps: 1
Club: Sydney FC (Australia)
Redmayne has been one of the consistent performers in Sydney FC’s star-studded line-up and is the only current A-League goalkeeper selected in the 31-man Socceroos squad.
Although he may only have one cap to his name, his experience will boost the Socceroos’ goalkeeping stocks which also comprises of the uncapped Lawrence Thomas.
Lawrence Thomas
Socceroo Cap Number: Uncapped
Club: SønderjyskE (Denmark)
Currently plying his trade with Danish Superligaen side SønderjyskE, Thomas is one of seven uncapped players selected in Graham Arnold’s squad.
However, the ex-Melbourne Victory goalkeeper has been involved in the national team set up when he was included in Australia’s senior squad for a friendly against South Korea in June 2019.
READ: 31 players bound for Kuwait as Socceroos seek to seal top spot in Group B
Defenders
Harry Souttar
Socceroo Cap Number: 606
Caps (Goals): 2 (4)
Club: Stoke City (England)
Despite having only made two appearances to date, the Stoke City centre-back is already shaping as a national cult hero. At only 22 years old, he has four goals to his name from two Socceroos caps and enters this camp on the back of a consistent season with the Potters in the English Championship.
His aerial prowess will be crucial defensively while his knack in front of goal will be a massive boost from set-pieces.
Trent Sainsbury
Socceroo Cap Number: 574
Caps (Goals): 48 (3)
Club: KV Kortrijk (Belgium)
One of the Socceroos’ most dependable centre backs is back with the national team after a season with Kortrijk in the Belgian Pro League.
Some of Sainsbury’s best performances have come in the Green and Gold where he has built up a strong partnership with the likes of Milos Degenek and Aziz Behich.
Milos Degenek
Socceroo Cap Number: 585
Caps (Goals): 29 (1)
Club: Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)
Degenek has become a force to be reckoned with in the Serbian SuperLiga and that kind of form has translated into his many Socceroos appearances down the years.
His tireless work ethic and trusted partnership with Sainsbury and Behich will once again see him seamlessly slot into the squad ahead of their first match on June 4.
Aziz Behich
Socceroo Cap Number: 547
Caps (Goals): 38 (2)
Club: Kayserispor (Turkey)
Turkish-based Behich has had valuable minutes under his belt this season at Kayserispor. The former Melbourne Heart (now City) defender joined the club on loan from Istanbul Basaksehir with whom he had won the SuperLig title with in the 2019/20 campaign.
He was involved in a relegation battle for the majority of his stay at Kayserispor but during that time he was able to string together 34 appearances as his club secured their top-flight survival on the final matchday.
Rhyan Grant
Socceroo Cap Number: 600
Caps: 12
Club: Sydney FC (Australia)
Sydney FC stalwart, Rhyan Grant, is back in the Socceroos set after yet another profitable campaign in the A-League.
The ‘energiser bunny’ has become one of the Socceroos’ most important assets of late with his performances at the 2019 Asian Cup underlying just how much he can offer to the Green and Gold.
Brad Smith
Socceroo Cap Number: 575
Caps: 22
Club: Seattle Sounders (USA)
Smith has had a dream start to the season with MLS outfit Seattle Sounders. The left back already has three goals to his name and has been named in two MLS team of the weeks.
The former Liverpool defender has been involved in plenty of Socceroos’ camps with his first cap arriving seven years ago. So, his experience will undoubtedly be an asset for the Green and Gold following their 18-month hiatus.
Curtis Good
Socceroo Cap Number: 569
Caps: 1
Club: Melbourne City (Australia)
Premiership-winning Melbourne City defender, Curtis Good, has been rewarded for his fine form with a Socceroos call up after what had previously been a testing few years with injuries.
Good is no stranger to the national team set up with his first and only Socceroos cap to date arriving in 2014.
Ruon Tongyik
Socceroos Cap Number: Uncapped
Club: Central Coast Mariners (Australia)
The South Sudan-born defender has been called up to the senior camp for the first time following his eye-catching performances for Central Coast Mariners.
His calm and collected presence will be something to look out for if he is handed his first cap by Arnold.
Ryan McGowan
Socceroo Cap Number: 546
Caps (Goals): 20
Club: Sydney FC (Australia)
The latest Socceroos squad signalled the return of a familiar face in Sydney FC’s Ryan McGowan.
McGowan has 20 caps to his name and was involved in the set up for Tim Cahill’s memorable strike against the Netherlands at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Fran Karacic
Socceroos Cap Number: Uncapped
Club: Brescia (Italy)
The Croatian-born defender is another uncapped player with previous experience in the national camp.
The right back has impressed during his first campaign with Serie B side Brescia and will boost Australia’s right back stocks alongside Grant.
READ: Talking Points: Seven potential Socceroos debuts for June
Midfielders
Jackson Irvine
Socceroo Cap Number: 568
Caps (Goals): 34 (5)
Club: Hibernian (Scotland)
With midfield regulars Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic ruled out due to personal reasons, Irvine's international experience could be crucial in Kuwait.
After 11 months without a club, Irvine pushed himself back into national team selection thanks to a highly profitable spell alongside fellow Socceroo Martin Boyle at Hibernian.
Kenny Dougall
Socceroos Cap Number: Uncapped
Club: Blackpool FC (England)
Dougall is one of three Australian midfielders awaiting their first Socceroos cap after previously being named in national team squads.
The Blackpool midfielder will take part in the League One playoff final at Wembley this weekend before linking up with the Socceroos next week in the Middle East.
Ajdin Hrustic
Socceroo Cap Number: 589
Caps: 3
Club: Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)
Since his last call-up for the Socceroos, Hrustic was picked up by Bundesliga club, Eintracht Frankfurt, where has slowly been building a name for himself.
The back-end of the season saw him given his chance to shine and he memorably opened his account with an improvised finish to rescue a point for his side at the beginning of May.
James Holland
Socceroo Cap Number: 508
Caps: 15
Club: LASK Linz (Austria)
Another name who will be making a long-awaited return to the national team fold is James Holland. The former Adelaide United midfielder will return for his first camp since the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
During that period he has been based in Austria with LASK Linz where he has featured in the UEFA Champions League.
Riley McGree
Socceroos Cap Number: Uncapped
Club: Birmingham City (England)
McGree is back with the national team and undoubtedly has his sights set on a maiden cap. He enters the camp on the back of a campaign in the English Championship with Birmingham City.
He and Denis Genreau will provide some depth to the Socceroos’ midfield ranks with both players also having an eye on selection for the Olyroos’ squad for the Tokyo 2020 men’s football tournament.
Denis Genreau
Socceroos Cap Number: Uncapped
Club: Macarthur FC (Australia)
After gaining some valuable experience in camp during his time in the Netherlands, Genreau will be back in the national team fold following an impressive campaign with A-League newcomers Macarthur FC.
The midfielder has played an integral role for the new club who appear on path to qualify for the finals series in their inaugural campaign.
Connor Metcalfe
Socceroos Cap Number: Uncapped
Club: Melbourne City (Australia)
Like Tongyik, Metcalfe’s A-League performances have not gone unnoticed with the 21-year-old being selected for his first Socceroos camp.
The Melbourne City midfielder has enjoyed a breakthrough season, contributing five goals to City’s cause as they wrapped up the Premiership last weekend.
READ: Talking Points: Seven potential Socceroos debuts for June
Forwards
Jamie Maclaren
Socceroo Cap Number: 584
Caps (Goals): 15 (5)
Club: Melbourne City (Australia)
Maclaren’s output for Melbourne City places him up there with Rukavytsya as the two in form goal scorers in the Socceroos camp.
He has bagged a staggering 25 goals from his 24 matches this season as his side raced to the Premiership and will be arrive in the Middle East with his shooting boots, with the hope of adding to his five international goals.
Adam Taggart
Socceroo Cap Number: 553
Caps (Goals): 11 (6)
Club: Cerezo Osaka (Japan)
The last Socceroo to get his name on the scoresheet for the Green and Gold is back in the national team camp. No one would have thought that Taggart’s goal against Jordan in November 2019 would be the last time that we would get to celebrate a Socceroos goal for over 18 months.
Since then, Taggart sealed a move from Korean side Suwon Bluewings to J League club Cerezo Osaka. A range of complications has seen his game time limited but a return to the national team could act as a perfect catalyst for him to continue where he left off.
Martin Boyle
Socceroo Cap Number: 599
Caps (Goals): 4 (2)
Club: Hibernian (Scotland)
Martin Boyle is back in the national team after yet another consistent campaign with Scottish side Hibernian. Boyle and Irvine were instrumental to Hibs as they finished in third and made it to the Scottish Cup Final.
He will be hoping to slot right back into the type of form for the Socceroos which saw him score twice in his four caps so far.
Awer Mabil
Socceroo Cap Number: 597
Caps (Goals): 14 (4)
Club: FC Midtylland (Denmark)
Mabil has quickly established himself as one of the Socceroos go to players. The Midtjylland winger has four Socceroos goals from his 14 appearances – a tally which he will no doubt be looking to add to come June 4.
His debut for the Green and Gold was a memorable one, coming off the bench in the Socceroos’ 4-0 victory over Kuwait in October 2018. That defining moment was made all that bit more special given that he debuted alongside childhood friend, Thomas Deng.
Mathew Leckie
Socceroo Cap Number: 550
Caps (Goals): 63 (11)
Club: Hertha Berlin (Germany)
With 63 caps to his name, Leckie will bring some much needed experience to this Socceroos squad. The Berlin based winger signed off on the 2020/21 season with a string of encouraging performances which will carry him in good stead ahead of Australia’s World Cup Qualifiers.
Having already featured in a number of major tournaments for the Socceroos, his knowledge will be incredibly valuable for the uncapped players who will be in the set up this time around.
Brandon Borrello
Socceroo Cap Number: 604
Caps: 3
Club: Fortuna Dusseldorf (Germany)
Fellow German-based wide-man Brandon Borrello will be back with the Socceroos following a season on loan at 2. Bundesliga side Fortuna Dusseldorf.
The right winger has impressed in his three Socceroos appearances to date and will provide stiff competition out wide for Graham Arnold’s side.
Nikita Rukavytsya
Socceroos Cap Number: 535
Caps (Goals): 18 (1)
Club: Maccabi Haifa (Israel)
It will be a welcome and deserved return to the Socceroos camp for Nikita Rukavytsya who has been in deadly form for his club, Maccabi Haifa.
Since last being involved in the national team setup three years ago, he has fine tuned his game and added a plethora of goals to show for what has been the most productive stage of his career.
Mitchell Duke
Socceroos Cap Number: 559
Caps (Goals): 6 (2)
Club: Western Sydney Wanderers (Australia)
Duke will once again be back for another spell in the Socceroos camp. The Western Sydney Wanderers striker has weighed in with six goals this season.
His aerial strength will be a much needed addition to the side with the likes of Souttar and himself set to provide a stern test for opposition defences.
Chris Ikonomidis
Socceroo Cap Number: 580
Caps (Goals): 12 (2)
Club: Perth Glory (Australia)
Following a difficult 14 months dealing with injury, Ikonomidis is back fit and back in the Socceroos form.
The forward, who featured in the 2019 Asian Cup, has scored 4 goals in 8 A-League starts so far this season.
Apostolos Giannou
Socceroos Cap Number: 583
Caps (Goals): 12 (2)
Club: OFI Crete (Greece)
The OFI Crete striker will complement the attacking options that the Socceroos have at their disposal for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Giannou is no stranger to the national team set up and like Leckie he will be able to pass on important advice to those new in the camp.
Gallery: The Socceroos' first training session after returning to camp
