Legends Return Home - Team of the Century - South Melbourne FC - Australia's most successful football club in history, including 4 times national champions, 8 times Victorian champions, participants in the Inaugural FIFA Club World Championships, and Oceania Champions

Legends Return Home

Legends in the home senior dressing rooms of the Bob Jane Stadium. Paul Trimboli, John Margaritis, Mike Petersen, Ange Postecoglou and Steve Walker

South Melbourne FC's promotional Team of the Century press conference was held in the home senior dressing room of Bob Jane Stadium on Monday 18 January 2002. Joining the captain (at the time) Paul Trimboli were former players and coaches in Mike Petersen, John Margaritis, Steve Walker and Ange Postecoglou.

John Margaritis spent seven seasons at South Melbourne FC as a player from 1961 to 1967, then coached the club for eight seasons. He said that he had mainly been relaxing and fishing since his retirement from football. Margaritis also noted that his highlight at South Melbourne was winning four Victorian championships and being part of Australia’s greatest football club.

Returning to Bob Jane Stadium for the first time since his departure as coach the previous season, Mike Petersen was delighted to be part of the Hall of Champions (the 40 nominated Team of the Century players). Petersen, who played 171 League games for the club and scored 8 League goals, thanked all the volunteers, committees and past players for their contributions and continued efforts to South Melbourne FC.

Playing in front of the huge vocal crowds at Middle Park brought back many memories for left-footed defender Steve Walker, who played at South for seven seasons from 1970 to 1976. Walker, who was voted Best & Fairest in 1973 and 1975, showed his bubbly character by chuckling with the media, mentioning the wonderful and successful times he spent at the club.

Ange Postecoglou, the only man to have played a significant role in all of South’s four NSL championships, reflected on his successes at the club. His position in the 1984 championship side at left back was a dream come true for the then 17 year old teenager. Postecoglou progressed through the junior ranks at the club, then spent ten seasons with the senior side from 1984 to 1992/93, playing 193 League games, scoring 19 League goals and captaining the 1990/91 championship side. He then coached the club for 127 games from 1996/97 until the end of the 1999/00 season, winning back-to-back championships in 1997/98 and 1998/99.

Postecoglou told the media about the differences of both the 1984 and 1990/91 championship squads and went on to say that the feeling of being a championship player to coaching a championship winning side had a different feel. “As a player you are excited and thrilled to win championships, whereas being a championship winning coach makes you feel very proud of yourself and your players' achievements."

All five players were excitedly looking forward to being at the Crown Palladium Ballroom that Friday evening, where the club would announce who was in the South Melbourne FC Team of the Century.