Premier League legend Gus Poyet has revealed he was close to signing with Melbourne Victory in 2005 – but turned down the A-League club as the Uruguayan knew he would fall in love with the Australian lifestyle.
The decorated former Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder is on local shores ahead of Jeonbuk Motors’ quarter-final, second leg Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Two showdown against Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night.
Poyet, 57, is the head coach of the South Korean outfit.
After launching into a scathing assessment of the AFC for what he deemed some baffling recent decisions, Poyet recalled how he could have played alongside the likes of Archie Thompson and Kevin Muscat in a Victory jersey.
‘My wife and I came to Australia in 2005, we used it [Uruguay’s World Cup qualifier] as an excuse to spend a week in Sydney,’ he said.
‘I was retired for about eight months and I was asked at the stadium in the Chairman’s Lounge if I wanted to come look at Melbourne’s facilities [over the next few days].
Premier League legend Gus Poyet has revealed he was close to signing with Melbourne Victory in 2005 (pictured, playing for Chelsea)
Poyet is on local shores ahead of Jeonbuk Motors’ quarter-final, second leg AFC Champions League Two showdown against Sydney FC on Thursday
‘I was close, but I said no….I knew I would like the lifestyle and I wanted to stay retired, I was done.’
Poyet – who was impressed by the Socceroos who famously won that night on penalties – added he ‘could have easily’ lived in Australia and referred to Sydney as a ‘beautiful place.’
Earlier in what was an explosive press conference, Poyet criticised the AFC for shifting last week’s first leg from their home in Jeonju to Yongin Mireu Stadium outside of Suwon after the pitch was deemed unplayable.
Poyet was also bemused Wednesday’s press conference was staged at Sydney FC’s training ground in Macquarie Park as opposed to the game day venue in Moore Park.
‘I’ve never been involved in something like this before. I suppose I keep learning,’ he told reporters.
‘This is the first time I’ve done a press conference away from home in the training ground of the opposite team at any level – national team level, UEFA Champions League level, national team with Greece.
‘For me, it is very strange. Normally you do it at the stadium. ‘I don’t think it is the common thing to do.
‘This side I don’t like…the politics, the decision makers of people who don’t understand football, who don’t have a clue.’
Kick-off between Sydney FC and Poyet’s Jeonbuk Motors is 7pm on Thursday at Allianz Stadium.
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