Professional Football Australia (PFA) Chief Executive Adam Vivian and President Matt McKay hail the impact of the late, great Johnny Warren on Australian Football with today marking the tenth anniversary of his death.
With PFA Members set to honor his outstanding contribution to the game with a moment of applause in the 74th minute of each of this weekend’s A-League fixtures Vivian said Warren continued to be a huge source of inspiration for everyone connected to football.
“The players chose Johnny, along with fellow legend Joe Marston, as the inaugural recipient of their highest honor – The Alex Tobin OAM Medal – because he embodied the very soul of Australian football,” said Vivian.
“He was without question one of the country’s greatest ever players but more than that, he was the warrior that drove the game forward on all fronts. Johnny’s public fight for football and its people was instrumental in bringing about the revolution that has enabled the game to make enormous strides both on and off the pitch.
“Despite it being ten years since his death he continues to inspire Australian football and its players to pursue the fulfillment of the games potential. Whilst three consecutive World Cup appearances for the Socceroos, the Matildas Asian Cup triumph of 2010, the success of the A-League and its clubs in the ACL would delight him he would still want more. In his own word’s ‘the day football is big in Australia is when we are talking about winning the World Cup not just to qualify.’
McKay said Warren continued to inspire the nation’s players to always act in the best interests of the game.
“There is not an Australian player who does not understand the impact he had, and continues to have, on Australian football,” said the Socceroo. “Johnny’s famous line ‘I told you so’ is one of the most iconic in the nation’s sporting history. The task for us is to work towards the fulfillment of his dream for the game in this country – that is his legacy to the players and one we will continue to embrace and be inspired by.”
Members of the PFA and Staff will join the Warren family to celebrate his life with close friends and family at Jamberoo today to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Johnny’s passing.
