The story of Tom Rogic is a fairytale. He was an unsigned 19 year old who had only played Futsalroo when he took part in Nike’s The Chance. Rogic won the Pacific Region competition and signed for Central Coast Mainers after a stint at the Nike Academy.
His former manager, Graham Arnold, picks up the story: “ He was probably nearly the cheapest player I ever had at the Mariners, I got him for about $13,000 for three months, four months, and he was a special talent. Whenever we played 6v6 at training, he was the best player. His technique and strength was incredible.”
It was a bit of indiscipline that saw Rogic get his chance with Celtic. “I remember in December 2012 he came to me,” Arnold remembered. “We actually played Sydney FC, he got sent off and he said ‘can I go for a trial with Celtic in the UK?’ And I said ‘look, I don’t think you’re ready for it yet, I think you should have another six months here in the A-League and finish the season off with us.’
Tom was having none of it: “[Rogic asked] ‘can I have a training experience? I got sent off, I don’t have anything to do the next couple of weeks.’ So I said yeah, okay. So he went to a Celtic training camp in Spain and I think luckily for Tommy they played 6v6s at training the whole time.
That was his trial. Of course he killed it and they signed him straight away.”
Rogic is now looking forward to playing in his first World Cup after winning 3 League Titles, 3 Scottish Cups and 2 League Cups and more importantly signing a new five year deal with Celtic. What’s next for the Wizard of Oz? The number 7 jersey perhaps?
Graham Arnold reckons Rogic has more to come. He’s still got more left in him, a lot more left in him, and he’ll go to another level. He’s a lovely kid first and foremost. He learnt very quickly with us, he went from nothing, indoor football to where he is very quickly and he’s always been up for a challenge. He’s a special talent”
Below is the video of Rogic’s time at the Nike Academy. It is well worth watching.
Graham Arnold was interviewed for Socceroos.com – see below.
https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/red-card-helped-bargain-basement-rogic-celtic
