Episode #4 - Paul Okon, Former Socceroo Captain

In Episode #4 of the CDSFA Community Football Podcast, Gilbert Lorquet speaks with a true legend of the game - Former Socceroo Captain, Paul Okon.

Paul first caught the eye of national team selectors after a stunning start to his career in the National Soccer League for Marconi where he won the Under 21 Player of the Season in his first two years in 1990 and 1991. He made his full senior Socceroos debut at the age of 18 on a rainy night in Parramatta in 1991. He then went on to star for the Young Socceroos at the World Youth Championship in Portugal in 1991, followed by the Olyroos at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

Paul's uncanny ability to read the play and glide past other players with ease and effortlessly saw him marked as Australia’s next big thing. His talents saw him leave Marconi for Europe, signing with Club Brugge in Belgium’s first division, where a successful five-year spell culminated in him winning the title and Golden Shoe award in 1996 for the best player in Belgium, the first non-European to win the award.

A dream move to a star-studded Lazio team saw Paul become the first Australian to play
regularly in the Italian Serie A. He earned 28 caps for the Socceroos over a 12-year international career, captaining Australia for 24 of his 28 caps.

Paul returned to Australia in 2006 to play for Newcastle Jets in the A-League before retiring from professional football in 2007. He immediately turned his efforts to nurturing the next generation of Australian footballers, joining a coaching development program  before being appointed the national under 20 coach in 2012, followed by his appointment in 2016 as Head Coach of the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League for 2 seasons.

Paul Okon remains one of the most gifted players to represent Australia and paved the way for the golden generation that followed.