Rebel Simunic Retreats From His Socceroo Threat
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday August 5, 1997
Controversial Melbourne Knights sweeper Josip Simunic is about to re-launch his troubled career by joining German Bundesliga club SV Hamburg within the next few days.
Simunic, 19, made headlines last year when he declared he would pursue an international future with Croatia rather than Australia after being overlooked for the Atlanta Olympics.
But he has yet to make good the threat, and it is believed he is waiting to see if he is called up by Socceroo coach Terry Venables for the final phase of the World Cup campaign in November.
Simunic resumes training later this month. Almost certainly that will be with Hamburg, who have offered him a lucrative three-year contract.
Melbourne Knights expected to receive about $300,000 for Simunic. National league newcomers Carlton will not receive any money after releasing him from a previous agreement last week.
Simunic signed with Carlton when he was injured towards the end of last season, but subsequently claimed he had been unduly pressured.
* Frank Juric, the Olyroo goalkeeper at the Atlanta Olympics, has returned from Germany to gain a free transfer from now-defunct national league club Collingwood Warriors.
Soccer Australia assumed all registrations when the Warriors folded at the end of last season, and the national federation is now claiming a transfer fee of $150,000 for Juric.
But the player maintains he is a free agent, and a tribunal was last night due to rule on the matter. Any money paid for a transfer would be divided between Collingwood's creditors and Juric's former club, Melbourne Knights.
The 23-year-old keeper is wanted by German club Fortuna Dusseldorf, which was relegated from the Bundesliga at the end of last season.
* Experienced Socceroo defender Jason van Blerk is confident he can force his way back into the World Cup squad after receiving permission to continue playing in England last week. The 29-year-old fullback was upset to be overlooked for the recent Oceania qualifiers, which came at the end of a disastrous season with English second division club Millwall.
Van Blerk was denied a renewal of his work permit to play in England, but has now received approval from the immigration authorities.
He expects to find a new club this week, with Crystal Palace and Manchester City the most likely destinations.
© 1997 Sydney Morning Herald