Welcome!

By registering with us, you'll be able to discuss, share and private message with other members of our community.

Sign Up Now!

2026 retirements

AUFC_Fan

Key Player
Joined
Dec 3, 2024
Replies
877
Josh Risdon is the first player to announce his retirement. A very good AL player over a long period of time. All the best Josh!

 
When do we think some of the older boys will internationally retire?

Some of them are of the age where they probably could play the next few years but probably won't be in line for the next World Cup, like Jackson Irvine who is still solid but is starting to become less relied upon and will be 37 by the next World Cup, he definitely won't have the legs for that, especially now that he is playing at a lower league level. After, this World Cup I expect he won't be a starter too many times more for us and I can see him internationally retiring post Asian Cup 2027.

A lot more players with similar circumstances. Ryan, Behich, Degenek, Geria, Leckie, Mabil, Boyle, Goodwin etc. Every year, it will get harder for them to compete with the mass amount of young players coming through. I can't see any direct retirements after the World Cup (maybe Leckie/Goodwin as I don't think they're in our future plans) but I can see a mass exodus after the Asian Cup.

This World Cup has been a surprise for how little we've relied upon the older players than we usually do, I can only imagine that will continue and the Asian Cup team will probably have Souttar being the oldest in most games. Geria and Behich are useful at this World Cup, Irvine and Ryan are still very useful but the others are basically dispensable.
 
When do we think some of the older boys will internationally retire?

Some of them are of the age where they probably could play the next few years but probably won't be in line for the next World Cup, like Jackson Irvine who is still solid but is starting to become less relied upon and will be 37 by the next World Cup, he definitely won't have the legs for that, especially now that he is playing at a lower league level. After, this World Cup I expect he won't be a starter too many times more for us and I can see him internationally retiring post Asian Cup 2027.

A lot more players with similar circumstances. Ryan, Behich, Degenek, Geria, Leckie, Mabil, Boyle, Goodwin etc. Every year, it will get harder for them to compete with the mass amount of young players coming through. I can't see any direct retirements after the World Cup (maybe Leckie/Goodwin as I don't think they're in our future plans) but I can see a mass exodus after the Asian Cup.

This World Cup has been a surprise for how little we've relied upon the older players than we usually do, I can only imagine that will continue and the Asian Cup team will probably have Souttar being the oldest in most games. Geria and Behich are useful at this World Cup, Irvine and Ryan are still very useful but the others are basically dispensable.
If we were to somehow manage to win the Asian Cup, I expect there to be some big farewell to that list of players as a final match.

If not - I can see it turning into the 2014 qualifying period, where they might get used early on if they want to, but be phased out.
 
When do we think some of the older boys will internationally retire?

Some of them are of the age where they probably could play the next few years but probably won't be in line for the next World Cup, like Jackson Irvine who is still solid but is starting to become less relied upon and will be 37 by the next World Cup, he definitely won't have the legs for that, especially now that he is playing at a lower league level. After, this World Cup I expect he won't be a starter too many times more for us and I can see him internationally retiring post Asian Cup 2027.

A lot more players with similar circumstances. Ryan, Behich, Degenek, Geria, Leckie, Mabil, Boyle, Goodwin etc. Every year, it will get harder for them to compete with the mass amount of young players coming through. I can't see any direct retirements after the World Cup (maybe Leckie/Goodwin as I don't think they're in our future plans) but I can see a mass exodus after the Asian Cup.

This World Cup has been a surprise for how little we've relied upon the older players than we usually do, I can only imagine that will continue and the Asian Cup team will probably have Souttar being the oldest in most games. Geria and Behich are useful at this World Cup, Irvine and Ryan are still very useful but the others are basically dispensable.
Mathew Leckie may be contemplating retirement between now and the 2027 Asian Cup given his struggles with injury and the fact that he's gradually going to be replaced by the likes of Irankunda and Volpato in the Socceroos playing list but Craig Goodwin could possibly play in our Asian Cup campaign before calling time on his international career.
 
When do we think some of the older boys will internationally retire?

Some of them are of the age where they probably could play the next few years but probably won't be in line for the next World Cup, like Jackson Irvine who is still solid but is starting to become less relied upon and will be 37 by the next World Cup, he definitely won't have the legs for that, especially now that he is playing at a lower league level. After, this World Cup I expect he won't be a starter too many times more for us and I can see him internationally retiring post Asian Cup 2027.

A lot more players with similar circumstances. Ryan, Behich, Degenek, Geria, Leckie, Mabil, Boyle, Goodwin etc. Every year, it will get harder for them to compete with the mass amount of young players coming through. I can't see any direct retirements after the World Cup (maybe Leckie/Goodwin as I don't think they're in our future plans) but I can see a mass exodus after the Asian Cup.

This World Cup has been a surprise for how little we've relied upon the older players than we usually do, I can only imagine that will continue and the Asian Cup team will probably have Souttar being the oldest in most games. Geria and Behich are useful at this World Cup, Irvine and Ryan are still very useful but the others are basically dispensable.
Most players just stop getting picked. I don't want any to retire. There are windows they might be needed. If the kids are good enough they will just take the spots.
 
Most players just stop getting picked. I don't want any to retire. There are windows they might be needed. If the kids are good enough they will just take the spots.
The players that have been used constantly for years pretty much always retire. Behich, Irvine etc etc aren't going to go without a formal retirement. The kids are already taking over which is the point of the post, when do the older players call it a day. I think it's much better moving on completely and not looking back. It's a failure if we ever need a 40 year old Leckie in the future.
 
The players that have been used constantly for years pretty much always retire. Behich, Irvine etc etc aren't going to go without a formal retirement. The kids are already taking over which is the point of the post, when do the older players call it a day. I think it's much better moving on completely and not looking back. It's a failure if we ever need a 40 year old Leckie in the future.
Mathew Leckie is not going to be playing on for the Socceroos at forty years of age though and heading into the 2027 Asian Cup cycle we should start to replace the old guard altogether with promising youth prospects which inevitably means it's only a matter of time before they eventually end up calling time on their careers.
 
Mat Ryan should retire from international duty to concentrate on the little time frame he has left as a professional footballer. The risk of losing favour at club level for an international bench warming position seems a large risk for a recently made journeyman 33yo goalkeeper.
 

We played a system that isolated the striker and required them to physically take up space, bounce the ball back to the midfield or wider players and occupy the centre backs. I’m certain Toure was struggling with the injury from the last games for Norwich and we all know now that Irankunda isn’t a CF. It’s seems like Poppa didn’t trust Yengi to start.

I know I’m in the minority but I would have been adverse to seeing Duke out there. The least it would’ve done would be to free up Irankunda to play on the wing.
 
Back
Top