Damian Mori

Damian Mori (born 30 September 1970) is an Australian former football player and manager. He won two Johnny Warren Medals, awarded to the best player in the Australian league and was top scorer on 5 occasions. He established a reputation as a pacy, poaching goalscorer, which is notable for a player who started his career as a defender.

Damian Mori
Personal information
Full name Damian Mori
Date of birth (1970-09-30) 30 September 1970
Place of birth Melbourne, Australia
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1990 South Melbourne 33 (5)
1990–1991 Sunshine George Cross 24 (4)
1991 Bulleen 16 (7)
1991–1992 Melbourne Knights 29 (12)
1992–1996 Adelaide City 126 (75)
1996–1997 Borussia Mönchengladbach 6 (0)
1997–2000 Adelaide City 91 (56)
2000–2004 Perth Glory 112 (77)
2004–2005 Adelaide City 44 (33)
2005–2006 Perth Glory 17 (7)
2006 Adelaide City 18 (13)
2006 Central Coast Mariners 8 (6)
2006–2007 Queensland Roar 8 (2)
2007 Adelaide City 17 (13)
2007 Central Coast Mariners 3 (0)
2008–2010 Adelaide City 37 (22)
2010 South Adelaide Panthers 4 (2)
2011 Adelaide City 3 (0)
Total 596 (334)
National team
1991–1992 Australia U-23 13 (5)
1992–2002 Australia 45 (29)
Teams managed
2005–2008 Adelaide City
2010–2018 Adelaide City
2020– White City
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Early and personal life

Mori was born in Box Hill North, Victoria in 1970. His father, Joseph Mori, was a footballer who emigrated from Slovenia.[1] His paternal grandfather was of Italian ancestry.

Club career

Mori was successful at club level – mainly in the Australian domestic league. After developing into Adelaide City's most important and best player, he spent a single season (1996–97) overseas in Germany with Borussia Mönchengladbach. This move was characterised only by frustration. He appeared in only six games, and never played more than half a match. In those six games, he didn't score once. Mori returned home to become NSL Top Goalscorer the following season.

In 1996, Mori held the world record for the fastest goal after he scored for City in just 3.69 seconds, straight from the kick-off, in a 2–2 draw with Sydney United.

In 2000, Mori transferred to Perth Glory and enjoyed great success. The striking partnership with Bobby Despotovski was renowned as one of the most potent in the competition. Mori won the NSL championship in 2002–03, scoring in the Grand Final. He was also part of the 2003–04 Perth Glory championship side.

Following the end of the National Soccer League in 2004 he moved back to Adelaide City to play and coach in the South Australian Premier League. He was extremely successful here, winning the "Coach of the Year" award. However, many were surprised at the fact that the NSL all-time top goalscorer was not on the shortlist of any A-League club.

It later emerged that a major stumbling block was Mori's desire for a part-time contract to allow him to manage business interests in Adelaide. Prior to round four of the A-League season, it was announced that Perth Glory had signed Mori on a short-term contract to replace injured defender David Tarka. Mori subsequently came on as a substitute in the Glory's 1 – 0 away win over the New Zealand Knights on 22 September 2005. After some excellent displays, particularly a brace against Newcastle United Jets and a hat-trick against Adelaide United, the club strongly desired a permanent deal. After some wrangling with Adelaide City chairman Bob D'Ottavi, Mori agreed to a one-year deal.

On 9 December 2005, it was announced that Mori would be appointed as assistant manager at Perth Glory. This appointment followed the elevation of Alan Vest to Manager after the departure of Steve McMahon. After the completion of the 2005–06 A-League season, Mori returned to Adelaide City as player-manager.

On 27 September 2006, Mori signed with the Central Coast Mariners on a short term deal to cover the loss of Nik Mrdja which was extended once. After the short term contract with the Mariners had expired, the FFA did not allow Central Coast to re-sign him. On 21 November 2006, he was approached by new Queensland Roar manager Frank Farina and signed the following day on a short-term "until the end of the season" contract. After the Roar failed to make the playoffs, Mori returned to SA to be the player-coach once again of defending South Australian champions Adelaide City.

International career

Mori made his international debut against Solomon Islands on 4 September 1992. In an international career that spanned over the next ten years, he was capped 45 times and scored 29 goals.

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
111 September 1992Stade Pater, Papeete, Tahiti Tahiti0–10–31994 FIFA World Cup qualification
224 September 1993Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea South Korea1–11–1Friendly
315 November 1995Breakers Stadium, Newcastle, Australia New Zealand1–03–0Trans-Tasman Cup
414 February 1996Lakeside Stadium, Melbourne, Australia Japan1–03–0Friendly
514 September 1996Kings Park Stadium, Durban, South Africa Ghana0–10–2Friendly
621 September 1996Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, South Africa Kenya0–30–4Friendly
711 June 1997Parramatta Stadium, Sydney, Australia Solomon Islands1–013–01998 FIFA World Cup qualification
82–0
94–0
106–0
119–0
1212 December 1997King Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Mexico3–13–11997 FIFA Confederations Cup
1325 September 1998Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia Fiji1–03–11998 OFC Nations Cup
142–0
153–0
1628 September 1998Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia Cook Islands2–016–01998 OFC Nations Cup
174–0
186–0
197–0
202 October 1998Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia Tahiti1–04–11998 OFC Nations Cup
212–0
223–1
239 April 2001BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia Tonga2–022–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
245–0
258–0
2612–0
276 July 2002Ericsson Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand Vanuatu0–10–22002 OFC Nations Cup
288 July 2002Ericsson Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand New Caledonia0–40–112002 OFC Nations Cup
2914 July 2002Ericsson Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand Tahiti1–21–22002 OFC Nations Cup
Correct as of 13 January 2017[2]

Honours

With Australia:

With Perth Glory:

With Adelaide City:

With South Melbourne:

Personal Honours:

References

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