Mile Jedinak

Michael John "Mile" Jedinak (/ˈmɪlə ˈjɛdɪnæk/ MIL-ə YED-ih-nak;[4] born 3 August 1984) is an Australian former professional footballer who served as the captain of the Australia national team.

Mile Jedinak
Jedinak with Antalyaspor in 2009
Personal information
Full name Michael John Jedinak[1]
Date of birth (1984-08-03) 3 August 1984
Place of birth Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia[2]
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[3]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Youth career
000 Sydney United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2006 Sydney United 84 (12)
2003–2004 → Varteks (loan) 0 (0)
2005 → South Coast United (loan) 18 (7)
2006–2009 Central Coast Mariners 45 (8)
2009–2011 Gençlerbirliği 38 (4)
2009–2010 → Antalyaspor (loan) 28 (5)
2011–2016 Crystal Palace 165 (10)
2016–2019 Aston Villa 70 (2)
Total 421 (39)
National team
2003 Australia U20 9 (0)
2008–2018 Australia 79 (20)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Jedinak was born and raised in Sydney, and played youth football with Sydney United before starting his senior career at the club. Following loan spells at Varteks and South Coast United, Jedinak moved to Central Coast Mariners in 2006. He next played in Turkey, for Gençlerbirliği and Antalyaspor on loan before joining Crystal Palace and subsequently playing a role in the club earning promotion to the Premier League. In 2016, he joined Aston Villa, where he played until 2019.

Jedinak made 79 appearances for the Australian national team from 2008 to 2018, and was Captain over 25 times since 2014. This includes participation in the 2010, 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups. He has also played at two AFC Asian Cups, including captaining Australia to victory on home soil in the 2015 edition.

Club career

Jedinak began playing when he was chosen to be part of the PDSSSC – a competition between Catholic schools within the Parramatta Diocesan – where he played for St Agnes Catholic High, the same school compatriot Željko Kalac attended. He also played for Loyola Senior High School, Mount Druitt in the Jesuit Cup. As captain, Jedinak led the team to success, winning the competition. He began his career at Sydney United, and spent some time in the early years of his career at Croatian club Varteks (later renamed Varaždin), making one competitive appearance for the Croatian side in a 2003–04 UEFA Cup qualifier against Levadia Maardu.[5][6] He was part of the Sydney United side that won the NSW Premier League title for 2006, playing a role in midfield that earned him a trial with the Mariners.

Central Coast Mariners
Jedinak playing for the Central Coast Mariners in 2008

Jedinak was first added to the Mariners' squad in the week leading up to their 2006 Pre-Season Cup play-off against Newcastle Jets, and subsequently was called into the squad for the last ten games of the 2006–07, where he made eight appearances.

Jedinak achieved success at the Central Coast Mariners, helping them to a Premiers' Plate in the 2007–08 season of the A-League and scoring some spectacular goals along the way including a 25-metre free-kick in the 5–4 loss in Round 15 to Sydney FC. He was the club's second highest goalscorer in the 2008–09 season, with six goals.

Gençlerbirliği

On 25 December 2008, Jedinak signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Turkish club Gençlerbirliği effective January 2009. [7] On 24 January 2009, he made his competitive debut for Gençlerbirliği in their 3–1 victory over Kayserispor, playing the full match. Jedinak's first goal for Gençlerbirliği was scored in a 1–0 win over Fenerbahçe.[8]

Crystal Palace
Jedinak playing for Crystal Palace in 2014

With one year remaining on his contract at Gençlerbirliği, Jedinak announced he was leaving the club in June 2011, with the hopes of finding a new club in a different country.[9] A month later, he signed for Crystal Palace in England.[10] Jedinak became a fans' favourite at Selhurst Park during the 2012–13 season. In light of regular club captain Paddy McCarthy's injury spell that season, Jedinak was handed the captain's armband first by manager Dougie Freedman and later by Ian Holloway. Jedinak scored an 89th-minute winner on the final day of the 2012–13 season in a 3–2 win against Peterborough United at Selhurst Park to secure a playoff place for Palace, then captained Palace to win the playoffs and gain promotion to the top-flight Premier League. Jedinak was voted Crystal Palace's 2012–13 player of the season.

On 3 December 2013, Jedinak signed a new three-and-a-half year contract which was set to expire in the summer of 2017. He scored his first Premier League goal from a penalty kick against West Ham United in April 2014, choosing not to celebrate the goal to pay respect for compatriot Dylan Tombides, who was being honoured that match following his death.[11] Jedinak came close to playing every minute of Palace's 2013–14 Premier League season (a rarity for an outfield player, even captains), but injured himself in the second half of the 2–2 draw with Fulham; he was replaced by Kagisho Dikgacoi with just over 30 minutes left to play.

On 28 October 2014, Jedinak was named the fifth-best player in Europe, the best midfielder in Europe and the best player in the Premier League after the first three months of the 2014–15 season by the website Oulala Fantasy Football based on Opta performance statistics, an accolade he brushed off as reported by Australian broadcaster Special Broadcasting Service.[12] On 30 November, he was named as Asian International Footballer of the Year. Jedinak's superb freekick in a 3–1 win over Liverpool in November 2014 was voted Goal of the Season at the 2015 Crystal Palace FC Awards night.

Prior to the 2016–17 Premier League season, the club announced that Jedinak had resigned the captaincy and that Scott Dann would succeed him.[13]

Aston Villa

New Aston Villa owner Tony Xia tweeted via his own Twitter account 'We'll officially announce one new signing at 5PM today' on 17 August 2016, in which it was later confirmed by the club at 5pm that Jedinak was Villa's latest acquisition and that he moved to the Championship club on a three-year deal.[14][15][16] He made his debut for Aston Villa on 27 August 2016 in a 3–1 loss to Bristol City.[17]

On 23 December 2017, Jedinak scored his first Villa goal in a 2–2 home draw with Sheffield United.[18] The following 12 May, he headed the only goal of a play-off semi-final win at Middlesbrough.[19] Two weeks later, in the final at Wembley, Villa lost 1–0 to Fulham, and Jedinak was substituted for the more attacking Josh Onomah with 13 minutes remaining.[20]

Jedinak was released by Aston Villa at the end of the 2018–19 season.[21]

In March 2020, Jedinak was appointed to a coaching role with Aston Villa's academy.[22][23]

In May 2020, Jedinak affirmed that he had not yet retired from professional football and was still open to playing.[24]

In July 2020 Jedinak announced his retirement from professional football.[25]

International career
Jedinak representing Australia against Paraguay at the Sydney Football Stadium in October 2010

Jedinak played at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates, making appearances against the Czech Republic, Canada and the host nation.

Jedinak made his full international debut in a friendly against Singapore in early 2008 and was an integral squad member of Pim Verbeek's "Socceroos" in the lead up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Jedinak was included in Australia's 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup and made his first appearance in Australia's opening match against Germany on 13 June. This, however, would be Jedinak's only involvement in the competition.

Jedinak scored his first international goal against South Korea at 2011 AFC Asian Cup.[26] He went on to score his second international goal in the following match of the tournament against Bahrain.[27]

In the absence of incumbent captain Lucas Neill, Jedinak was handed the captaincy for Australia's 3–4 friendly loss to Ecuador.[28]

On 21 May 2014, Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou appointed Jedinak as captain of the Australian national team to compete in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil,[29] despite suffering an injury when playing in Crystal Palace's final match of the Premier League season.[30] On 18 June, Jedinak scored from the penalty spot in Australia's 3–2 group stage defeat to the Netherlands in Porto Alegre.[31]

Jedinak was named as captain of Australia for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup on home soil. He started in their first group game against Kuwait, scoring a penalty in the 62nd minute a 4–1 victory, but finished the game with an ankle injury.[32] He returned to action in the knockout stages, and eventually lifted the trophy after the win over South Korea in the final.[33]

After initially being named in Australia's squad for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, Jedinak was later ruled out due to a groin strain aggravated in Australia's World Cup qualifier win against Saudi Arabia. He was replaced in the squad by James Jeggo.[34] On 15 November 2017, Jedinak scored a hat-trick against Honduras to qualify Australia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.[35]

In May 2018 he was named in Australia’s 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.[36] On 16 June, he scored a penalty during a 2–1 defeat against France in Australia's opening match of the tournament,[37] his second goal in a World Cup after scoring against the Netherlands in 2014.[38] Jedinak scored another penalty against Denmark in the second group match on 21 June 2018, equalizing the match and helping Australia get a point. [39]

Jedinak retired from international football in October 2018. His 79 caps made him the ninth-most capped player for the country, and his 20 goals put him seventh amongst their all-time goalscorers.[40]

Personal life

Jedinak is married to Natalie and they have four children.[41]

As well as the name "Mile", a hypocorism of his given name, Michael, he is also colloquially known as "Jedi", shortened from "Jedinak". Due to that name's similarity to the group of Star Wars characters known as Jedi, he is often told "May the force be with you" and to "Use the force".[42][43]

Career statistics

Club
As of 3 August 2019[44]
Club Season Division League Cup[45] Continental Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sydney United 2000–01 NSL 30———30
2001–02 71———71
2002–03 182———182
Varteks 2003–04 Prva HNL ——10—10
Sydney United 2004–05 NSWPL 243———243
2006 306———306
Total 8212–10—8212
Central Coast Mariners 2006–07 A-League 8010——90
2007–08 22250——272
2008–09 15600——156
Total 45860——518
Gençlerbirliği 2008–09 Süper Lig 151———151
2009–10 20———20
Antalyaspor 2009–10 28582——367
Gençlerbirliği 2010–11 21331——244
Gençlerbirliği total 38431——415
Crystal Palace 2011–12 Championship 31140——351
2012–13 41320—3[lower-alpha 1]0463
2013–14 Premier League 381———381
2014–15 245———245
2015–16 27070——340
2016–17 10———10
Total 16510130003 017810
Aston Villa 2016–17 Championship 33010——340
2017–18 251——3[lower-alpha 1] 1282
2018–19 17000001[lower-alpha 1] 0180
Total 75110—4 1802
Career total 42139311107145743
  1. Appearances in Championship play-offs

International
As of 26 June 2018
Australia
YearAppsGoals
200830
200950
201090
2011153
201250
201350
2014103
201595
201674
201753
201862
Total7920

International goals
As of 21 June 2018
Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first.[46]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.15 January 2011Al-Gharafa Stadium, Doha, Qatar South Korea
1–1
1–1
2011 AFC Asian Cup
2.18 January 2011Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar Bahrain
1–0
1–0
3.11 October 2011ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia Oman
3–0
3–0
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
4.5 March 2014The Den, London, England Ecuador
2–0
3–4
Friendly
5.18 June 2014Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil Netherlands
2–1
2–3
2014 FIFA World Cup
6.8 September 2014Craven Cottage, London, England Saudi Arabia
2–0
3–2
Friendly
7.9 January 2015Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne, Australia Kuwait
3–1
4–1
2015 AFC Asian Cup
8.25 March 2015Fritz-Walter-Stadion, Kaiserslautern, Germany Germany
2–1
2–2
Friendly
9.17 June 2015Spartak Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan
1–0
2–1
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
10.12 November 2015Canberra Stadium, Canberra, Australia Kyrgyzstan
1–0
3–0
11.17 November 2015Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh Bangladesh
4–0
4–0
12.24 March 2016Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia Tajikistan
2–0
7–0
13.11 October 2016Docklands Stadium, Melbourne, Australia Japan
1–1
1–1
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
14.15 November 2016Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand Thailand
1–0
2–2
15.
2–2
16.15 November 2017Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia Honduras
1–0
3–1
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
17.
2–0
18.
3–0
19.16 June 2018Kazan Arena, Kazan, Russia France
1–1
1–2
2018 FIFA World Cup
20.21 June 2018Cosmos Arena, Samara, Russia Denmark
1–1
1–1

Honours

Sydney United

Central Coast Mariners

Crystal Palace

Aston Villa

Australia

Individual

References
  1. "Barclays Premier League Squad Numbers 2013/14". Premier League. 16 August 2013. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  2. "Mile Jedinak". Socceroos.com.au. Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 23 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  3. "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia: List of players: Australia" (PDF). FIFA. 10 June 2018. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  4. FFA TV (19 March 2017), Mile Jedinak's 15 goals for Australia, retrieved 17 November 2017
  5. Paraskevas, Chris (21 March 2010). "Lessons Learned in Croatia". Goal.com. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  6. "2003/04 UEFA Cup: Varaždin-Lev. Maardu". UEFA.com. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  7. "Jedinak confirms Turkey move". The World Game. SBS. 25 December 2006. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  8. "Jedinak scores first goal for new club". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 February 2009. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  9. "Club search for Jedinak". The World Game. SBS. 8 June 2011. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  10. "Australian International Jedinak Joins Palace". Crystal Palace F.C. 11 July 2011. Archived from the original on 11 September 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  11. "Crystal Palace's Mile Jedinak secures win amid boos from West Ham fans". The Guardian. 20 April 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  12. Lewis, David. "HUMBLE JEDINAK BRUSHES OFF 'BEST IN EUROPE' TAG". SBS. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  13. "Dann replaces Jedinak as Palace captain". ESPN.com. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  14. Xia, Tony (17 August 2016). "We'll officially announce one new signing at 5PM today.@AVFCOfficial". Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  15. "We are delighted to announce the signing of Mile Jedinak on a three-year deal. #AVFC #WelcomeJedinak". AVFCOfficial. Aston Villa F.C. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  16. "Jedinak Signing Confirmed". 17 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  17. Dicken, Alex (27 August 2016). "Here's how Aston Villa's Mile Jedinak did on his debut". Birmingham Mail.
  18. Dicken, Alex (23 December 2017). "Aston Villa player ratings: Jack Grealish stars but Mile Jedinak lapses cost Steve Bruce against Sheffield United". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  19. Taylor, Louise (12 May 2018). "Mile Jedinak soars to sink Boro and steer Aston Villa toward play-off final". The Observer. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  20. "Fulham beat Aston Villa 1-0 in Championship play-off final – as it happened". The Guardian. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  21. "Aston Villa: Micah Richards and Albert Adomah among eight players released". BBC Sport. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
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  23. Davidson, John. "JEDINAK TAKES UP COACHING ROLE". Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  24. Rugari, Vince. "Jedinak still has 'desire to play' amid Macarthur FC interest". The Sydney Morning Hera;d. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
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  26. "Australia 1 – 1 South Korea". ESPN Soccernet. 14 January 2010. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  27. "Australia 1 – 0 Bahrain". ESPN Soccernet. 18 January 2010. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
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  30. Davutovic, David (21 May 2014). "Mile Jedinak gets the captain's armband to lead the Socceroos at the World Cup in Brazil". Herald Sun. News Ltd. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
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  32. "Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak injured on Australia duty". BBC Sport. 10 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  33. "Joy For Jedinak As Aussies Win Asian Cup". Crystal Palace F.C. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  34. "Jedinak ruled out of Confederations Cup". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  35. "Virtuoso Mile Jedinak display against Honduras sends Australia to World Cup". The Guardian. 15 November 2017.
  36. "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - 23-man & preliminary lists & when will they be announced? - Goal.com".
  37. Howcroft, Jonathan; Howcroft, Jonathan (16 June 2018). "France 2–1 Australia: World Cup 2018 – as it happened". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  38. "Subscribe to The Australian | Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps". www.theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  39. Arena, Martha Kelner at the Samara (21 June 2018). "Mile Jedinak's controversial penalty earns Australia draw against Denmark". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
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  41. Sharwood, Anthony (21 May 2014). "In June, Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak will be Australia's most important man. Here's some stuff you should know about him". Herald Sun. News Ltd. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  42. "Enter Mile Jedinak – may the force be with him – The New Daily". 21 May 2014.
  43. "Socceroos skipper like you've never seen him".
  44. Mile Jedinak at Soccerbase
  45. Includes FA Cup, League Cup and FA Community Shield
  46. "M. Jedinak". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  47. Greco, John (18 August 2016). "Jedinak's journey: 10 special Mile moments". Football Federation Australia.
  48. Fletcher, Paul (27 May 2013). "Crystal Palace 1–0 Watford". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 13 March 2015.
  49. McNulty, Phil (21 May 2016). "Crystal Palace 1–2 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  50. Woodcock, Ian (27 May 2019). "Aston Villa 2–1 Derby County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  51. "Australia beat South Korea after extra time". BBC Sport. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  52. "Jedinak wins Mariners Medal". ESPN FC. 29 February 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  53. "Jedinak and Ryan Honoured as PFA Major Award Winners". Professional Footballers Australia. 15 January 2014.
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