Tara Murray
New Western United left-back Dalibor Markovic is fast learning that things can change quickly in the soccer landscape.
Three months ago he was a member of Melbourne Victory’s youth league side and an A-League debut was just a dream.
Fast forward to today and the 19-year-old has not only made his A-League debut with Victory but he has switched clubs to United and pulled on the green and black for his debut with the club.
Markovic, who lives in Caroline Springs not far from United’s training facility, said the decision to move to United was a difficult one.
“It was a bit hard to move, with Victory having given me my debut,” he said.
“I feel like my family and I have made the decision that is best for my development.
“After speaking to Mark Rudan and a couple of other guys from Western it just seemed like it was the best move for my development and where I’m going to get opportunities to better myself.”
Markovic said knowing that multiple clubs were after him, especially so early in his career, was encouraging.
He admits the past couple of months had been a whirlwind.
“I literally only started training with the firsts a couple of weeks before my debut, I was a youth league player,” he said.
“I was training at the youth one day and the coach told me I’d be training with the firsts for the week
“I took it one day at a time, proved to [former Victory coach] Grant [Brebner] and the coaching staff that I deserved to be there and I did that.
“Once I got on there, nerves went away and it felt like a normal game.”
Markovic played four games for Victory and stepped out on the field for United for the first time on Monday.
There were some familiar faces in the United line up for Markovic with Dylan Pierias, another local, in the side.
The two played together in juniors at Spring Hills.
“I was at Spring Hills for a couple of years,” he said. “Dylan and I were teammates back at Spring Hills in under-12s and 13s.
“It’s good to be back on the field with him.
“We were talking about it the other day how funny it is .”
A young A-League career is just the start for Markovic who is hoping to make playing soccer into a professional career.
It’s something he’s dreamed about from a young age, having gone back and forth between Sydney and Melbourne growing up.
“I’ve been playing since I was five or six and I’m driven to make it into a professional.
“It’s all very surreal, with everything happening so quick.
“All the hard work has paid off and everything is happening. At the moment, I’m just taking it one step at a time.”
