One of Melbourne Knights greatest players Ivan Franjic has hung up the boots, but he will still be a familiar face at Somers Street next year.
The Knights captain-coach played his last game for the Knights on Sunday against Green Gully in the National Premier League.
Franjic started his career at the Knights before going on to play in the A-League and then overseas.
He played 20 games for Australia and was part of the Socceroos’ 2014 World Cup squad.
Speaking before his last game, Franjic said it hadn’t hit him yet that his professional career is coming to an end.
“It still hasn’t sunk in as I’ve got one more game on the weekend,” he said. “I’ll get through that game and then reflect.
“I’ll still keep playing to keep fit but without the commitment. My professional career has come to an end.”
Franjic said he had big dreams as a kid growing up and being a soccer player.
He said everything he did came with hard work.
“I didn’t expect to get as far as I did,” he said. “I dreamed of playing for Manchester United as a kid, but I didn’t quite get that one.”
Franjic said some of the key memories were his first professional game, his first game for Australia and all the trophies.
He said it was special to come back to Knights to finish his professional career having played his first junior game with the club.
Among his teammates this season is his brother Joseph Franjic.
“The club is home,” he said. “I get lost for words sometimes.”
A loss in the second last round for the Knights to Dandenong Thunder ended the Knights finals hopes.
Franjic, who took over as coach during the season, said they didn’t have enough points on the board early.
“The ladder doesn’t lie,” he said. “We’re sitting in eighth spot for a reason.”
While Franjic won’t be playing next season, he will still be at the club confirming he’s locked in to coach the side.
“The club has faith in me as a young coach and hopefully I can repay them,” he said. “I’m confident I can do that.
“Next year hopefully we can be back up there chasing titles.
“I like to win and I want to be successful.”
Franjic had one eye on next season in the final game against the Cavaliers, which was after deadline.
Bragging rights was on the line in the local derby, with neither side playing finals.
The Knights claimed the win, 3-0.
“We’ve got nothing on the line, we’re playing for next season,” he said. “Who is in plans moving forward.
“Both clubs have high expectations and next year the competition will be competitive with all the sides coming up.”
