Harper Sercombe
It’s been a fast moving 18 months for Western United’s Zach Lisolajski.
In 2022, the young-gun was playing state league 1 soccer with Sydenham Park and last year he represented Australia as part of the Young Socceroos squad at the Marbella Week of Football in Spain.
Now just last week he made his professional debut in United’s A-League Men’s clash against the Western Sydney Wanderers.
“Thursday after training I found out I was travelling [to Tasmania] and once I found that out I was buzzing because I’d never had that type of experience before of travelling with an A-League squad,” he said.
“Then it came to game day and I was just warming up on the side towards the end of the game and the boss [coach John Aloisi] told me to start getting warm and as soon as he told me that I got a bit nervous but I got a heap if energy go through me and I was buzzing to go on and make my senior debut.
“I had no idea it was going to happen, it was just out of the blue he just turned around and said Zach warm up.”
Lisolajski. said it is something that he has dreamt of since he was a kid and his making his dream a reality has only increased his drive and motivation.
“I remember when I use to go and watch A-League games with my parents and they use to say to me ‘you could be on that pitch one day’ and I’d say back ‘I wish I could be on that pitch’ and now I’ve made my senior debut that dream has come true now it’s just about pushing harder and go higher,” he said.
“It’s just made me want to train even harder, and push even harder at training, push to get a lot more game time and push to get as far as I can.”
Lisolajski only came on for the final 15 minutes, replacing fellow young-gun Kane Vidmar, but said it was an unforgettable experience.
Western United academy mates of Lisolajski’s, Matthew Grimaldi and Jake Najdovski were introduced in the final 10 minutes as well, making it four of the 11 players that finished the game for United being from its academy.
“Getting on the pitch knowing you’re playing with some of the top players in the league and just moving the ball around,” he said.
“It’s a good opportunity for all of us, they’re all good players, good technique, so it’s good to move around on the pitch with them, it’s good to play with the academy boys.”
Lisolajski spent the 2022-23 season with the Newcastle Jets, learning the A-League system as part of the Jets academy.
With a season in an A-League environment under his belt, Lisolajski has switched clubs in the off season, moving closer to home and joining Western United on a youth development agreement.
He said the transition back to Melbourne’s west has been a great experience.
“I’ve found it really easy to move in, it’s a good coaching staff, a good bunch of boys they get around you,” he said. “They’ve welcomed me very well which has helped a lot especially at training.”
