Damian Mori

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)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Adelaide City
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)
1992–1997 Adelaide City Force 126 (75)
1997 Borussia Mönchengladbach 6 (0)
1997–2000 Adelaide City Force 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– Adelaide City
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Damian Mori (born 30 September 1970) is an Australian former football (soccer) player who plays as a player/manager at Adelaide City in the South Australian Super League. 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.

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 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

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 11 September 1992 Stade Pater, Papeete, Tahiti  Tahiti 0–1 0–3 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 24 September 1993 Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea  South Korea 1–1 1–1 Friendly
3 15 November 1995 Breakers Stadium, Newcastle, Australia  New Zealand 1–0 3–0 Trans-Tasman Cup
4 14 February 1996 Lakeside Stadium, Melbourne, Australia  Japan 1–0 3–0 Friendly
5 14 September 1996 Kings Park Stadium, Durban, South Africa  Ghana 0–1 0–2 Friendly
6 21 September 1996 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, South Africa  Kenya 0–3 0–4 Friendly
7 11 June 1997 Parramatta Stadium, Sydney, Australia  Solomon Islands 1–0 13–0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
8 2–0
9 4–0
10 6–0
11 9–0
12 12 December 1997 King Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Mexico 3–1 3–1 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
13 25 September 1998 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia  Fiji 1–0 3–1 1998 OFC Nations Cup
14 2–0
15 3–0
16 28 September 1998 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia  Cook Islands 2–0 16–0 1998 OFC Nations Cup
17 4–0
18 6–0
19 7–0
20 2 October 1998 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia  Tahiti 1–0 4–1 1998 OFC Nations Cup
21 2–0
22 3–1
23 9 April 2001 BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia  Tonga 2–0 22–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
24 5–0
25 8–0
26 12–0
27 6 July 2002 Ericsson Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand  Vanuatu 0–1 0–2 2002 OFC Nations Cup
28 8 July 2002 Ericsson Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand  New Caledonia 0–4 0–11 2002 OFC Nations Cup
29 14 July 2002 Ericsson Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand  Tahiti 1–2 1–2 2002 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

  1. ↑ Hill, Simon (29 January 2013). "Simon Hill chats to Damian Mori about his career in the NSL and A-League and his coaching ambitions". Fox Sports Australia. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  2. ↑ Damian Mori - Goals in International Matches
Awards
Preceded by
Mark Viduka		 NSL Golden Boot
1995–96 		Succeeded by
David Zdrilic
Preceded by
Mark Viduka		 Johnny Warren Medallist
1995–96 		Succeeded by
Kresimir Marusic
Preceded by
David Zdrilic		 NSL Golden Boot
1997–98 		Succeeded by
Mile Sterjovski, Pablo Cardozo
Preceded by
Mile Sterjovski, Pablo Cardozo		 NSL Golden Boot
1999–00 		Succeeded by
Sasho Petrovski
Preceded by
Sasho Petrovski		 NSL Golden Boot
2001–02, 2002–03 		Succeeded by
Ante Milicic
Preceded by
Fernando Rech		 Johnny Warren Medallist
2002–03 		Succeeded by
Ante Milicic
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