Talismanic Socceroo Tom Rogic has retired from football to focus on his family.
Tom Rogic
Age: 30
Professional debut: 2012, Central Coast Mariners2012-2013: Central Coast Mariners, 24 games, 5 goals2013-2022: Celtic, 178 games, 32 goals2014: Melbourne Victory (loan), 8 games, 0 goals2022-2023: West Bromwich Albion, 20 games, 1 goal
International:
Australia (futsal) — 7 games, 8 goals Socceroos — 53 games, 10 goals
Titles:
A-League Premiership: 1, Central Coast MarinersScottish Premiership: 6, CelticScottish Cup: 5, CelticScottish League Cup: 5, Celtic
Rogic, one of the most talented Socceroos in recent years who also starred for Scottish powerhouse Celtic, has called time after scoring 10 goals in 53 internationals between 2012 and 2022.
The intensely private Canberran opened up on he and his wife’s struggles with fertility before welcoming their daughter in 2021, and with twins due next year, they have returned to Australia to focus on raising their family.
“After careful consideration I have made the decision to retire from professional football,” Rogic said in a statement posted to Instagram.
“I have always been rather private with things in my personal life but I feel given the significance, I think it is important for people to understand why and how I have made my decision.
“Throughout the past seven years, my wife and I have been on an immensely challenging journey with fertility issues.
“After years of trying and many failed rounds of IVF, my wife and I were fortunate enough to welcome the birth of our daughter in 2021. I have loved every minute of being a dad and consider it my greatest achievement in life.
“After experiencing some more struggles and heartache with fertility treatment, we have recently received the amazing news that our family is growing and we will be expecting twins in 2024.
“Given our past and how hard we have fought for this, along with the challenges that will come with having twins and a two-year-old, now seems like the right time to give my focus and attention to what is the most important thing in my life — my family.”
In his Instagram post, Rogic thanked Celtic’s former chief executive, Peter Lawwell and the club’s top shareholder, Dermot Desmond, for their help.
“Through Peter and Desmond I was put in direct contact with one of the world’s leading medical experts, which eventually led to my wife and I being placed at the clinic that would give us the best chance possible to start a family,” he said.
“I will be forever grateful.”
Tom Rogic’s brilliant footballing ability was on show for a decade at Celtic, where he scored some spectacular goals.(Getty Images: Ian MacNicol)
Rogic also thanked all the managers who had supported and guided him through what he called “some tough times”, including former Celtic managers Brendan Rodgers, Neil Lennon, John Kennedy and Ange Postecoglou, the latter who had coached him at national level with the Socceroos.
The 30-year-old last played for Australia in a World Cup qualifier against Oman in 2022, but withdrew before the play-offs for personal reasons.
He was left out of Australia’s squad for the Qatar World Cup and hasn’t featured since.
Rogic missed the 2014 World Cup through injury and was one of the final omissions from the 2018 tournament, though he starred at the 2019 Asian Cup.
The former futsal player started his career at Central Coast Mariners, winning the A-League premiership before moving to Scotland and later had a short loan stint at Melbourne Victory.
He won 16 trophies at Celtic but most recently played for West Bromwich Albion, who released him in May after a short and difficult stay.
Tom Rogic played 53 internationals for the Socceroos, including Australia’s 2018 World Cup campaign in Russia.(Getty Images: Maddie Meyer)
AAP/ABC
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2023-10-03 08:43:09
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