Mark Rudan

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Mark Rudan
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Personal information
Full name Marko Ante Rudan
Date of birth (1975-08-27) 27 August 1975 (age 48)
Place of birth Sydney
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Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
Sydney United 58
1992–1993 AIS
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1998 Sydney United 73 (6)
1998–2000 Northern Spirit 46 (2)
2000–2002 Alemannia Aachen 45 (1)
2002 Nanjing Yoyo 24 (3)
2003–2004 Sydney United 37 (0)
2004 Public Bank 21 (4)
2005–2007 Sydney FC 61 (6)
2008 Avispa Fukuoka 26 (0)
2009 FC Vaduz 17 (1)
2009–2010 Adelaide United 19 (0)
Total 371 (23)
International career
1993–1995 Australia U-20 21 (3)
1995–1996 Australia U-23 14 (2)
Australia 2
Managerial career
2011–2012 Rockdale City Suns
2013– Sydney United 58
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mark Rudan (born 27 August 1975) is an Australian former footballer and current head coach of National Premier Leagues NSW side Sydney United 58.

Club career

Rudan joined NSL club Sydney United in 1993 at completion of the AIS program. He spent much of his five seasons at United totalling 73 NSL appearances by the end of the 1997–98 season. He was signed to new club Northern Spirit for the 1998–99 NSL season. In the first match of the season he was sent off. After serving a one-match suspension, he made amends in Round 3 scoring twice in a 2–1 win. He went on to start almost all matches that year, although saw red again in Round 16 (also against Olympic). Spirit finished fifth, but were eliminated in the first semi-final stage. Rudan was again a key figure in the 1999–00 season, playing 22 games, a less successful year for the club, slumping to the bottom half of the table.

Overseas

In mid-2000, unhappy with his situation at Spirit, Rudan bought out the remainder of his contract and moved to German second division club Alemannia Aachen on a free transfer. Eligibility for a Croatian passport ensured he could play in Europe. The move started well on the pitch, working his way into the first team, but he would later become embroiled in a corruption scandal known as the 'suitcase affair'.[1] In 2001, allegations of financial irregularity arose over the transfers of Rudan and fellow Australian Goran Lozanovski. Rudan was arrested by German authorities and later released.[2] Charges were eventually laid on Aachen's treasurer Bernd Krings, who was convicted of financial fraud. It was revealed that persons claiming to represent Rudan and Northern Spirit collected DM290,000 in a suitcase from Aachen as a transfer fee. Documents outlining the transfer fee were shown to be falsified as Spirit neither requested or received any fee for the player. Similar circumstances were revealed surrounding Lozanovski's transfer from South Melbourne, but both players were cleared of any wrongdoing.[3]

Rudan returned to on-field matters but unable to settle in the team, he and the club sought to part ways. After rumoured transfers to other German clubs,[4] he was released by Aachen in January 2002.[5] He continued on to a spell at Nanjing Yoyo in the Chinese first-division,[6] before returning to Australia to link up again with Sydney United. Now a seasoned player with international experience, Rudan appeared regularly for the NSL club throughout the 2002–03 calendar but could not help them reach the finals round. He cemented his place in the team for the next (and ultimately last) NSL season. After missing the first match through injury, Rudan played every remaining game for United that year. With the Australian league collapsing he again sought a move overseas, joining Public Bank in the new Malaysian Super League, where he won the defender of the year award helping his team achieve its best ever finish to a season in 2nd place.

Sydney FC

Sydney FC's formation as a new club in 2005 for the new A-League included enticing Australians playing abroad to return home. Mark was signed into the inaugural squad and honoured as club captain.[7] It was not until late in the season playing solidly in the last regular season matches and scoring the winner against Adelaide United in the semi-final second-leg, and Sydney went on to win the final and became the inaugural A-League Champions.

Yorke's departure as the 2006–07 season started, saw Rudan reinstated as captain but the year started on a low as Mark was sent off after just 14 minutes against Melbourne Victory in the second match of the new season.[8] He returned from suspension for new coach Terry Butcher. After Sydney were knocked out during the domestic finals competition, the club continued on to the 2007 AFC Champions League. Rudan captained the side through the group matches, playing all six games, and drawing upon his previous experiences in Asian football. With the arrival of Socceroo hero Tony Popovic at the start of the 2007–08 season, Rudan handed him the captaincy.[9]

On 15 December 2007, Rudan farewelled a home crowd of 12,530 following their 4–2 defeat to Perth Glory. Popovic handed his captaincy back to Rudan for this final game. His time at Sydney FC was extremely successful.[citation needed] He is remembered as the clubs first Footballing Legend as more than 4000 fans waited outside the stadium singing his name after the game in acknowledgement of his achievements for the club.

Avispa Fukuoka

In December 2007, Rudan signed a deal with J. League side Avispa Fukuoka, linking up with his former coach of Sydney FC Pierre Littbarski and replacing former teammate Alvin Ceccoli.[10]

FC Vaduz

On 6 January 2009, Rudan signed for Axpo Super League (Switzerland 1st division) team FC Vaduz, based in Liechtenstein on a free transfer. The contract ran until 30 June 2010. He again linked up with his former manager at Avispa Fukuoka.[11]

Adelaide United

On 6 August 2009, before the start of the 2009–10 A-League season, Rudan joined Adelaide United on a one-year contract. Despite this, United announced he would not play against Perth Glory on 7 August in the Reds' first game of the new season. He left Adelaide after their final group game in the AFC Champions League as he announced his retirement as a player, and intends to move into coaching.[12]

International career

Rudan's footballing talent was first recognised in 1992 as he was granted a place in the AIS program, aimed at developing players for national youth teams. He joined the Young Socceroos squad for a South American tour in 1993, including a youth tournament mostly including club sides. Rudan was made vice captain to Mark Viduka in Australia's undefeated Youth World Cup qualifying campaign and scored the only goal of the Oceania final against New Zealand. As part of the squad for the 1995 Youth World Cup, Rudan played three of Australia's four matches including their second round exit in extra time at the hands of Portugal. He progressed his way into the national under-23 team and played most matches qualifying for the Olympics in Atlanta.

Coaching career

After his short stint at Adelaide United and the announcement of his professional retirement as a player, Rudan moved into coaching, becoming the first grade coach for first division NSW club, Rockdale City Suns in 2011.[13]

In 2013, Rudan departed from Rockdale City Suns and was appointed head coach of Sydney United 58.[14] In his first season, Rudan helped win the NSW Premier League Premiership and then go on to win the inaugural season of the National Premier Leagues with his old club, which also saw him pick up the 2013 Coach of the Year.

Personal life

Rudan once featured in an episode of an Australian version of The Biggest Loser TV show, airing on 28 February 2006. Rudan was manager of the "Blue team" of contestants. Then Sydney FC teammate Dwight Yorke was manager of the red team. He is of Croat origin.

Since retiring from football, Rudan has joined Fox Sports as a pundit for their football coverage. Rudan currently features on Matchday Saturday and Fox Sports's weekly A-League highlights show.

Rudan's elder sister Mariana is a presenter on Australian football program The World Game.[15]

Honours

Club

Sydney United

Sydney FC

Vaduz

Coach/Manager

Sydney United

Sydney United

Personal

Career statistics

Club League Season League Playoffs Cup Int'l Cup Total
Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls
Sydney United NSL 1993–94 1 0 – – – – – – 1 0
1994–95 7 2 – – 0 – – – 7 2
1995–96 19 2 1 0 1 0 – – 21 2
1996–97 14 2 1 0 2 0 – – 17 2
1997–98 16 0 1 0 – – – – 17 0
Northern Spirit NSL 1998–99 22 2 2 0 – – – – 24 2
1999–00 22 0 – – – – – – 22 0
Alemannia Aachen 2.Bundesliga 2000–01 11 1 – – – – – – 11 1
2001–02 4 0 – – – – – – 4 0
Nanjing Yoyo Jia A 2002 24 3 – – – – – – 24 3
Sydney United NSL 2002–03 14 0 – – – – – – 0 0
2003–04 23 0 – – – – – – 0 0
Public Bank MSL 2004 21 4 – – – – – – 21 4
Sydney FC A-League 2005–06 18 2 3 1 1 0 2 0 19 3
2006–07 17 2 2 0 5 1 6 0 30 3
2007–08 15 0 – – 5 0 – – 20 0
Avispa Fukuoka J.League 2 2008 26[16] 0 – – – – – – 26 0
FC Vaduz Swiss Super League 2009 17 0 – – – – – – 17 0
Adelaide United A-League 2010–11 19 0 – – – – – – 19 0
Career totals – –

'International Cup' matches refer to UEFA, AFC and Club World Cup competitions.

References

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  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links

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