Golden Soft Sombrero Moment with Paddy Kisnorbo

Overseas Clubs:                                             

Hearts (Scotland), Leicester City (UK), Leeds (UK)

NSL Club:                                                       

South Melbourne

Green & Gold Honors:                                    

Young Socceroos World Youth Cup 2001 in Argentina

Olyroos: 3 caps

Socceroos 2002 -

Diegos Verdict:                                               

More athletic than Dirk Diggler ‘on the job’; more confident than Les Murray cooking Hungarian Goulash and more courageous than John Markovski walking down Lonsdale Street Greek district during daylight.

Injury has set him back in recent years but Paddy has it all – good looks, ability and a million-dollar bank account.

Dirk how about giving some to the Diegos?

Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Paddy Kisnorbo

Paddy on where the hell he came from…

Diegos: "The Diegos have checked the drug testing labs. We've also checked prison records and we've talked to Phil Ruddock at immigration and we still haven't been able to work out where the hell you popped up from.

You're starring in the best team in the country and you've already represented Australia this year.

You've literally burst on to the scene. What's your football background?

Kisnorbo: “I started at Essendon City as a youngster before moving to Bulleen. I then came to the South Melbourne Youth team where I played for two years before being selected in the senior squad this year. It's been a hugely satisfying year and I've loved every minute of it."

Diegos: "Your step up from youth team football to one of the best performed defenders in the competition this season is nothing short of miraculous.

Along with your mum's hearty homemade minestrone, what else do you credit as the reason for your sudden improvement?

Kisnorbo: “Training every day would be the major reason and being part of a professional squad has made all of the difference. I also think that having coaches that believe in you and are prepared to give you a go helps a lot. I’m grateful to Mike Peterson and Jeff Olver for that."

Soft Sombrero Moment April 2001

Kisnorbo on his fast track development at South…

Diegos: "At South you are surrounded by greatness. Socceroo legend, Mehment Durakovic, NSL multi-championship winners, Fausto De Amicis and Steve Iosifidis and Michael Petkovic, clearly the best goalkeeper in the competition.

How difficult has it been stepping in and consistently playing at a high level with this sort of quality around you and what is the major lesson you've learnt from this quartet?"

Kisnorbo: “There hasn’t been any problems and these guys in particular, haven’t put any pressure on me to perform. These are great names, as you mentioned, and they have been very supportive of me and have made me feel comfortable in the side. They basically talk me through everything and support me all the way."

Soft Sombrero Moment April 2001

Kisnorbo on the fringe benefits of being at South…

Diegos: "South are minor premiers for this season. The team has the reputation for glamour; a Spice boy image derived from years of training hard, playing hard and discoing hard.

You are a strong, virile, handsome young man.

Can you give us an insight into some of the off field benefits associated with being a member of the best team in the country? Girls? Free cooking oil? All the marinated calamari you can eat?" 

Kisnorbo: “I’m not sure too many people would recognize me as a South Melbourne player. May be I need to get out more."

Soft Sombrero Moment April 2001

Kisnorbo on the Young Socceroos…

Diegos: "Congratulations on your Young Socceroo call up.  Don't worry the Diegos will be making a call to Angie Postecoglou to ensure that you're in the Australian party for the World Cup in Argentina later this year.

In your opinion, was having Angie as your former coach at South Melbourne a positive or negative when it came to your selection in the squad fro the Oceania qualifiers?' 

Kisnorbo: “I don’t think it really mattered. Ange is there to coach a national team and whether I was in his squad previously or not didn’t really matter in terms of him selecting me in the squad. Ange is a good coach and he is doing what he thinks is best for the national squad."

Soft Sombrero Moment April 2001

Kisnorbo on playing overseas…

Diegos: "The Young Socceroo squad is jam packed with players who are playing their football abroad.

They roll up to training wearing their flashy jewelry, in their fast cars, brandishing gold 'P' plates whereas you're still traveling on an all-day MET pass.

Are you hungry to get overseas to play your football?"

Kisnorbo: “I just want to concentrate on playing out the season with South Melbourne. If things happen then great but at the moment winning our remaining games and the finals with South are my priorities. The MET pass is not a bad thing. Public transport in Melbourne is pretty reliable and petrol prices have gone through the roof, so I won't be going for the Porsche for a while."

Soft Sombrero Moment April 2001