Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Frank Juric

Juric on his eventual transfer from Australia to Germany…ah how long have you got amigo?

Diegos: " From all accounts, the saga you went through to get to Germany could easily provide enough material to put together a 20 part ' Love, Hate, Bitterness, Happiness' mini series.

Can you give us a brief outline of the events that led your eventual transfer to Fortuna Dusseldorf?"

Juric: " How long do we have? Basically the problem was that the Collingwood Warriors weren't an entity anymore but were still asking for $300,000 from Fortuna for my transfer.

Fortuna had a look into the situation and discovered what was happening, and subsequently refused to pay that amount. The saga went on for approximately three months.

At one stage, Soccer Australia even had control of my contract and things were even more confusing.

Eventually it all came through with Fortuna finally paying a transfer fee of $30,000."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

Juric on his first club Fortuna Dusseldorf…

Diegos: " For those of us not well versed with the German game, the club, Fortuna Dusseldorf sounds more like a representative team from a Bavarian fishing village. Can you tell us about the club?"

Juric: " The club was formed back in 1895 and was known as Fortuna 95. They were German champions once back in 1933, and in 1979 and 1980 they won the German cup. They also played in the Cup winners Cup against Barcelona losing 2 -1.

So they have had a bit of European experience behind them. Two years ago, they were in the first division but got relegated. At the moment they are in the second division. Its an old club that is still very ambitious and aiming to get back into the big league in the next year or two."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

Juric on Socceroo selection…

Diegos: "You established yourself as one of Australia's better goalkeepers prior to joining Fortuna, but your progress has been hampered by serious injury.

With high profile World Cup qualifiers and success at the Confederation's Cup in the past year for the Socceroos, have you found your long periods of inactivity in Germany frustrating as far as your international aspirations are concerned?"

Juric: " Basically one of the main reasons I came over to Europe was firstly, to play regularly and secondly, to push hard for selection in the Socceroos' World Cup team.

With the likes of Bosnich, Schwarzer and Kalac vying for spots, to have any chance of selection, I felt l had to play in Europe full time."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

Juric on the Aussie European Rat Pack attracting attention on and off the field…

Diegos: " The Four Diegos Research Department tells us that your performances for Fortuna have attracted the attention of some high profile soccer people in Germany, National team goalkeeper, Andreas Kopke included.

Can you tell us about the newspaper article he wrote about you?"

Juric: " It was actually after my first game with the club last season. I had just got off the plane on the Thursday and played my first game on the Sunday.

Andreas Kopke happen to be in the stands watching the game and went on to write a positive article about me in a high circulating German newspaper. He basically couldn't believe how I had appeared so calm given that it was my first game."

Diegos: "There are a growing number of Aussies in Germany playing soccer. Ned Zelic, Paul Agostino, Robert Middleby and Joe Simunic to name a few.

Do you ever invite them around to your place for a Frank Juric 'Vegemite and Victoria Bitter' food and beer fest?"

Juric: " Ned and Paul are a six hour drive away in Munich, so it's not often they gate crash my place. Robert Middleby is only half an hour away.

The last time l got in contact with him was probably the last time we played against each other, but we try and keep in touch over the phone. I keep in touch with a lot of the boys playing in Holland such as Zeljko Kalac, Ante Milicic, and Joe Bacak.

They actually come over quite often because Dusseldorf is renowned for its nightclubs and beautiful women."

Diegos: " Frank, it sounds like you've formed your very own Aussie soccer Rat Pack over there. Tell us a little about the German girls -

Have you got a German girlfriend and is she a Claudia Schiffer look-a- like? "

Juric: " Well actually Claudia lives down the road from me, so l see her all the time."

Diegos: " Have you used the sure fire 'Four Diego' method of meeting a supermodel - going over to her place and asking for a cup of sugar?"

Juric: " Actually she comes over to me - she knows me now!"

Diegos: " So she's got a semi naked poster of Frank Juric in a Socceroo top, hanging over her bed head………"

Juric: " I'd like to think that that's true."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999