Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Hayden Foxe Foxey on playing for Australia… Diegos: " You left Australia and started to clock up the frequent flyers at a young age. What's it mean for you, as a person who has only ever played senior soccer overseas, to be playing for Australia?" Foxe: "Oh mate, l think its every kid's dream to play for Australia. It doesn't matter if it's soccer, tennis, or swimming, its every young Australian's ultimate goal. You can go and play overseas in various competitions and win different events but to put on that 'Green & Gold' shirt is a totally different feeling." Soft Sombrero moment 1999 Foxey on his debut against the Yanks in… Diegos: " Hey Amigo, of course we disagree, you can bet your last enchilada on that, but if you keep scoring for Australia, we'll let you say anything that takes your fancy." You recently made your debut for the Socceroos against the United States on a ground that you described as being comparable to some of the backyard paddocks that you played on as a kid. What was it like playing the Yanks on your debut, and did Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky play any part in the pre game entertainment?" Foxe: "It was really great. I've been waiting a long time to get my first game with the national team. I was hoping to play a few years ago but injuries hampered my progress. As far as Bill and Monica are concerned well…..Raul wouldn't let us watch that kind of entertainment before a match anyway." Soft Sombrero moment 1999
Diegos: " One of the biggest fantasies dreamt about by young Aussie soccer players, along with of course, fantasizing that one day Elle McPherson will be their swimming instructor, is that they will be picked up by a European mega club. We don't know whether you were taught to swim by Elle, but we do know that Ajax Amsterdam, a club renowned for having possibly, the best youth development program in the world, recruited you as a youngster. How did their interest in you come about and what is it about their program that makes it so highly regarded?" Foxe: "Ajax recruit kids as young as five years old all the way up to the first team, and teach them the exact same system and style of play. Whatever the first team is being taught the young kids are also being taught. I went there straight from the Australian Institute of Sport for a month's trial and l was lucky enough to have done well. They liked what they saw in me as a player and l ended up staying there for 18 months. This gave me a terrific grounding in the game, and l can honestly say that I've never been anywhere like it since." Soft Sombrero moment 1999
Diegos: " Your currently playing in Japan for Eddie Thomson's' J League club, Sanfrecce Hiroshima. How are the local players coping with Eddie's Scottish accent in the change rooms at team talks? Foxe: "Well sometimes l can't understand him myself, so l feel sorry for my Japanese mates. " Soft Sombrero moment 1999
Diegos: "The Olyroo team is an exciting squad. The team is littered with what The Four Diegos describe as the new breed of world class talent - a soccer rat pack, skilful, arrogant, mentally tough, confident, frightened of no one and from all reports, pretty good in the nightclubs. Do you get excited about what this team can potentially achieve? Foxe: "Its good to see that all the guys in the squad have got their priorities right and really want to make a go of Sydney 2000. Playing for Australia is one thing and playing at the Olympics is another, but playing for Australia in the Olympics in Australia in front of your home crowd has got to be the ultimate." Soft Sombrero moment 1999
Diegos: "In the Four Diego profile of Hayden Foxe, we describe you as an elegant ball playing defender, with the cool, calm composure of the Road Runner when being pursued by the Coyote. Is your style of play something that you have worked on and have you modeled your game on any one player? Foxe: "Mate, I'm not to sure. People say I'm cool and calm but sometimes l think it's more a case of me being tired, slow and dopey. I have always had a laid back, easygoing character. I don't worry about too much about anything and l take that attitude out on the football pitch as well." Soft Sombrero moment 1999
Diegos: " Congratulations on your outstanding performances against Manchester United last month. There were fears prior to the series that the inexperienced Aussies were going to merely serve as whipping boys for our 'Red Devil' guests. You personally were given the big task of leading the Socceroo rearguard in the series. Did you have nightmares beforehand about being over-run by the treble-winners?" Foxe: "No there weren't any nightmares, maybe a few pre-game nerves, but no nightmares. I think the younger lads did a tremendous job. It was a great experience for them with the Olympics coming up next year." Diegos: " You're steadily forging a reputation as a composed, classy defender who doesn't mind dwelling on the ball in the back half. You were so unruffled at times that the Diegos swear that you were just waiting for the opportunity to 'take the mickey' out of the opposition. Were you at any stage tempted to 'nut meg' Manchester United striker, Dwight Yorke and then, in true Aussie style, rub his nose in it?" Foxe: " I gave no thought to it at all. That's just the way I play. I'm calm on the pitch and just take things as they come. I definitely wasn't going to try and 'nut meg' him and rub his nose in it. I enjoyed the game. It was a good experience for myself and the other players. To play against guys like Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham, Ryan Giggs etc was something we will never forget. It was certainly an honour to play against the best team in the world." Diegos: "In the second game at Stadium Australia in Sydney, there were a couple of unsavory incidents, the worse leading to the a serious knee injury for Simon Colosimo. One that nearly went unnoticed was Dwight Yorke's studs up challenge on you. Were you surprised that the Manchester United boys had to resort to those sort of tactics?" Foxe: "I was a little bit but I suppose, in the future we should adopt the attitude that if the opposition are going to dish out some physical stuff we should do the same. It doesn't matter whom they are, you've always got to respect your opponents but you can't give them too much respect. If they are going to start kicking lumps out of us then we should do the same back to them. It's weird that every time a big international team comes to Australia, it seems that our referees go out of their way to protect them. I can't understand why they do that." Diegos: "The Diegos' grapevine tells us that you and Danny Tiatto went knocking on a couple of hotel doors looking for blood after the spiteful clash?" Foxe: "You guys have got it all wrong. The only reason why we did that was because we wanted to meet some of the female hotel guests." Diegos: "A good old fashioned Aussie melee ensued after the Colosimo incident. Aussie terrier, Danny Tiatto was in there like a shot and it wasn't long before you tagged teamed him. Did you threaten any of the United boys with the age old - Have a go you mug? Foxe: "Only to the smaller players. If you did it to Jaap Stam, I'd reckon he'd knock you out of the stadium." Diegos: "The Colosimo tackle has prompted a lot of ill feeling, accusations and threats of legal action. What would you do if it happened to you?" Foxe: "I'll always support Simon to the hilt. He is a great bloke and a great player. On slow motion replay it looks a bad challenge. If you look at it a normal speed all you see is a tough challenge. It's hard to go and sue players for every mistimed tackle. If this is going to be the trend, players will be sued all the time. In the end players will be reluctant to challenge anyone due to the fear of the repercussions. It's hard to say. One thing is for certain, Simon is good enough to get back and be better than ever in time for the Olympics." Soft Sombrero Moment 1999
Diegos: " Socceroo legend and Northern Spirit coach, Graham Arnold, affectionately known as 'Grandpa' to the Diegos, sang your praises prior to the United series but said that you won't fully reach your potential until you play in Europe again. Is such a move on the cards? By the way if it is and you need a manager, why not get four for the price of one and hire the Diegos?" Foxe: "I reckon you guys would do a great job, just keep me out of those bars. At the moment I've got another year left on my contract in Japan. I've really enjoyed my time at Sanfrecce especially after having spent so long out of the game through injury. This coming year is very important for me. We have the Olympics, which is a main priority for me and then we I'll wait and see what happens after that. Maybe a move back to Europe isn't out of the question." Soft Sombrero Moment 1999
Diegos: " What is the most useful Japanese sentence you think you've learned? Foxe: " Unfortunately, I can't repeat that on radio." Diegos: " How is the Japanese going? Can you manage to string a couple of Japanese words together with your Aussie accent?" Foxe: " Mate I can probably say 'Kanichiwa' and….. Diegos: " Let me buy you a drink beautiful?" Foxe: " Yeh a few more words like that." Diegos: "You're only a spring chicken when it comes to playing for the senior Aussie team. What's your attitude when you pull on a Socceroos shirt - is it one where you're just happy to get a game or one where you've got half an eye on the World Cup in 2002 and you want to cement a spot in the team?" Foxe: " Yes definitely. Yes you have to have the attitude to want to reach higher and higher. Now that I've got a sniff with the Socceroos, I want to try and cement a spot in the team. It's going to be tough because of great players vying for the same position like Paul Okon, Ned Zelic, Craig Moore, Alex Tobin and Tony Popovic. Just being amongst these players is a great experience for me. Now I've got to start to think this is for Hayden Foxe and that it is a spot that I want for 2002 World cup." Diegos: " The world's most expensive player, Aussie raised Christian Vieri, recently launched a high browed fish n'chip restaurant at Darling Harbour in Sydney. In true Aussie entrepreneurial fashion, have you thought about opening up your own culinary haven - the Hayden Foxe 'All You Eat' Sushi Bar in downtown Hiroshima? Foxe: " No Sushi Bar mate. I might open myself a pub though. It suits my taste more. I reckon I'd convert some of the locals with some good Aussie beer and counter meals." Diegos: " Your self appointed father figure, Socceroo and former Sanfrecce teammate, Aurelio Vidmar has recently returned home after a 9 year absence and rejoined Adelaide City. Do you miss him? Do you miss his comforting hug when you've had a bad game or his home cooked meals when you've got no more Sukiyaki left in the fridge?" Foxe: " Mate I miss everything about him. I miss his cuddles at night. I miss him tucking me in and reading me bedtime stories. I miss him cooking me eggs in the morning…… Diegos: " Ok, Ok Hayden we've got the message……" Foxe: " Seriously, he is a top bloke and a top player. Australian soccer is just so lucky that someone of his calibre has come back to put something into the game. He is a legend of Australian soccer." |