Connor Clements had the chance to interview former New Zealand international and Wellington Phoenix stalwart Leo Bertos as he went about his coaching qualifications and various other football-related roles.
Bertos reflected on his career so far as a professional footballer as he celebrates his 34th birthday.
It was immediately clear that Bertos is still passionate about the game, and he wants to remain part of it for a long time to come. No wonder, as football is in his blood. His football-mad grandfather and father made sure that football was always the dominant influence in young Bertos’ life. Since he first turned out for Miramar Rangers juniors at the age of four in 1985, Bertos, like his fanatical family members, has been football obsessed.
His football prowess was clear as he made his debut for Wellington College’s first XI at the tender age of 13, competing in a strong capital secondary schools league. He played against Wellington Olympic with Wellington College in a Chatham Cup match at the iconic Basin Reserve a short training run from Wellington College’s grounds in 1995. Olympic was the team he was destined to play senior football for and he made the first team and central league side as a 15-year-old in 1997.
Bertos went on to make 53 first team appearances for his beloved Olympic, with many of his matches played under his father and first team coach George Bertos. When asked which clubs he felt most loyal to, Bertos said he had two.
“Wellington Olympic (the club that many of my family members have been a part of and still are), and the Wellington Phoenix, who I played seven years with,” he said.
The next phase of Bertos’s career came in 2000, when he was picked up by Barnsley in as a 19-year-old. Bertos describes the Championship in England as the highest quality league he played in. He spent most of his time at Barnsley playing for the academy and the reserves, trying to break into the first team as a regular starting player. A couple of minor setbacks curtailed his progress, however, and a serious knee injury meant that he never got the chance to play for the first team on a regular basis.
Despite this, it was here where Bertos played with and under the highest quality teammate and coach of his career.
“Mark Smith, who was my academy coach at Barnsley,” Bertos says, is the best mentor he has had.
The team mate?
“It was a midfield player called Deane Gorre… He had played for Ajax and Feyenoord previously.”
Bertos made over 100 appearances in the A-League for the Wellington Phoenix, although this was after originally starting his A-league career for Perth Glory for two seasons between 06-08, before making the return to his hometown. Bertos says he “loved his time” with the Phoenix and his only regret was that he wished he “had won the championship” during his seven years with the club.
New Zealand football fans have seen his talents for many years as Bertos played internationally for the All Whites for 10 years from his debut in 2003 until 2013. That debut came in 2003 against Iran. Bertos remembers this vividly.
“(It was) my first experience of football in Asia. We played the match in Tehran in front of over 60,000 people.”
While Leo has many memories from his international playing years, two particularly stood out.
“I have two really memorable moments. One was qualifying for the World Cup in 2010. And the other was playing against my hero and idol Ronaldo (The Phenomenon) in 2006.”
Thirty-four-year-old Bertos has been working hard across the Tasman to earn his C-licence coaching badge, while taking a step back from full-time professional football to focus on family commitments. Leaving his Indian Super League club East Bengal only a year into a two-year contract, Bertos made the move with his wife Regan and baby Zeno to the more familiar and friendly surroundings of Australia. Regan’s parents live in Newcastle, so Regan and Leo moved into the family home at Stockrington giving Bertos the chance to train with the Newcastle Jets squad in the winter off-season.
When asked about his career up to this point, Bertos was refreshingly honest.
“Throughout my career there have been many tough moments. Times when I was injured for long periods or times when there were changes in managers which affected my playing involvement, and even times when I have been without a club. Believing in myself to get through these tough moments has definitely had a significant impact in shaping not only my career but myself as a person too. A lot of people can only see the good times and benefits for professional athletes especially high profile athletes, when in truth, this is only a small part of the life and career of an athlete.”
Despite all the tough times, Bertos cannot think of life without the game and retirement is out of the question.
“I am still playing as I love the game too much. I am also looking into coaching, especially in developing younger players.”
Despite several overseas contract offers, Bertos decided that he would remain in Australia for the sake of his family and play semi-professionally in the Australian National Premier Leagues. In the 2016 season, Bertos will show his football experience and passion with NPL side Hamilton Olympic in the Northern New South Wales league of the competition. They are one of the 97 clubs across Australia’s five states playing in the NPL. Leo’s choice of club is no surprise, as he will turn out for another side with the Olympic name and the blue and white colours of his cherished Wellington Olympic AFC back home in New Zealand. Bertos will also coach the emerging Jets under-11 side for the Northern NSW Football Federation.
Even in his off-pitch activities, football dominates Bertos’ outlook. He is a member of the Aotearoa Football Charitable Trust, and the director and head coach of Coerver Coaching Central New Zealand in Wellington.
Bertos and his family can be justifiably proud of the kid who loved football, embarked on a long and successful professional football career and continuing his family legacy of giving back to the game they love. The Bertos story no doubt, has chapters still to be written.
Stay tuned for the full Q & A with Leo Bertos on outside90.com.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
