Hall of Champions: Dianne Alagich

Alagich with Matildas coach Tom Sermanni | (Credit: FFA)

For the Alagich family, football is the family business and commencing with Marin Alagich back in the 1930s, they have provided Australia with several Australian, state and national league footballers. 

Dianne Alagich continued the family tradition after debuting for the Matildas at 16 years of age and in her 13 year international career,  the defender represented her country, and family, with distinction.

After 86 appearances, 3 goals, 3 World Cups and 2 Olympic Games, last week Alagich was deservedly inducted into the FFA Hall of Champions alongside other great names as Cheryl Salisbury and Joanne Peters. 

Dianne, congratulations on you Hall of Fame induction.  How are you feeling about the honour now?

I was certainly honoured on the day and even finding out I had been nominated.  I am just happy that I have been acknowledged in that way.

Growing up in a family where football played a large part, was there ever any chance you weren't going to play?

No, well I had four brothers so that helped! Yeah, all my family played and I kind of just loved it from the start.  I mean I was kicking a ball around when I was about two.  I consider it to be in my blood and just something I just really loved doing.

I played for my school team, played for a club team and just made it into the State team and then into the national team from there.

You debuted at a young age.  Do you remember what your first reaction was to getting the call up?

I pretty much couldn't believe it that I was picked at such a young age.  I came from Adelaide and there was no-one else in the national team from Adelaide at the time so it was pretty daunting in itself being that young and not really knowing anyone on the team.  The national team coach made me really welcome and so did quite a few of the girls at the time.  It definitely helped having good team mates around me and having a real belief in my ability.

But as soon as I got out on the field, well you don't really think about nerves.  But it was just loving the game so much and all I wanted to do was play.  Getting the opportunity to play for the first time for the Australian team, I will never forget that day.

Who of your teammates helped guide you through the national team waters?

There was quite few at the time.  Julie Murray, she is one that sticks out.  She was great when new young players came into the team. She definitely helped me throughout my career.  Sunny Hughes who was a striker and Tracey Wheeler who was a goalkeeper.  She was just an inspiration back then and such a good person as well as being a really good athlete.  Tracey had also come up against some injuries so it was good to have around the team as well. Those are the three that stand out the most.

In your 13 year international career you participated in many football tournaments.  Is there any particular one that stands out?

It would have to be the Olympics in 2000.  Playing in front of a home crowd, having all of my family watching.  I don't think anything can go past the Olympics. That is what I always wanted to do growing up as a young girl; I just wanted to play in the Olympics. It was something that I had trained for for so long so the build up to it was just enormous.

Obviously playing at the World Cup as well.  There was something like 60,000 for our first game at the 1999 World Cup so that was pretty special as well.

As a defender you would have played against some of the best and most exciting forwards in the world.  Was there any particular opponent you remember for their skills or the challenge they provided?

Sun Wen who played for China was just outstanding.  I remember in a game there was about five defenders and she was just making us look pretty stupid at one stage.  It was always very, very hard playing against her.

For the last bit of my career playing against Marta was extremely hard.  She is just an amazing, phenominal player and Mia Hamm back in the day she was also a very hard opponent.  There were quite a few US players back 10 years ago who were just physically a lot more stronger than myself and technically very good.

What about of your own teammates?

A teammate a long time ago Lisa Casagrande.  We had some good years together and I admire her on and off the field.  Also Joey Peters who was a teammate for most of my career.  I really loved playing alongside her.

Also Kelly Golebiowski, whom we went through the junior ranks was just an extremely talented player.  More recently the likes of Clare Polkighorne and Lisa De Vanna is pretty crazily talented.

Looking back, what are your overall thoughts on your football career?

I just feel extremely lucky.  I mean at the time its hard when you have got injuries and you are doing it tough and can't get appropriate work, its hard to get time off to go away, the daily grind of training and working full time. Now I just reflect back and think they are definitely the best years of my life and I am so lucky to have travelled around the world just playing the game that I love.

Also making so many friends, not just in Australia but around the world.  I just can't believe how much the sport has given me.

Are you still involved in the game?

Yes, I am still involved. I do some coaching in the local area.  I am focused on my career at the moment but I just couldn't image not being around football.  Probably in the next few years I will get more involved in coaching.