The match to replace veteran Socceroos captain Mat Ryan as goalkeeper will take place in Australia in the coming years, with two leading contenders meeting in the A-League final.
Adelaide United and Socceroos keeper Joe Gauci and Western Sydney Wanderers gloveman Lawrence Thomas are set to clash in the A-League final to cement their claim to be Ryan’s heir apparent.
Ryan, who has 80 caps for the Socceroos, will be 34 by the time the 2026 FIFA World Cup rolls around.
The Aussie skipper, who has been a regular starter for the Socceroos since 2012, played a key role in the team’s campaign to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
He played in all 12 of Australia’s qualifying matches, keeping seven clean sheets and conceding just five goals.
Ryan makes the save during the international friendly between the Socceroos and the New Zealand All Whites ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
Ryan’s form has been impeccable at the World Cup, where Australia emerged from the group stage to become an eliminator against Argentina, but time waits for no one
However, Ryan’s reign as first-choice goalkeeper is drawing to a close, and Australian football fans are looking for the next big thing between the sticks.
That means the next generation of Australian talent will compete to earn the right to eventually succeed Ryan, with the battlefields being drawn right here in Australia.
Joe Gauci, Adelaide United
Joe Gauci’s trajectory in football is reminiscent of Ryan’s in terms of running late to goalkeeping and exploding in the A-League scene at a particularly young age.
As a boost to the A-League, the promising 22-year-old has signed a new three-year contract with Adelaide United.
Adelaide coach Carl Veart has backed Joe Gauci to become the Socceroos’ first-choice goalkeeper after the emerging custodian turned down foreign interest in extending his stay with the Reds.
Gauci, 22, has already had a taste of the top tier after making his debut for the Socceroos against Ecuador in March
While Mat Ryan remains Australia’s preferred option between the posts, Veart tipped Gauci to eventually take the Socceroos skipper’s spot.
“Joe’s ceiling is very high and if he continues to have a positive work ethic and remains disciplined in his approach to his football, there is no reason why he can’t be number 1 in the Socceroos,” said Veart.
“Joe is an excellent goalkeeper and we are delighted that he has signed this contract extension.
“Since signing for Adelaide United, Joe has worked extremely hard and earned his spot as the club’s number one goalkeeper.”
Lawrence Thomas, Western Sydney Wanderers
Thomas, on the other hand, has yet to receive an international cap, but is seen as a strong contender.
He has built a reputation as a leading goalkeeper for the Wanderers, but has largely remained in the shadows due to the six-year drought in the A-League Men finals in Western Sydney.
Thomas is known for his remarkable performance in big games, especially his outstanding performance in the 2016-17 A-League Grand Final when he kept a clean sheet in extra time and saved two penalties to help Melbourne Victory secure the championship.
Thomas has largely become the forgotten man with Ryan, the safe incumbent of Socceroos, and the Wanderers miss the A-League final for six seasons
The keeper is in the spotlight as the Wanderers compete in the A-League final and Gauci will be looking to challenge to succeed Ryan.
Thomas is expected to challenge Gauci for the coveted position. If one of them can pull off a standout performance, they may well attract the attention of head coach Graham Arnold, who is eager to find a replacement for Mat Ryan.
“I feel like I’ve had my best A-League season by far,” said Thomas.
“I’ve been very solid and I haven’t made a lot of mistakes and a lot of big saves to get us points.
“I personally believe I have had the achievements to be on that (Socceroes) team.
‘But that doesn’t really change anything for me, I just want to continue with my business.’
Anthony Pavlesic, Central Coast Mariners
Dubbed the ‘next Mat Ryan’, this young football prodigy has been awarded a trial contract with Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich.
Pavlesic, who currently serves as captain of the Joeys, follows in the footsteps of Socceroos skipper Ryan, who also made a name for himself with Central Coast Mariners.
After completing his duties for the Australian U-17 team at the Antalya Youth Cup in Turkey, Pavlesic will fly to Germany for two weeks. He also gets the chance to go on trial at Bayer Leverkusen and Ajax.
Joeys coach Brad Maloney has compared Pavlesic’s style of play and leadership ability to that of a young Mat Ryan, citing his attitude and aptitude as exemplary.
“This is well-deserved recognition for Anthony, who reminds me a lot of Mat Ryan in the way he does business,” Maloney said at the time.
“He leads by example, both on and off the ground, and during our pre-tournament camp in Melbourne, he set the standard for others to follow in terms of attitude and aptitude.”
The 17-year-old, who stands at 190cm tall, is currently the third-choice goalkeeper with the Mariners, having been awarded a scholarship six months ago.