Socceroos great reveals why NSW State of Origin stars wanted to BASH Australia’s national soccer team as they partied in a nightclub
- Zeljko Kalac reveals meeting with NSW Blues at a Sydney nightclub
- Says Blues players were angry because women were flocking to the Socceroos
- Kalac also revealed a hilarious Ronaldinho story from his days at AC Milan
Former Socceroos goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac has told of the time the NSW Blues wanted to bash the Australian football team while they were partying at a Sydney nightclub.
Kalac, who made 54 appearances for the Socceroos between 1992 and 2006, told Triple M’s Rushhour Hero, Highlight & Hardship podcast how a big night out on the town almost turned violent.
‘I remember a night out with the Socceroos where the NSW Blues, the rugby league team, wanted to destroy us [former Kings Cross nightclub] Sugar Reef one night,” Kalac recalled.
‘They wanted to put us in handcuffs – it wasn’t our fault we bought Cristal [expensive champagne] and they were on the VBs.
Zeljko Kalac (pictured) has revealed the NSW Blues once wanted to bash the Australian football team as they said goodbye at a Sydney nightclub
‘Mate, we were on the Cristals and the cocktails, and they were on the VBs. Where do you think the girls would go?
“They’re looking at the dollar signs! Ching Ching!’
Maroons great Triple M star Wendell Sailor was on the panel and said: “That’s quintessential New South Wales.
“If we Queenslanders were there [we would have said] Hey guys, do you want something to drink?’
Kalac spent four years at Italian giants AC Milan, where he played alongside football stars such as Paolo Maldini, Kaka and Andrea Pirlo, but some of his favorite memories involve superstar Ronaldinho.
“He was the king,” Kalac laughed.
“So you just got a belt at practice. You came home, you’re tired and at ten o’clock at night the phone rang.
‘And I went to sleep really late in Milan because we were training in the afternoon and he called me and said, “Man, where are you?”
‘I’d say I’m home – where am I going to be, it’s 10pm at night!
“He said, ‘Come to my house! Barbecue!’
NSW players were annoyed that women were flocking to the Socceroos stars (current Blues stars are pictured, none of whom were involved in Kalac’s story)
Kalac played 54 games for the Socceroos between 1992 and 2006
The former Socceroos goalkeeper also revealed some of Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho’s legendary antics (pictured right) when they played in the same team in Italy
‘I would go to his house. The barbecue is on at 10.30 pm, all Brazilians are present – from Milan and from Inter.
‘All the Brazilians are there, and then you see me and Becks (David Beckham).
“And Becks had this guy—I can’t remember his name, but he was smaller—and I went to Becks all the time. “What’s Jerry Maguire doing here?”
Since retiring as a professional, Kalac has worked as a goalkeeping coach for several A League teams and is now head coach of Sydney United in the National Premier League.