Aziz Behich says he’s always been one to embrace a challenge. He didn’t realise that would lead to a literal embrace of the world’s greatest footballer.
The Socceroos left-back and Melbourne City captain grew up in Meadow Heights, near Broadmeadows in Melbourne’s north-west, and he will lead his City side onto a sold out AAMI Park on Saturday night for the A-League grand final against Melbourne Victory with dreams of raising the championship trophy in his home town.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with Aziz Behich in February 2024.Credit: Getty Images
Behich will also carry with him the stunning list of experiences he has accumulated in his decorated career – he has marked Argentine superstar Lionel Messi in a knockout World Cup game, and he’s wrapped his arms around Cristiano Ronaldo as a teammate while in Saudi Arabia. He’s also felt the heat of some of Turkey’s fiercest rivalries while playing in the Turkish Super League.
While the Messi experience showed him he could go toe to toe with a legend, even through Messi guided his nation past the Socceroos, the Ronaldo experience, while it only lasted three games last year, was a highlight. Who wouldn’t want to linger in Ronaldo’s embrace?
It came after Al Nassr signed Behich on loan from City midway through last A-League season. Among the most unforgettable experiences was celebrating goals with Ronaldo.
“I didn’t expect at this point in my career, at that age, for that opportunity to come,” Behich said.
“The group I had there had a lot of world-class players that have done a lot in football and I embraced it. I got to share the pitch with, for me, the greatest footballer to play the game and celebrate his goals as well.”
Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr launches into his “Siuuu” celebration after scoring a goal.Credit: Getty Images
The one Ronaldo lesson that stood out was to hold the off on the hugs until he does his iconic “Siuuu” celebration.
“You obviously have to wait for him to do his celebration before you start celebrating with him but it was great, it was surreal,” Behich said with a smile.
“I watched him when he was at Manchester United and I was a young guy – I followed him then. It’s something I will look back on.
Lionel Messi tussles with Aziz Behich at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.Credit: Getty Images
“In Turkey was where I played with a lot of players who had accomplished a lot,” Behich said.
“The year we won the league [İstanbul Başakşehir, 2019-2020] we had players like Martin Skyrtel, Gael Clichy, Robinho and Demba Ba – I’ve been fortunate to share the changerooms with guys like that and then played against the likes of Lionel Messi and those sort of players for the Socceroos – you learn a lot about yourself as a footballer.
“It gives you experience at a higher level. I’ve always been one to embrace challenges and test myself against the best in the world.”
The charismatic veteran is now 34 and all his experiences help him set a stellar example for his relatively young team as they face the furnace of a sold out, pro-Victory crowd.
But Behich’s whole football career reached its sliding doors moment when he was thrown onto the field for Victory in the 2009-2010 grand final against Sydney FC at a bursting Marvel Stadium.
Victory’s Aziz Behich misses a golden opportunity to score as Clint Bolton in the 2010 A-League grand final.Credit: Vince Caligiuri
Behich was a skinny teenager on a youth team contract who played as a speedy winger. In the final minutes of normal time with scores tied 1-1, he had a header close to goal which was saved by the keeper.
Sydney went on win on penalties 4-1 and Behich was let go with the newly formed Melbourne Heart, City’s old name, signing him for its inaugural season, a move that launched his career.
“One thing my parents always told me is when one door closes, another door opens, and after that night, that door closed but I got an opportunity for Melbourne Heart,” Behich said.
“The rest is history.”
Does he ever think about what might have happened if he scored and became a Victory legend?
“It could have gone in and my career could have been on a different path but I couldn’t be more grateful for the journey I’ve had so far,” Behich said.
It was in that first Heart season that then coach John van’t Schip moved Behich to left-back where he has ascended to 75 Socceroos caps, an Asia Cup win in 2015, two World Cups and a decade of club football in Europe – he’s still a regular with the Socceroos as well.
That move was made without warning when Heart lost veteran left-back Dean Heffernan to suspension before the first Melbourne Derby, so Behich was thrown into the role and never looked back.
Aziz Behich playing for Melbourne Heart in 2011.Credit: Vince Caligiuri
“I had never played there but John said he saw the type of player I was and knew I would do well there, so go enjoy it,” Behich recalled.
“We ended up winning that first derby and I got stuck there so I got to give credit to John who I like dearly – he played a big part in my career and development.”
Behich has become a respected figure at City and within the Socceroos and his captaincy has been praised by City coach Aurelio Vidmar this season.
“I certainly felt that while we’ve got some strong leaders at the club, the only one who could do the job we’d expect would be Aziz,” Vidmar said.
“We certainly missed him the last six months of last season and he’s been instrumental, he’s been so important for us this season.
Aziz Behich of Melbourne City, Melbourne City coach, Aurelio Vidmar, Head coach of the Victory, Arthur Diles and Roderick Miranda of the Victory pose with the trophy.Credit: Getty Images
“Sometimes as a coach, it’s not easy to control the changeroom and he’s made my life easier because anything that happens or even prior to things happening, he’s already onto it, it’s like he can sense it.”
Winning the championship at home in Melbourne would be special for Behich.
“I’m straight out of Meadow Heights in Broadmeadows and I loved my childhood and where I come from,” Behich said proudly. “It’s made me the person I am today.”
