Damian Mori (born 30 September 1970) is an Australian former soccer player who is an assistant coach for Adelaide United. He won two Johnny Warren Medals, awarded to the best player in the Australian league and was top scorer on 5 occasions. He established a reputation as a pacy, poaching goalscorer, which is notable for a player who started his career as a defender.
Early and personal life Mori was born in Box Hill North, Victoria in 1970. His father, Joseph Mori, was a footballer who emigrated from Slovenia. His paternal grandfather was of Italian ancestry.
Club career
Mori was successful at club level – mainly in the Australian domestic league. After developing into Adelaide City's most important and best player, he spent a single season (1996–97) overseas in Germany with Borussia Mönchengladbach. This move was characterised only by frustration. He appeared in only six games, and never played more than half a match. In those six games, he didn't score once. Mori returned home to become NSL Top Goalscorer the following season.
In 1996, Mori held the world record for the fastest goal after he scored for City in just 3.69 seconds, straight from the kick-off, in a 2–2 draw with Sydney United.
In 2000, Mori transferred to Perth Glory and enjoyed great success. The striking partnership with Bobby Despotovski was renowned as one of the most potent in the competition. Mori won the NSL championship in 2002–03, scoring in the Grand Final. He was also part of the 2003–04 Perth Glory championship side.
Following the end of the National Soccer League in 2004 he moved back to Adelaide City to play and coach in the South Australian Premier League. He was extremely successful here, winning the "Coach of the Year" award. However, many were surprised at the fact that the NSL all-time top goalscorer was not on the shortlist of any A-League club.
It later emerged that a major stumbling block was Mori's desire for a part-time contract to allow him to manage business interests in Adelaide. Prior to round four of the A-League season, it was announced that Perth Glory had signed Mori on a short-term contract to replace injured defender David Tarka. Mori subsequently came on as a substitute in the Glory's 1 – 0 away win over the New Zealand Knights on 22 September 2005. After some excellent displays, particularly a brace against Newcastle United Jets and a hat-trick against Adelaide United, the club strongly desired a permanent deal. After some wrangling with Adelaide City chairman Bob D'Ottavi, Mori agreed to a one-year deal.
On 9 December 2005, it was announced that Mori would be appointed as assistant manager at Perth Glory. This appointment followed the elevation of Alan Vest to Manager after the departure of Steve McMahon. After the completion of the 2005–06 A-League season, Mori returned to Adelaide City as player-manager.
On 27 September 2006, Mori signed with the Central Coast Mariners on a short-term deal to cover the loss of Nik Mrdja which was extended once. After the short-term contract with the Mariners had expired, the FFA did not allow Central Coast to re-sign him. On 21 November 2006, he was approached by new Queensland Roar manager Frank Farina and signed the following day on a short-term "until the end of the season" contract. After the Roar failed to make the playoffs, Mori returned to SA to be the player-coach once again of defending South Australian champions Adelaide City.
International career Mori made his international debut against Solomon Islands on 4 September 1992. In an international career that spanned over the next ten years, he was capped 45 times and scored 29 goals.
Career statistics
Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsSouth Melbourne1989National Soccer League20400——2041989–9013100——131Total33500——335Sunshine George Cross1990–91National Soccer League24420——264Bulleen1991Victoria Premier League167———167Melbourne Croatia1991–92National Soccer League261131——2912Adelaide City1992–93National Soccer League301232——33141993–94311132——34131994–95271820——29181995–96363130——3931Total12472114——13576Borussia Mönchengladbach1996–97Bundesliga6000——60Adelaide City1997–98National Soccer League2719———27191998–993015———30151999–20003422———3422Total915600——9156Perth Glory2000–01National Soccer League2819———28192001–022718———27182002–033124———31242003–042616———2616Total1127700——11277Adelaide City2004SA Premier League181100——18112005262210——2722Total443310——4533Perth Glory2005–06A-League17700——177Adelaide City2006SA State League181354——2317Central Coast Mariners2006–07A-League8600——86Queensland Roar2006–07A-League8200——82Central Coast Mariners2007–08A-League3000——30South Adelaide Panthers2010SA State League42———42Adelaide City2011SA Premier League30———30Career total5372952290000559304
International National teamYearCompetitiveFriendlyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAustralia U23 19913022521992612283Total9144135Australia19924100411993004141199400404019952130511996324173199776209619984101051020013400342002430043Total27271824529Career total36282265834
Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mori goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Damian MoriDamian Mori – Goals in International MatchesNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 11 September 1992 Stade Pater, Papeete, Tahiti 1–0 3–0 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification2 24 September 1993 Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 1–1 1–1 Friendly3 15 November 1995 Breakers Stadium, Newcastle, Australia 1–0 3–0 Trans-Tasman Cup4 14 February 1996 Lakeside Stadium, Melbourne, Australia 1–0 3–0 Friendly5 14 September 1996 Kings Park Stadium, Durban, South Africa 1–0 2–0 Friendly6 21 September 1996 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, South Africa 3–0 4–0 Friendly7 11 June 1997 Parramatta Stadium, Sydney, Australia 1–0 13–0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification8 2–09 4–010 6–011 9–012 12 December 1997 King Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 3–1 3–1 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup13 25 September 1998 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia 1–0 3–1 1998 OFC Nations Cup14 2–015 3–016 28 September 1998 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia 2–0 16–0 1998 OFC Nations Cup17 4–018 6–019 7–020 2 October 1998 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia 1–0 4–1 1998 OFC Nations Cup21 2–022 3–123 9 April 2001 BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia 2–0 22–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification24 5–025 8–026 12–027 6 July 2002 Ericsson Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand 1–0 2–0 2002 OFC Nations Cup28 8 July 2002 Ericsson Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand 4–0 11–0 2002 OFC Nations Cup29 14 July 2002 Ericsson Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand 2–1 2–1 2002 OFC Nations Cup
Honours South Melbourne NSL Cup: 1989–90
Adelaide City NSL Championship: 1993–94
Perth Glory NSL Championship: 2002–03, 2003–04
Australia FIFA Confederations Cup: runner-up, 1997 OFC Nations Cup: 1996; runner-up, 1998, 2002
Individual: Johnny Warren Medal: 1995–96, 2002–03 NSL top scorer: 1995–96 (31 goals), 1997–98 (19 goals), 1999–2000 (22 goals), 2001–02 (17 goals), 2002–03 (24 goals)
References
External links Oz Football profile Damian Mori at RSSSF