Player Profile

Vince Grella

Date of Birth

05 Oct 1979

Place of Birth

Melbourne

Height

183

Weight

Current Club

Blackburn Rovers (England)

Previous Clubs

1995 Springvale City (Vic)
1996-97 Canberra Cosmos (Australia)
1997-98 Carlton (Australia)
1998-2004 Empoli (Italy)
1999-2001 Ternana (on loan - Italy)
2004-2007 Parma (Italy)

Junior Clubs

Springvale City (VIC)

Institutes & Academies

Australian Institute of Sport (1996)

Major Honours Achieved

1997 FIFA World Youth Championships (Malaysia)
1999 FIFA World Youth Championships (Nigeria)
2000 Olympic Games Finals (Sydney)
2006 World Cup Finals (Germany)
2007 Asian Cup finals

Qantas Socceroos

Playing Position

Midfielder

Appearances

Debut Match

v England (W3-1), London, February 2003

Last Match

v Netherlands, (D 0-0), Friendly, Sydney (AUS), October 2009

Qantas Under 23s

Playing Position

Midfielder

Appearances

Debut Match

v South Africa (W2-0), Friendly, South Africa, November 1996

Last Match

v Honduras (L1-2), OLympic Games, Australia, September 2000

Qantas Young Socceroos

Playing Position

Midfielder

Appearances

Debut Match

v Japan (L1-4), Friendly, Australia, February 1997

Last Match

v Ireland (L0-4), World Youth Cup, Nigeria, April 1999

Biography

Qantas Socceroos

A hard–working midfielder who performs the dirty work for the midfield, closing opposing players down and mopping up stray passes. He blossomed with Empoli in the Serie A and upon their relegation in 2004 was signed by Parma where he was reunited with his good mate and fellow Qantas Socceroo Marco Bresciano. He had to wait patiently to become a regular starter for the national team, but with two solid performances against Uruguay in the successful final World Cup play–offs he virtually secured his spot in the Australian first eleven for Germany 2006. During the finals, performed superbly in all matches, enhacing his reputation as one of the better defensive midfielders in Europe. Also earned him the captaincy at Parma, but his ambition to be part of a top club side, saw him move to Torino. Asian Cup finals will not be his fondest memory, with the stifling weather conditions, have an impact on his all-action game. However he remains an important cog in the Australian midfield and is among the first picked in any Australian side. Surprised many with his move to Blackburn Rovers at the 2008/09 season after many years in Italy. Injuries stymied his first season, although he showed enough to Blackburn fans that he will be an important player for them, as he is with Australia.

Vince Grella post Oman

Vince Grella talks about Australia's performance against Oman

China v Qantas Socceroos

Images from the Qantas Socceroos 0-0 with China in Kunming

Verbeek confident of covering missing players

Verbeek names 22-man squad for Japan clash

Verbeek trims his Socceroos squad to 28

Mixed news for Netherlands clash

Harry fresh and fit for Dutch warm up