Aziz Behich has become one of the most reliable figures in the Socceroos setup and the Victorian product is once again set to play a key role on football's biggest stage.
The Melbourne City defender has amassed more than 80 international appearances since making his debut against South Korea in 2012, establishing himself as one of the nation's most decorated players and one of only a handful of Socceroos to feature at three FIFA World Cups.
Behich's journey began in Melbourne's northern suburbs, where he first kicked a ball at Meadow Park SC before continuing his development at Green Gully.
While he would go on to become a household name in Australian football, Green Gully coach Andy Vargas remembers a teenager whose determination immediately set him apart from his peers.
"We had some incredible players at Gully back then – the likes of Jeff Fleming and Dean Fak – but Aziz just had this tenacity about him. He was always someone we felt was going to make it," Vargas said.
"He came in as this skinny 16-year-old, weighed maybe 55 kilograms, but his intent and energy stood out straight away.
"Even the way he celebrated that goal against Altona; his ferocity and endeavour to compete was there from day one."
After a spell with Green Gully, Behich earned his first professional opportunity with Melbourne Victory in 2009.
While his initial stint in the A-League yielded only five senior appearances, the setback proved only temporary as he returned to the NPL Victoria with Hume City where he would continue his development before an opportunity arrived with expansion club Melbourne Heart (City).
Across three seasons and 65 appearances, he established a reputation as one of the competition's most energetic and dependable full-backs, earning national team recognition and attracting interest from overseas.
Following his Socceroos debut in 2012, Behich secured a move to Turkish powerhouse Bursaspor, beginning a decade-long career abroad.
The defender would spend five years in Turkey before joining Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven in 2018, later returning to Turkey and then moving to Scotland with Dundee United.
He was a member of Australia's victorious AFC Asian Cup 2015 squad and represented the Socceroos at the FIFA World Cups in Russia and Qatar, starting all four matches during Australia's memorable run to the Round of 16 in 2022.
One of the defining moments of his international career arrived during Australia's qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when his dramatic late goal against Japan secured a famous victory and reinforced his importance to the national team.
Now back in Victoria with Melbourne City, Behich continues to perform at the highest level while inspiring the next generation of Victorian footballers.