Damian Mori

Damian Mori
Personal information
Full name	Damian Mori
Date of birth	30 September 1970 (1970-09-30) (age 38)
Place of birth	Melbourne, Australia
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Manager (former Striker)
Club information
Current club	Adelaide City
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1989-1990 1990-1991 1991-1992 1992-1997 1997 1997-2000 2000-2006 2006 2006 2006-2007 2007-present 2007	South Melbourne Sunshine George Cross Melbourne Knights Adelaide City Force Borussia Mönchengladbach Adelaide City Force Perth Glory Adelaide City Central Coast Mariners Queensland Roar Adelaide City Central Coast Mariners	023 0(5) 024 0(4) 026 (11) 125 (72) 006 0(0) 091 (56) 129 (84) 018 (13) 008 0(6) 016 0(8) 003 0(0)
National team
1991-1992 1992-2002	Australia U-23 Australia	017 0(4) 045 (29)
Teams managed
2007-present	Adelaide City
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 26 November 2007. * Appearances (Goals)

Damian Mori (born 30 September 1970 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) is an Australian football (soccer) player of Italian origin.

He has established a reputation as a pacy poaching goalscorer, which is remarkable for a player who started his career as a defender. He has made his mark on both the domestic and international fronts. He is currently playing for Adelaide City in the South Australian Super League.

1 Club career 2 International career 3 Honours 4 External links

Mori was also successful on a 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 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 4 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 1 year deal.

On 9 December 2005, it was announced that Damian 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 resign 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.

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 an impressive 29 goals. He is currently the all-time top goalscorer of the Australian national team.

With Australia:

• FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997 (Runners-Up)
• OFC Nations Cup: 1996

With Perth Glory:

• NSL Championship: 2002-2003, 2003-2004

With Adelaide City:

• NSL Championship: 1993-1994

With South Melbourne:

• NSL Cup: 1989-1990

Personal Honours:

• Johnny Warren Medal: 1995-1996 with Adelaide City
• Johnny Warren Medal: 2002-2003 with Perth Glory
• NSL Top Scorer: 1995-1996 with Adelaide City - 31 goals
• NSL Top Scorer: 1997-1998 with Adelaide City - 19 goals
• NSL Top Scorer: 1999-2000 with Adelaide City - 22 goals
• NSL Top Scorer: 2001-2002 with Perth Glory - 17 goals
• NSL Top Scorer: 2002-2003 with Perth Glory - 24 goals
• 94th top goal scorer of all time

• Oz Football profile
• Damian Mori at RSSSF
• Hat Trick against Adelaide United on World Football Register

Awards
Preceded by Mark Viduka	NSL Golden Boot 1995/96	Succeeded by David Zdrilic
Preceded by Mark Viduka	Johnny Warren Medallist 1995/96	Succeeded by Kresimir Marusic
Preceded by David Zdrilic	NSL Golden Boot 1997/98	Succeeded by Mile Sterjovski, Pablo Cardozo
Preceded by Mile Sterjovski, Pablo Cardozo	NSL Golden Boot 1999/00	Succeeded by Sasho Petrovski
Preceded by Sasho Petrovski	NSL Golden Boot 2001/02-2002/03	Succeeded by Ante Milicic
Preceded by Fernando Rech	Johnny Warren Medallist 2002/03	Succeeded by Ante Milicic