When reading up on Melbourne City’s Scott Jamieson one would be curious to find a Nordic stint in Sweden hidden among the several A-League clubs.
Since returning to Australia in 2008, the City captain has been a staple in the league – winning the league’s Rising Star award, representing his national team and playing in both the Asian Champions League and club World Cup.
It was at home club Western Sydney Wanderers where Jamieson was named in the PFA team of the year and believed he would retire, but an urge to have one final crack at the big time and experience a new lease on life saw fullback make a move to Sweden in 2016 – signing with IFK Göteborg in the first division.
“It wasn’t just a football decision [to go to Sweden] it was a life decision,” he said.
“I loved Western Sydney, I loved my time under Tony Popovic and playing in front of family and friends and to be part of the community I grew up in.
“If it was football, I would’ve stayed but it was life and football and I didn’t want to sit back at 40 years old and say I only played overseas once. I wanted to live in a different city and different culture, so it was a life decision for me to go to Sweden.
“It was a plan for me to play there and work my way up in the food chain in Sweden to maybe Holland and then I got injured and a few things led me back to Australia.”
Jamieson made 21 appearances in the Swedish top-flight before signing at Melbourne City, where he signed a four-year deal and was made captain in 2018 by then coach Warren Joyce.
While the 31-year-old will not give himself much time for reflection ahead of his 250th A-League appearance on Sunday, his leadership position at the club is one he cherishes.
‘’It’s one of them where I don’t sit and reflect each day or anything like that,’’ he said.
‘’I’ve seen it as a process and journey where it started with Warren [Joyce] and pretty sure a few people would’ve thought with a new coach coming in they would’ve had a different opinion.
‘’Erick [Mombaerts] obviously chose to have me lead the team. I think at the start when you get appointed it’s essentially one of the proud moments in your career and you look at with great honour because regardless if its Real Madrid or Dundee United you’re still able to captain a football club that people invest in day-in-day-out.’’
Melbourne City will be coming off its bye when it takes on Brisbane Roar this Sunday at AAMI Park.
The season has been an inconsistent one for City, who have struggled for form after its strong start to the season – only winning two from its last nine matches.
Despite this record, City remains in equal second along with Perth Glory and the Wellington Phoenix but can slip to as low as fourth by the end of the round.
“At the start of the bye period it was about identifying where we were lacking and where we thought we were,’’ he said.
‘’The reaction from all the players has been fantastic and if the manager’s been saying that then he means it, he’s not one to try and fool anyone or make anything up. It’s what you expect from a team that wants to be champions.
‘’In a way it’s disappointing because we had a gap there but at the same hand we’ve had a bye and we’re still sitting equal second. It is getting tight we have teams around us in the next few weeks which will be a big test and Brisbane is a team in great form. They’ve found their structure and found their way of playing, for us to beat them this week will be a big challenge.’’
