Greek Australian Koutroumbis is in his second season with Newcastle Jets and last term saw the versatile defender make his A-League debut and feature in 22 games, albeit in a team that finished bottom.

After Newcastle has missed out on the A-League finals in the previous seven consecutive seasons, this term it’s a different story. After 15 rounds the Jets currently sit in second place on the ladder with Koutroumbis making key contributions.

But it wasn’t easy early on as Koutroumbis didn’t feature for the Jets at the beginning of the season, as Newcastle coach Ernie Merrick brought in several experienced new players.

But several injuries early in the season meant the 20-year-old reclaimed his spot and not only has he taken his opportunity, the right back has taken his game to another level.

The moment that reflects Koutroumbis’ progress was in the Round 10 fixture away to Perth Glory. The Jets were down late in the game, but in the 87th minute the fullback ran on to a cross and hit a sweet right foot volley that levelled the score and inspired a comeback 2-1 win.

“I was overwhelmed and a bit surprised at the same time,” Koutroumbis says looking back.

“Time flashed before my eyes. I hit the volley and the next thing I know I had scored a goal. At that stage of the game it was already 1-0 and I felt like we needed to score obviously. I felt like I needed to go up and I did go up. I saw the ball go up in the air and I just had it in my mind that I was going to hit it first time. So, when I scored, it felt good. It felt great. Still to this day, I can’t believe I scored my first goal.
“It was a great space to be honest. All my friends and family were congratulating me. My dad told me he has watched the replay over 100 times. It’s a great environment to be in, especially when you score your first goal as well. You feel on top of the world.”

Koutroumbis was born and bred in Adelaide. His father’s family is from the Peloponnese while his mother’s side hails from the region of Macedonia.

Growing up, the fullback played for Greek backed club West Adelaide before joining Adelaide United’s youth team when he was 16.

After two seasons the Greek Australian youngster was in the frame to make the step up to senior football but unfortunately picked up an injury that meant he missed a sizeable portion of the season.

It was a difficult period for Koutroumbis who says the time out meant he missed out on a potential A-League senior contract with United.

“The club had just signed two young boys so, I wasn’t sure where my fate lay with Adelaide,” he says.

“I had been injured and ruled out for about four months when they were playing the NPL season. I had just turned 18 at the time. It definitely impacted on Adelaide giving me a contract. I was still with the youth team after that and I was working two jobs and training basically every day.
“I was also working at Lucas Seafood Grill in the city and at the Castle Tavern. I would go to training and then I would have an hour to get to the pub and after that I would [have] an hour break until I went into the city and worked until 11 o’clock and then do that all over again.”

So, with no offer from Adelaide, Newcastle came calling and Koutroumbis revealed that even though his family were sad to see him move they still supported the move interstate.

“It all happened so quickly,” he says.

“I got a phone call one day and I legit had to pack my stuff in two days and move to Newcastle. It was pretty hard at the time and it was pretty hard when I got here. My mum obviously didn’t want me to go, but [in] the end she let me leave to chase my dream. She understands. Every time I go back to Adelaide they don’t want to let me go – it is always a struggle leaving.
“But it’s what I always wanted. Since I started walking, I started kicking a ball. So, it wasn’t a hard decision to go to the Jets. But the thought of leaving everyone behind was definitely a contribution about why it was so hard.
“Being able to sign that first professional contract was a lot of weight off my shoulders. I always wanted to play professionally so I was over the moon when it happened. My father was over the moon as the whole family was proud of me. Especially because I had been chasing it for so long and they knew more than anyone how hard I worked for it.”

The first season at the Jets saw Koutroumbis play the majority of the season. His ability to play several positions in defence or midfield allowed him play over 20 games and the youngster says he loved meeting the challenge of playing at the highest level.

“Every Australian kid who plays football dreams of playing in the A-League and playing for a professional club,” he says.

“So, playing at centre back at 18 felt great, my family was proud of me, I was proud of myself. It felt really good especially as I was going from the NPL straight into the A-League.
“The NPL level to the A-League – it’s a much faster game, a much harder game. More physical as well. Technically there are better players. Definitely it was a big step from being semi-professional.
“We didn’t have the best season and we finished last overall, but it was a good season for me, even though it wasn’t for the club.”

After missing the first five games of this season Koutroumbis has played every game since bar one. After scoring in Round 10, Koutroumbis made the scoresheet two games later against Western Sydney Wanderers.

Again, his goal came at an important time with the clinical finish from outside the box opening the scoring and leading to a 4-0 win. His strike also earnt him the A-League goal of the month award for December.

After scoring two goals in three matches, Koutroumbis revealed that his teammates were jokingly referring to the right back as their main strike weapon.

“The boys have definitely given me some grief about it with some jokes here and there,” he says.

“But I don’t view myself as a goal scorer, I’ve just been in the right place at the right time and they have come off for me.
“Scoring the second goal, it felt better than the first. Especially because it was at home. To score at home with all the fans around me, obviously I had in mind to get another goal but not that fast.”

Like many young Australian players Koutroumbis aspires to play for his country and try his hand at playing professionally overseas.

“It’s definitely a dream to play in Europe somewhere or be playing in the national team or even winning the A-League,” he says.

“I’d like to do any of those within the next 10 years. That is something every footballer aspires to do. But I definitely want to play for my country, it would be an honour.
“Playing for Newcastle Jets at the moment it’s an ecstatic felling. It feels good. Especially going into training with the boys. The training is high quality. The experience from the older boys is passed down to the younger players. So, it’s a great environment to be in, especially for a young boy.”