 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael John Jedinak[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 3 August 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Sydney, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Crystal Palace | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Sydney United | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2001–2006 | Sydney United | 82 | (12) |
| 2003–2004 | → Varteks (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2005 | → South Coast United (loan) | 18 | (7) |
| 2006–2009 | Central Coast Mariners | 45 | (8) |
| 2009–2011 | Gençlerbirliği | 38 | (4) |
| 2009–2010 | → Antalyaspor (loan) | 28 | (5) |
| 2011– | Crystal Palace | 87 | (4) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2003 | Australia U-20 | 9 | (0) |
| 2008– | Australia | 42 | (3) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 November 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 November 2013 | |||
Michael John "Mile" Jedinak (born 3 August 1984) is an Australian footballer who plays forCrystal Palace of the Premier League. He plays for the Australia national team, having earned over 40 caps for his country. Jedinak is a defensive midfielder and is known for his aerial ability, strong tackling and leadership on the pitch.
Club career
Jedinak began playing when he was chosen to be part of the PDSSSC – a competition between Catholic schools within the Parramatta Diocesan – where he played for St Agnes Catholic High, the same school compatriot Željko Kalac attended.[citation needed] He began his career at Sydney United, and spent some time in the early years of his career at Croatian club Varteks, making one competitive appearance for the Croatian side in a 2003–04 UEFA Cup qualifier against Levadia Maardu.[2][3] He was part of the Sydney United side that won the NSW Premier League title for 2006, playing a role in midfield that earned him a trial with the Mariners.
Jedinak was first added to the Mariners' squad in the week leading up to their 2006 Pre-Season Cup play-off against Newcastle Jets, and subsequently was called into the squad for the last ten games of the 2006–07 where he made eight appearances.
Jedinak achieved success at the Central Coast Mariners, helping them to a Premiers' Plate in the2007–08 season of the Hyundai A-League and scoring some spectacular goals along the way including a 25-metre free-kick in the 5–4 loss in Round 15 to Sydney FC. He was the club's second highest goalscorer in the 2008–09 season, with 6 goals.
On 25 December 2008, Jedinak signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Turkish club Gençlerbirliğithat was effective of January 2009. [4] On 24 January 2009, he made his competitive debut for Gençlerbirliği in their 3–1 victory over Kayserispor, playing the full match. Jedinak's first goal for Gençlerbirliği was scored in a 1–0 win over Fenerbahce.[5]
With one year remaining on his contract at Gençlerbirliği, Jedinak announced he was leaving the club in June 2011, with the hopes of finding a new club in a different country.[6] A month later he signed for Crystal Palace in England.[7] Jedinak became a fans' favourite at Selhurst Park during the 2012–2013 season. In light of regular club captain Paddy McCarthy's injury spell this season, Jedinak was handed the captain's armband first by Dougie Freedman and later Ian Holloway. Jedinak scored an 89th minute winner on the final day of the 2012-13 season in a 3-2 win againstPeterborough United at Selhurst Park to secure a playoff place for Palace. Jedinak then captained Palace to win the playoffs in 2012-2013 to gain promotion to the Barclays Premier League. Jedinak was voted Crystal Palace's player of the season 2012-13.
International career
Jedinak made his international debut in a friendly against Singapore in early 2008 and was an integral squad member of Pim Verbeek's Socceroos in the lead up to the 2010 World Cup. He also played at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championships in the United Arab Emirates, making appearances against the Czech Republic, Canada and the host nation.
Jedinak was included in Australia's 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup and made his first appearance in Australia's opening match against Germany on 13 June. This however, would be Jedinak's only involvement in the competition.
Jedinak scored a header goal against Korea Republic at 2011 AFC Asian Cup. This goal was Jedinak's first international goal.[8] Jedinak continued to score his second international goal in the following match of the tournament against Bahrain
