Tara Murray
Western United skipper Alessandro Diamanti’s professional career will come to an end at the end of the A-League Men’s season.
The mercurial attacking midfielder will call time on a decorated career spanning four countries, 23 years and more than 550 professional matches for club and country.
Diamant paid tribute to his fans, teammates and coaches over the years in the announcement.
“I am a happy man,” he said. “I have always tried to be a footballer of the people, for the people. I have always followed the true values of football.
“I haven’t been a 100 trophy player, but I have been a player who felt loved, by my loved ones first and by all the thousands of people who have been following me for more than 20 years. The love that you fans have constantly always given me has been and is my greatest victory.”
Diamanti arrived at Western United in 2019, becoming the club’s inaugural captain and immediately endearing himself to Australian football.
His magical displays earned him a clean sweep of individual awards in the club’s inaugural season, winning the Johnny Warren Medal, the Alex Tobin Medal and the Western United player of the season.
He was nominated for the Johnny Warren Medal again in season two before his third season was cruelly ended early due to a knee injury.
Diamanti’s leadership and influence remained pivotal, though, as Western United went on to win its first ever A-League Men championship, with the captain raising the trophy aloft alongside Josh Risdon.
In total, Diamanti has played 81 times for Western United, scoring 11 goals and registering 18 assists over that time.
Western United football general manager Mal Impiombato hailed the impact Diamanti had on the Club and celebrated the Italian’s remarkable career.
“Alessandro has had an incredible career as a footballer and will be deserving of all the applause and recognition that he receives,” he said.
“For us as a football club, Dia has been the catalyst for so much of our growth both on and off the pitch and has contributed to each of our most special memories.
“As the inaugural captain of our club, Dia helped create the successful foundations here and will go down as a Western United legend and one of the greatest players to grace the A-Leagues.”
Diamanti was a fan favourite just about everywhere he went, particularly endearing himself to the West Ham United faithful after one spectacular season in the English Premier League.
