Johnny Koutroumbis was a seasoned professional in the A-League world. Amassing hundreds of games with multiple Australian clubs, he had achieved so much in his homeland by his mid-twenties.
But there was always one target that he had set himself that he wasn’t prepared to let slip away in his career. Making the journey to mainland Europe to play the sport he loves.
“Playing in Australia, I think the dream was always to play football in Europe,” Koutroumbis explained.
“Even before I became a professional footballer, before I signed my first contract at 18, it was always in the back of my mind, but I was open. I just got a new experience in a professional environment. Because of that, I guess moving to Europe sort of got pushed to the back of my mind because of how eye-opening it was.
“Playing with players who were from overseas, playing with older players and playing with players with massive egos. So, as an 18-year-old, you try to be the best you can be in that environment. When I was at Newcastle, I did aspire to that European target.
“I followed a coach, Carl Robinson, who joined Newcastle in 2020. We played 10 games; I think we won seven and drew two. My football went through the roof. Two years later, he ended up joining Western Sydney Wanderers, and I followed him there because he called me saying he wanted me there.
“Things started to pick up in terms of my mindset and where I wanted to go. The previous years before, I had been playing for the Under 18s national side. So, that was a taste of football that was at a higher level. Going from Wanderers to Perth [Glory], that happened over a pre-season where I wasn’t wanted, and that sank deep into me in terms of, I’m going to take that personally.
“Someone didn’t believe in what I could offer. So, in Perth, in my first year, I was playing here and there, but it wasn’t really until last season that I took my football to a new level, and it was definitely playing without fear.
“That was probably the biggest turning point and mindset that I took on. When I’m in attack, attack. When I’m in defence, defend. Whereas before, if I joined an attack, for example, I’d be worried about the attack breaking down. So, I think my football had changed quite dramatically, and in the back of my mind, that year was when I fully decided that I was going to play this season to leave and get to Europe.”
The journey had had its ups and downs for Koutroumbis. Beating cancer put perspective on his football and personal life. But having come through all the adversity, all the setbacks and all the low points, he was finally on the cusp of reaching a target he had set himself all those years ago. That was when his relationship with Motherwell started. In the summer of 2024, it was time for Koutroumbis to leave everything he’d ever known behind him and move to the other side of the world for the next chapter of his life.
“It was an exciting time,” he recalled.
“But I was thinking more about all the sacrifices and all the pain, the bad moments, the times I trained extra in the gym and generally just everything I’d done that had led me to this moment. Just because it’s Europe doesn’t mean I can’t push even further into a potential World Cup. I was thinking that too.
“So, it was exciting; it wasn’t so much nerves because I can’t emphasise this enough, but in the last season at Perth Glory, I really put a lot of emphasis on my mindset. I really wanted to make the next step and go further than just Australia. I wanted to play in Europe, the top leagues, and that still drives me every day. I knew what I was capable of, and I felt like I could fit into this league.”
After healthy negotiations with the club, the transfer to ML1 was complete, and it was time for Koutroumbis to break the good news to his family.
“My dad was over the moon,” the defender stated.
“We shared the same dream from when I was a young boy. My dad has always supported me and has always given me unconditional support. He’s told me when I did bad but also helped me a lot throughout my junior and professional career.
“My mum was distraught, to try and put it simply. But she was happy. Obviously, it’s not every day a mum gets to experience their son moving across the world and not being able to get a simple flight to meet up with him.
“My brother and sister were very happy for me. They’ve got their own lives, but they know this was something that I’d been chasing for a long time. And my girlfriend, Yasmin, we had only just met. We met in March, and I was on a plane in June. To be fair to her, she’s followed me here as well, so it’s a lot for her to give up as well. Props to her; I have massive respect for her. She’s got a job here as well, and she’s chasing the dream with me at the time. I’m so very grateful for her.
“For myself, I’ve missed out on a lot. Even though I was in Australia, it’s difficult to just travel interstate because Australia is so big. One city to another can take up to two hours on a plane, so birthdays, weddings, engagements, anniversaries and all that sort of stuff I had to give up to chase my dream.
“It’s sad, and it’s something that I did reflect on because now I’m here, I don’t just get to go on a plane and go home. It’s across the world, and now is the time when all my friends are getting married. So they’re all proposing and organising weddings, and I’m over here.
“You give up a lot in this industry, and you sacrifice a lot, but at the end of the day, it’s all worth it. As long as you have the support of your friends and family, it’s all worth it. You’re not just doing it all on your own.”
Having landed in Scotland and started to adjust to a brand new country and lifestyle, Koutroumbis’ world came down around him. Having only been in the country a couple of weeks, in the first week of pre-season, he sustained a major calf injury that would rule him out for months. It was the worst possible setback he could have encountered, and it wasn’t something he could have foreseen.
“I didn’t expect to break down like that,” he explained.
“I was taking care of my body during the off-season, eating right, training consistently and training within my limits too. You’re not wanting to push yourself too hard because you know you’re going into a pre-season.
“I have to give myself a pat on the back because I was as fit as I’ve ever been heading into a pre-season. I knew moving to Motherwell wasn’t a small thing; you’re not just signing for a different club within Australia. It’s another step above.
“And I remember vividly how the injury happened. All I went to do was take a step, and I just heard this crack, and I felt the crack in my calf. I knew straight away it had gone. It was just devastating. I remember lying on the floor and thinking how this whole time I’d been preparing, it was now out the window.
“I was supposed to be moving into my new flat on the Saturday, and the day before I was due to get the keys, I got put on crutches and in a boot.”
And so, in a new country, feeling on top of the world, Koutroumbis had to start the new season from scratch within the dark walls of the gym.
“There were some real lonely days up in the gym,” the Aussie said.
“I had to push myself by myself. I was alone in my thoughts, but the message was always positive. I didn’t allow myself to go down that spiral of negativity. Simply put, these injuries happen. Some are more significant than others, but you’re going to come back one day, and you need to be ready.
“The fitness side of things, knowing that training doesn’t replicate games, I knew training was the next best thing. I knew once I got back on the ground running that I would start to build that fitness.
“I was in the hotel for three months instead of four weeks, and the hotel was small with no kitchen. I think the window only opened about 3cm. The sun was going down at 11pm, so not only did I suffer a bad injury, but it was also like I was living in a whole different world.
“In Australia in the summer, the sun goes down around 8:30pm. Here, it’s 11pm. So I’m knackered, yawning, and it’s still daytime! Not being able to go to the supermarket was difficult. Luckily, there was a restaurant downstairs, but still, going down the hallway, getting the lift and sitting down there every night was an inconvenience.
“There were a few boys in the hotel at the same time. I didn’t have a car, but the boys were helpful for a long time, taking me to and from training and to other places also. I’m forever grateful for that, but it just wasn’t a good time. I’ve been in a brace before and been on the boot and crutches, but that took the cake for the worst time I’ve had during an injury.”
With the season commencing and Koutroumbis on the sidelines, he moved down the pecking order in a highly competitive squad. Even
When he returned to fitness, game time would be limited, briefly making his debut as a late substitute against Dundee United.
“I’m not saying I was guaranteed to play, but it didn’t give me the same playing field as the players who were fit,” Koutroumbis added.
“And unfortunately, that’s how football goes. It’s about being patient sometimes when the cards that you’re dealt aren’t the cards you can play with. You just have to carry on and show resilience. You can’t just give up because things aren’t going your way.
“Patience is a virtue, I guess, but I’d given up and sacrificed a lot to be here.To throw all that away just wouldn’t be me. Playing for a club like Motherwell, a club with a lot of rich history, a club that a few Aussies have played with too, is special. To have played for so long in Australia, and when I get my first opportunity to come here, throwing it away isn’t an option.
“You try to do your best and show you’re trying to work to the same standard as the players that are fit and that have been playing. It’s just being available; that’s the biggest lesson. Boys do miss out on games because of injuries. They come back, and they’re on the bench because of the players in their position doing well.
“It’s healthy competition, and I understand it very clearly now. If you’re given your chance, given your opportunity, you have to take it for every single moment you’re out on that pitch.”
Having shown patience in abundance and continued to graft as hard as he could behind the scenes, Koutroumbis was handed his first start in Motherwell colours on Michael Wimmer’s first game against Dundee United.
He has since worked his way into the starting 11 after coming on to replace an injured Kofi Balmer. Although he may not have amassed the appearances he wished for, he hasn’t let that get in the way of his mindset and approach to his professional career.
“When it comes to training, your best isn’t going to be someone else’s best,” Koutroumbis said.
“And your worst isn’t going to be someone else’s worst. I think if you stay true to yourself, you can happily say at the end of the day, whether it’s a game or a gym session, that you can walk off and say I’ve done my best today; I’m happy with that. I always try to keep my standards high for myself, and when the time comes, the opportunity, you grab it with both hands because life in football is way too short to regret.
“Unfortunately, I’m only taking this on board with meaning now. Because now I reflect, and maybe I’m halfway through my career, but what could I have done if I had this mindset or mentality when I was 20 or 21? Where would I be? Who knows?
“But that’s the thing I think about the most. I’ve said to the boys there’s so much emphasis on the start of next pre-season for me. Missing out on pre-season isn’t something anyone would think they would experience. I’m going to do things as normal over the summer and go from there. But I’m putting a lot of emphasis on next season.
“I won’t make it back to Australia this summer. It’s a long trip just for a couple of weeks of holiday. It probably takes four days to adjust to the time zone, and then it’s obviously winter now, but from being here, I now know what winter actually is.
“The Aussie winter doesn’t compare. I’ve missed a bit of the sun, so I’ll enjoy myself in Greece for a couple of weeks and reset, reflect and enjoy some time with my partner.”
