Damian Mori
# Damian Mori

Damian Mori (born 30 September 1970) is an Australian former football player who is an assistant coach for Adelaide United. He won two Johnny Warren Medals, awarded to the best player in the Australian league and was top scorer on 5 occasions. He established a reputation as a pacy, poaching goalscorer, which is notable for a player who started his career as a defender.

## Early and personal life

Mori was born in Box Hill North, Victoria in 1970. His father, Joseph Mori, was a footballer who emigrated from Slovenia. His paternal grandfather was of Italian ancestry.

## Club career

Mori was successful at club level – mainly in the Australian domestic league. After developing into Adelaide City's most important and best player, he spent a single season (1996–97) overseas in Germany with Borussia Mönchengladbach. This move was characterised only by frustration. He appeared in only six games, and never played more than half a match. In those six games, he didn't score once. Mori returned home to become NSL Top Goalscorer the following season.

In 1996, Mori held the world record for the fastest goal after he scored for City in just 3.69 seconds, straight from the kick-off, in a 2–2 draw with Sydney United.

In 2000, Mori transferred to Perth Glory and enjoyed great success. The striking partnership with Bobby Despotovski was renowned as one of the most potent in the competition. Mori won the NSL championship in 2002–03, scoring in the Grand Final. He was also part of the 2003–04 Perth Glory championship side.

Following the end of the National Soccer League in 2004 he moved back to Adelaide City to play and coach in the South Australian Premier League. He was extremely successful here, winning the "Coach of the Year" award. However, many were surprised at the fact that the NSL all-time top goalscorer was not on the shortlist of any A-League club.

It later emerged that a major stumbling block was Mori's desire for a part-time contract to allow him to manage business interests in Adelaide. Prior to round four of the A-League season, it was announced that Perth Glory had signed Mori on a short-term contract to replace injured defender David Tarka. Mori subsequently came on as a substitute in the Glory's 1 – 0 away win over the New Zealand Knights on 22 September 2005. After some excellent displays, particularly a brace against Newcastle United Jets and a hat-trick against Adelaide United, the club strongly desired a permanent deal. After some wrangling with Adelaide City chairman Bob D'Ottavi, Mori agreed to a one-year deal.

On 9 December 2005, it was announced that Mori would be appointed as assistant manager at Perth Glory. This appointment followed the elevation of Alan Vest to Manager after the departure of Steve McMahon. After the completion of the 2005–06 A-League season, Mori returned to Adelaide City as player-manager.

On 27 September 2006, Mori signed with the Central Coast Mariners on a short-term deal to cover the loss of Nik Mrdja which was extended once. After the short-term contract with the Mariners had expired, the FFA did not allow Central Coast to re-sign him. On 21 November 2006, he was approached by new Queensland Roar manager Frank Farina and signed the following day on a short-term "until the end of the season" contract. After the Roar failed to make the playoffs, Mori returned to SA to be the player-coach once again of defending South Australian champions Adelaide City.

## International career

Mori made his international debut against Solomon Islands on 4 September 1992. In an international career that spanned over the next ten years, he was capped 45 times and scored 29 goals.

## Career statistics

### Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :

| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| South Melbourne | 1989 | National Soccer League | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 4 |
| South Melbourne | 1989–90 | National Soccer League | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 1 |
| South Melbourne | Total | Total | 33 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 5 |
| Sunshine George Cross | 1990–91 | National Soccer League | 24 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 26 | 4 |
| Bulleen | 1991 | Victoria Premier League | 16 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 7 |
| Melbourne Croatia | 1991–92 | National Soccer League | 26 | 11 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 29 | 12 |
| Adelaide City | 1992–93 | National Soccer League | 30 | 12 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 14 |
| Adelaide City | 1993–94 | National Soccer League | 31 | 11 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 34 | 13 |
| Adelaide City | 1994–95 | National Soccer League | 27 | 18 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 29 | 18 |
| Adelaide City | 1995–96 | National Soccer League | 36 | 31 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 39 | 31 |
| Adelaide City | Total | Total | 124 | 72 | 11 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 135 | 76 |
| Borussia Mönchengladbach | 1996–97 | Bundesliga | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| Adelaide City | 1997–98 | National Soccer League | 27 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | 19 |
| Adelaide City | 1998–99 | National Soccer League | 30 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30 | 15 |
| Adelaide City | 1999–2000 | National Soccer League | 34 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 34 | 22 |
| Adelaide City | Total | Total | 91 | 56 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 91 | 56 |
| Perth Glory | 2000–01 | National Soccer League | 28 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 28 | 19 |
| Perth Glory | 2001–02 | National Soccer League | 27 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | 18 |
| Perth Glory | 2002–03 | National Soccer League | 31 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | 24 |
| Perth Glory | 2003–04 | National Soccer League | 26 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 26 | 16 |
| Perth Glory | Total | Total | 112 | 77 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 112 | 77 |
| Adelaide City | 2004 | SA Premier League | 18 | 11 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 11 |
| Adelaide City | 2005 | SA Premier League | 26 | 22 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 27 | 22 |
| Adelaide City | Total | Total | 44 | 33 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 45 | 33 |
| Perth Glory | 2005–06 | A-League | 17 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 7 |
| Adelaide City | 2006 | SA State League | 18 | 13 | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 23 | 17 |
| Central Coast Mariners | 2006–07 | A-League | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 6 |
| Queensland Roar | 2006–07 | A-League | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 2 |
| Central Coast Mariners | 2007–08 | A-League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| South Adelaide Panthers | 2010 | SA State League | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 |
| Adelaide City | 2011 | SA Premier League | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 537 | 295 | 22 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 559 | 304 |

* ↑ Includes the NSL Cup.

### International

| National team | Year | Competitive | Competitive | Friendly | Friendly | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Australia U23 | 1991 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Australia U23 | 1992 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 3 |
| Australia U23 | Total | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 5 |
| Australia | 1992 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Australia | 1993 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Australia | 1994 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Australia | 1995 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Australia | 1996 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
| Australia | 1997 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 6 |
| Australia | 1998 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 10 |
| Australia | 2001 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Australia | 2002 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| Australia | Total | 27 | 27 | 18 | 2 | 45 | 29 |
| Career total | Career total | 36 | 28 | 22 | 6 | 58 | 34 |

    Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mori goal.

List of international goals scored by Damian Mori :

| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 11 September 1992 | Stade Pater, Papeete, Tahiti | Tahiti | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 24 September 1993 | Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea | South Korea | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 15 November 1995 | Breakers Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | New Zealand | 1–0 | 3–0 | Trans-Tasman Cup |
| 4 | 14 February 1996 | Lakeside Stadium, Melbourne, Australia | Japan | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 5 | 14 September 1996 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban, South Africa | Ghana | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 6 | 21 September 1996 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, South Africa | Kenya | 3–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 7 | 11 June 1997 | Parramatta Stadium, Sydney, Australia | Solomon Islands | 1–0 | 13–0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8 | 11 June 1997 | Parramatta Stadium, Sydney, Australia | Solomon Islands | 2–0 | 13–0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 9 | 11 June 1997 | Parramatta Stadium, Sydney, Australia | Solomon Islands | 4–0 | 13–0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10 | 11 June 1997 | Parramatta Stadium, Sydney, Australia | Solomon Islands | 6–0 | 13–0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 11 | 11 June 1997 | Parramatta Stadium, Sydney, Australia | Solomon Islands | 9–0 | 13–0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 12 | 12 December 1997 | King Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Mexico | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup |
| 13 | 25 September 1998 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia | Fiji | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1998 OFC Nations Cup |
| 14 | 25 September 1998 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia | Fiji | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1998 OFC Nations Cup |
| 15 | 25 September 1998 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia | Fiji | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1998 OFC Nations Cup |
| 16 | 28 September 1998 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia | Cook Islands | 2–0 | 16–0 | 1998 OFC Nations Cup |
| 17 | 28 September 1998 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia | Cook Islands | 4–0 | 16–0 | 1998 OFC Nations Cup |
| 18 | 28 September 1998 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia | Cook Islands | 6–0 | 16–0 | 1998 OFC Nations Cup |
| 19 | 28 September 1998 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia | Cook Islands | 7–0 | 16–0 | 1998 OFC Nations Cup |
| 20 | 2 October 1998 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia | Tahiti | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1998 OFC Nations Cup |
| 21 | 2 October 1998 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia | Tahiti | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1998 OFC Nations Cup |
| 22 | 2 October 1998 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia | Tahiti | 3–1 | 4–1 | 1998 OFC Nations Cup |
| 23 | 9 April 2001 | BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia | Tonga | 2–0 | 22–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 24 | 9 April 2001 | BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia | Tonga | 5–0 | 22–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 25 | 9 April 2001 | BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia | Tonga | 8–0 | 22–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 26 | 9 April 2001 | BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia | Tonga | 12–0 | 22–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 27 | 6 July 2002 | Ericsson Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand | Vanuatu | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2002 OFC Nations Cup |
| 28 | 8 July 2002 | Ericsson Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand | New Caledonia | 4–0 | 11–0 | 2002 OFC Nations Cup |
| 29 | 14 July 2002 | Ericsson Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand | Tahiti | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2002 OFC Nations Cup |

## Honours

South Melbourne

* NSL Cup: 1989–90

Adelaide City

* NSL Championship: 1993–94

Perth Glory

* NSL Championship: 2002–03, 2003–04

Australia

* FIFA Confederations Cup runner-up: 1997
* OFC Nations Cup: 1996

Individual:

* Johnny Warren Medal: 1995–96, 2002–03
* NSL top scorer: 1995–96 (31 goals), 1997–98 (19 goals), 1999–2000 (22 goals), 2001–02 (17 goals), 2002–03 (24 goals)
