Fresh off sealing his return to Australian football, new Brisbane Roar goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis speaks to aleagues.com.au.
There aren’t many Australian players who have been labelled the ‘best in the world for their age’, especially when that age is just 16.
When you add into the mix the fact that quote actually came from a Liverpool manager who’d just won the UEFA Champions League, it speaks volumes of the young player he was discussing.
The player in question was Dean Bouzanis.
“Look, it was a pinch myself moment. It was unbelievable, because I’d just signed for Liverpool, and Rafa (Benitez) rated me so highly,” said Bouzanis, as he sat down after another pre-season training session at his new club.
“But look, it was such a big quote to take on and such a big expectation to live up to that, you know, sometimes it can be a bit difficult.
“It’s a cut-throat industry. I’ve had some incredibly great highs in my career and some lows as well and I feel like starting from Liverpool, learning from these players, and having that backing from Benitez helped me forge my career.
“But I feel like me and my hard work and the dedication to the game has allowed me to have that career, which I’m thankful for.
“It’s something that I’ll never forget and something that I’m proud to to have to my name.”
Fast forward 18 years and the shot-stopper is back in the Isuzu UTE A-League having recently put pen-to-paper on a one-year deal with the option of a further year with Brisbane Roar ahead of the 2025-26 season.
“I’ve spent the majority of my career in England,” said Bouzanis, who heads to Queensland having most recently been on the books of EFL Championship side Charlton Athletic.
“(But) I spent four-and-a-half years with Melbourne city and a bit with the Wanderers in the Isuzu UTE A-League a few years ago and had a taste of it and really enjoyed it.
“I just felt like in my time at this stage of my career right now, and having spoken to Michael Valkanis (Brisbane Roar head coach), who I’ve worked with before, and the vision of the club through Kaz (CEO Kaz Patafta) and Zac Anderson (Brisbane Roar COO) it was one that aligned with myself.
“I’ve won a few things in England and had a bit of success at Melbourne City under Michael and the work that he does and the professionalism that he brings to a football club is something that really excited me.
“So to come back to a club like the Roar who’s had a lot of success, especially under Ange Postecoglou, was a big factor for me to come back.”
Appointed as the successor to Ruben Zadkovich, new boss Valkanis is slowly starting to map out his blueprint for the Roar’s reboot in season 2025-26.
Coming into the club off the back of a season where they finished second-last on the ladder, the former Ajax and Greek National team assistant has wasted little time shaping the squad in his image, making five new signings, the latest of which is the experienced Aussie shot-stopper.
While Bouzanis admits he was open to moving just about anywhere in the world, the fact his former Melbourne City boss was now in charge at Suncorp Stadium made it an easy decision to make.
“I’ve had the privilege to play in a few countries like in the Greek Super League and then in Holland and in England. So I’ve experienced a few different cultures and different styles of football.
“England for me is a big part of my life. It’s given me everything, a lot in terms of my football. But towards the end of my contract, I got a phone call from Brisbane and was having conversations with them. There was an opportunity to go back to the UK, but I felt that Brisbane was the best fit for me and at a right time for me to come home.
“I’m doing my UEFA badges as well and I’d like to go into coaching afterwards. Mickey (Valkanis) is someone that I’ve looked up to as a coach. I think his honesty and his detail to what he wants is second to none.
“We know that he likes to play an attacking style of football, and for me, that suits me, because I’m good with my feet. But the main thing that stands out for me is his leadership and his professionalism towards his work and how much that he gives to the game.
“He’s here working until six, seven o’clock at night, because he wants our team to be better. He wants to find solutions, the details that he comes up with, everybody knows their roles and responsibilities and that professionalism is something that filters down throughout the squad.
“So for me, that’s a big standout factor as to why I wanted to come back and learn more off Michael and the coaching staff because it’s a really enjoyable place to be when he’s the head coach.”
Now 34, Bouzanis returns to the Isuzu UTE A-League with a wealth of experience under his belt garnered from almost every level of the English football pyramid – experience he’s now ready to pass on to some of the younger players at the club who themselves have aspirations of heading overseas.
“It’s very cut-throat over there. There’s so many games in England, there’s like 50-60 games a year and every single day you’ve got to be at your maximum, 100%, because if not, you’re out. If you don’t perform, you’re out,” he said.
“I think my experience having played over there, having been on the bench, having been out of squads at different stages of my career, you realise that it’s a very short career, and it’s one that you’ve got to maximize every single day.
“For me, that’s what I want, to try and bring back and help the young keepers, lead and explain to them that before you know it years have gone by and you don’t want it to fade away.
“Every single day there’s no shortcuts, they’re at it. And if you do take a shortcut, it’s noticed, and you’re out pretty much so I think that that type of mentality is something that I can try and bring over here to the role, especially with the young goalkeepers.
“I work with them every day and just try and help them get better, and try and help them forge a career for themselves.”
All told Bouzanis spent eight seasons plying his trade in the UK and enjoyed various successes along the way, most notably playing a key role in National League side Sutton United sealing promotion to the English Football League for the first time in their 123-year history.
From Accrington Stanley to Oldham, Charlton Athletic to Stevenage Bouzanis has encountered all the weird and wonderful things that lower league football in England has to offer.
However it’s at EFL Championship side Reading where he came across one of English football’s biggest characters; Andy Carroll. An England international and former holder of the British record transfer fee after he moved from Newcastle United to Liverpool for £35 million in 2011, Carroll has recently left French side Bordeaux after scoring 10 goals in 21 games.
He might be 36, but could he still do a job for someone in the Isuzu UTE A-League?
“Yeah, I think he would!” laughed Bouzanis when asked if he thought the nine-time England international would fancy a move to Australia.
“Especially at his age now, knowing him well, I don’t know if he’d come here for the beach or be coming for the football, but he’d be a great addition!”
