For captain Jay O’Shea, it feels like his first season in the Isuzu UTE A-League – such is the belief at Brisbane Roar heading into 2025-26.
O’Shea arrived in Brisbane alongside Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler six years ago but it has been a tough time for the Roar since then, with just two Elimination Final appearances.
Brisbane have gone four consecutive seasons without a top-six finish. However, there is renewed optimism ahead of a Round 1 showdown against Macarthur Bulls at Suncorp Stadium on October 17.
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Former Ajax and Greece assistant Michael Valkanis is the new man at the helm, while the Roar have bolstered their squad with the likes of Milorad Stajic, James McGarry, Hosine Bility, Michael Ruhs, Dean Bouzanis, Christoper Long, Justin Vidic, Dimitri Valkanis, Georgios Vrakas, Jordan Lauton, Youstin Salas and Matthew Dench.
Bosnian midfielder Stajic, English striker Long, Greek winger Vrakas and Costa Rica international Salas are Brisbane’s foreigners this season, along with veteran Irishman O’Shea and it bodes well in the eyes of the 37-year-old.
“I feel like we’re going in the right direction again,” O’Shea said via News Corp.
“I feel like, at the moment, the way the squad’s at, it feels like the first year that I was here when Robbie Fowler was here.
“The strength of the squad that we put together, it’s the first time I’ve felt like that since that first year.
“A new coach (Michael Valkanis) has come in, a lot of new players have come in, and probably what we haven’t done enough in recent years is sign international players, visa players, so we’ve filled those spots now.
“We have five visa players. There was probably a time a few years ago when I was the only visa player on the pitch.
“Sometimes it felt like I could do with a little bit of help, so it’s good to have more visa players in the door as well, a lot of good quality signings as well, and a lot of young Aussies coming through as well.”
O’Shea added: “Last year and even the year before, you were worried if a couple of first-team players got injured, you were going to be struggling, because we didn’t really have experienced players to step into those positions.
“You were nearly having to give young boys the debuts to see how they’d get on.
“I feel like this year we’ve got a lot of experience, two or three players for each position, so there’s a lot of competition for places which is only healthy and that can only it can only be good for us.”
Brisbane begin the 2025-26 campaign at home against Macarthur Bulls on Friday, October 17.
