Frank Farina

Born in Darwin, Northern Territory, Farina spent part of his childhood in Papua New Guinea and grew up in Cairns, north Queensland and went to school at St Augustine's College. While in Cairns, he played youth soccer with Stratford United and Edge Hill United FC. He won a prestigious position and scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in 1982 and played in the National Soccer League for the Canberra Arrows the following year.

National Soccer League

When he was 16, one of his school teachers suggested he try out for Mareeba United of the semi-professional Queensland State League, with whom he played four games towards the end of the season, which was his first paid soccer experience. Farina's early playing career was spent in Australia, playing the National Soccer League. He played for the Canberra Arrows, Sydney City and Marconi-Fairfield. His early seasons were solid, scoring just under ten goals a season for Canberra in the 1983 and 1984 season. He earned the Most Entertaining Player award for the National Soccer League from SBS-TV in 1984. He made his full international debut as a substitute in Australia's 2–3 loss in China in 1984. Farina moved to Sydney City in 1985, and that season City made the 1985 NSL Grand Final, losing 2–0 over two legs to Brunswick, as well as winning the 1986 National Cup. With the demise of Sydney City a few weeks into the 1987 season when owner Frank Lowy pulled out of funding the team, Farina moved to Marconi…

Brisbane Strikers

Farina's return to Australia was with the Brisbane Strikers, for the 1995–96 Season, scoring 20 goals from 20 matches, coming second in the Golden Boot awards behind Damien Mori (31 Goals). Brisbane finished fifth in 1995/96. In 1996–97, the Strikers needed a new Coach, and Farina stepped up to the position as the new player-coach. Farina led the Strikers to their first ever NSL title that year, as they defeated Sydney United 2–0 (with Farina scoring their first goal) in the Grand Final at Lang Park in front of a then capacity crowd of a little over 40,000 fans. He was named the Coach of the Year in 1997. The Strikers could not back their title win however, crashing to third last in the 1997–98 season. Farina only managed one solitary goal in 18 appearances, with long-term injury and age (34) getting the better of him. He left the Strikers, and joined Marconi as a player-coach for a final season, with coaching being dominant, Farina only made two appearances for the Stallions, without scoring. However, he did coach the team to the Minor-Semi final place, eliminating the Northern Spirit, then losing 0–1 away to Perth Glory in the minor semi-final. He retired from playing that year.

Australia

Farina was appointed the Australian National Coach in 1999, becoming the first Indigenous Australian to manage the Australian National Team. He was chosen over many candidates including the then current caretaker coach Raul Blanco (who had replaced…

Farina is of Italian and Torres Strait Islander descent, and is the uncle of footballer Zenon Caravella. He is married with two children. In 1998, he published his autobiography My World Is Round: A Personal Playing History (ghost written by Bonita Mersiades). In 2000, Farina was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for "service to soccer as a player and coach". In October 2009 Farina was interviewed by Monica Attard on ABC Radio's Sunday Profile where he discussed the drink driving charge and his dismissal and their effect on his family. Farina is the namesake of the Frank Farina Cup, which is contested between National Premier Leagues Queensland teams Northern Fury and Far North Queensland, with the trophy named in recognition of Farina's North Queensland origins, and his achievements as a player. Frank Farina’s son Jordan Farina is also a footballer who plays in the National Premier Leagues Queensland for Queensland Lions as an attacker.

Player

Club Brugge Belgian League Championship: 1989–1990 Belgian Cup: 1990–1991 Belgian Supercup: 1990, 1991 Brisbane Strikers NSL Championship: 1996–1997 Marconi Fairfield NSL Championship: 1988 Sydney City NSL Cup: 1986 Personal honours FFA Hall of Champions Inductee – 2001 Oceania Footballer of the Year: 1988 Belgian League Top Scorer: 1989–1990 NSL Player of the Year: 1987 with Marconi Fairfield NSL Player of the Year: 1988 with Marconi Fairfield NSL Top Scorer: 1987 with Marconi Fairfield – 16 goals NSL Top Scorer: 1988 with Marconi Fairfield – 16 goals

Manager

Australia OFC Nations Cup: 2000, 2004 With Brisbane Strikers:

NSL Championship: 1996–1997