Tom Pondeljak

Pondeljak started his career in the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) before playing for St Albans, making 62 appearances in his 2+1⁄2-year spell at the lower league Victorian club. He was then brought into the National Soccer League (NSL) by the Melbourne Knights and helped them to victory during the 1995–96 NSL season. After playing another 3+1⁄2 years and a total of 97 appearances for the Melbourne club, he moved to Sydney United. Not much success was had in his two years at the club, and Pondeljak eventually moved to cross town rivals Sydney Olympic, where he won his second NSL title. He then moved on to Perth Glory, where he won his third NSL title. Following the collapse of the NSL at the end of the 2003/04 season, he went to Malaysia and played for Johor FC. When the A-League was formed, Pondeljak was being chased by a number of teams including Sydney FC, Perth Glory, Newcastle Jets and his hometown team Melbourne Victory but it was the Central Coast Mariners who made the best offer and he accepted that offer, becoming one of the marquee signings for the Mariners. The 2005/06 season was not the best for Pondeljak as he was injured for about two months with a fractured and dislocated wrist. He did however produce one of the goals of the season against Sydney FC. He ran into the penalty area, turned three Sydney FC players and slotted the ball past the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Clint Bolton. He scored the only goal of the Preliminary Final against Adelaide United…

(Correct as of 5 February 2010)

Melbourne Victory

A-League Championship: 2008–09 A-League Premiership: 2008–09 Central Coast Mariners

A-League Premiership: 2007–08 Perth Glory

NSL Championship: 2003–04 Sydney Olympic

NSL Championship: 2001–02 Melbourne Knights

NSL Championship: 1995–96 Australia

OFC Nations Cup: runner-up 2002