The Mariners 20 Announced

The Central Coast Mariners are delighted to announce the players selected ‘The Mariners 20’ as voted by you, the Mariners Family. 20 seasons of Mariners history, 20 seasons of Mariners Legends, now represented by the top 2 players to ever don the Yellow and Navy.

Danny Vukovic – Mariners Cap #17

193 appearances, 2 Championships, 2 Premierships, 1 AFC Cup

Statically the most successful Mariner in history, Danny Vukovic is the definition of a Mariners Legend. Having had two hugely successful stints at the club, the goalkeeper first made his Mariners debut in Round Six of the inaugural A-League season as a 20-year-old. He featured over 100 times in our first five campaigns, winning a Premiers Plate, before returning to the club at the beginning of the 2022/23 season.

With the captain’s armband on and at the age of 37 when he re-joined, Vukovic led us during the most successful two-year stint in Isuzu UTE A-League history. Two Championship wins, a Premiers Plate and an AFC Cup were all proudly lifted by the goalkeeper, with his last ever professional game being at home in our 3-1 Grand Final win over Melbourne Victory.

Josh Nisbet – Mariners Cap #145

145 appearances, 7 goals, 2 Championships, 1 Premiership, 1 AFC Cup

A midfield maestro who won almost everything in Yellow and Navy, Josh Nisbet is one of the biggest fan favourites in Mariners History. After working his way through the Mariners Academy, Nisbet made his Mariners debut in the then named FFA Cup on August 1st, 2018, before making his first Isuzu UTE A-League appearance in January 2019.

A tireless worker in the midfield who always gave everything he had for the Mariners badge, Nisbet made just shy of 150 appearances for the club while helping us secure numerous trophies, including a historic treble. He also earned individual honours, becoming the first Mariner in history to win the Johnny Warren Medal as the best player in the Isuzu UTE A-League.

Jason Cummings – Mariners Cap #192

50 appearances, 31 goals, 1 Championship

He may have only been on the Coast for 18 months, but Jason Cummings sure did make his mark in Yellow and Navy. Arriving in January 2022, the Socceroo immediately made his mark by scoring in his Isuzu UTE A-League debut. 10 goals in 21 games during his first campaign showed just a glimpse of what he had in store.

Cummings truly shone in his second Mariners season, ultimately breaking our all-time goals in a season record with 20. To go along with this achievement the striker also helped us secure our second ever Championship, including his heroic Grand Final Hat-trick which was enough to win him the Joe Marston Medal.

Patrick Zwaanswijk – Mariners Cap #58

99 appearances, 13 goals, 1 Championship, 1 Premiership

Arriving on the Coast aged 35 after an incredible career in his native Holland, it didn’t take long for Patrick Zwaanswijk to solidify himself firmly as a Mariners fan favourite. Rock solid at the back with a remarkable eye for goal, the Dutchman played three seasons in Yellow and Navy, culminating in our first ever A-League Championship.

That Grand Final in Sydney would be his last ever match in the League, with Zwaanswijk ensuring that he finished on a high note. A remarkable header in the 44th minute broke the deadlock and ultimate the hearts of Western Sydney, as we went on to lift the Championship trophy. His final game as a professional came shortly after, retiring following our Champions League Round of 16 tie against Guangzhou Evergrande.

Brian Kaltak – Mariners Cap #197

87 appearances, 5 goals, 2 Championships, 1 Premiership, 1 AFC Cup

The ‘Brick Wall of Gosford’ as he is affectionately known by the Mariners Family, Brian Kaltak is one of football’s truly great stories. First joining the club just before the 2022/23 Isuzu UTE A-League season on an injury replacement contract, the Vanuatu International had not yet played a professional minute at the age of 28.

Since then, Kaltak has won two Championships, a Premiership, an AFC Cup, been named in the PFA Team of the Season in back-to-back years and has captained the Mariners on numerous occasions this season. One of football’s ultimate nice guys, the defender has certainly forever written his name in the Mariners history books.

John Hutchinson – Mariners Cap #12

271 appearances, 18 goals, 1 Championship, 2 Premierships

Our all-time leading appearance maker with 271 games played in Yellow and Navy, John Hutchinson’s name will forever be synonymous with the Mariners. Making his club debut off the bench in our first ever Isuzu UTE A-League match, a 1-0 win over in Perth, ‘Hutch’ played 10 seasons for the Mariners before hanging up the boots at the conclusion of the 2014/15 season.

An ever-present figure during the first decade of our existence, Hutch wore the captain’s armband when we won our first ever Championship in 2013 against Western Sydney. An all-time Mariners legend who has firmly secured his name in the Mariners history books, now a deserved member of the Mariners 20.  

Nick Montgomery – Mariners Cap #73

133 appearances, 3 goals, 1 Championship as a Player, 1 Championship as Coach

The only person to ever win an A-League Championship with the Mariners as both a player and a coach, ‘Monty’ joined the club in 2012 after a long career with Sheffield United throughout the English League’s. Despite being suspended in the Grand Final, Montgomery played a key role in our squad which lifted our first ever Championship trophy, playing 26 times that campaign.

He ultimately featured in Yellow and Navy in five separate seasons, two of which were served as captain, before moving into a coaching role at the club when he retired in 2017. After working his way up through the ranks, Montgomery won our second Championship, this time in the role of Head Coach, a decade after we tasted Grand Final glory for the first time.

Trent Sainsbury – Mariners Cap #63

77 appearances, 2 goals, 1 Championship

Our current men’s captain now that he has returned for his second stint with the club, it’s been 15 years since Trent Sainsbury made his Isuzu UTE A-League debut. Aged just 18 in 2010 when he stepped out in Newcastle to take on the Jets for the first time, the defender had his breakout campaign just a couple of years later.

2012/13 proved to be enormous for Sainsbury, winning the Mariners Medal aged only 21 as he played every minute of our maidan Championship win. His performances in that season and at the start of the following campaign caught European eyes, moving to PEC Zwolle in 2014. He went on to have a brilliant career overseas and for the Socceroos, winning Player of the Match in the 2015 Asian Cup Final, before returning home this season.

Mile Jedinak – Mariners Cap #26

51 matches, 8 goals, 1 Premiership

One of Australia’s finest ever players, Mile Jedinak’s time on the Coast may not have been too lengthy but it certainly was memorable. Joining up with the Mariners for the 2006/07 season, the midfielder really hit his strike in the 2007/08 campaign, playing a pivotal role in us winning our first piece of silverware, the Premiers Plate. His performances that season deservedly won him the Mariners Medal as Player of the Season.

Jedinak’s talents clearly began to catch the eye of European clubs, with the midfielder departing halfway through the following season for Turkish Club Gerclerbirligi. His most memorable chapter would come next with Crystal Palace, featuring over 165 times while also captaining them in the Premier League. His National Team record is also exemplary, having almost 80 Socceroos appearances, notably captaining Australia to two FIFA World Cups.

Storm Roux – Mariners Cap #80

219 Matches, 5 goals, 2 Championships, 1 Premiership, 1 AFC Cup

Currently in his ninth season in Yellow and Navy, it’s been almost 12 years since Storm Roux made his Central Coast Mariners debut all the way back in 2013. The New Zealand international has gone from being a young fullback joining a Championship winning team to an experienced leader in our Treble winning season, with Roux now third all-time in Mariners Appearances.

Ever reliable, the defender started both of our recent Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final victories as well as the AFC Cup Final. He featured a remarkable 38 times in all competitions during our treble winning campaign, with many saying that he is aging like a fine wine. With another 18 months remaining on his current contract, Roux has number one spot on our appearance list firmly in his sight.

Jacob Farrell – Mariners Cap #179

92 appearances, 7 goals, 2 Championships, 1 Premiership, 1 AFC Cup

The definition of a Coastie, born in Gosford before playing his junior football for Wyoming, Jacob Farrell immediately burst onto the A-League scene when he scored a goal on debut in an F3 Derby. That promise certainly bear fruit, with the left back going on to be a crucial member of our back-to-back Isuzu UTE A-league Championship winning squads.

Now at Portsmouth, the hard tackling defender with an eye for goal certainly made an impression in his three seasons of A-League football. He memorably won two penalties in our 2022/23 Grand Final victory after coming off the bench, before starting 36 games during our treble winning season, including playing the entire 120 minutes in the Final while getting the game sealing assist.

Matt Simon – Mariners Cap #28

238 appearances, 66 goals, 2 Premierships

Known affectionately as the ‘GOAT’ by the Mariners Family, Matt Simon is the quintessential Central Coast Mariner. Hark working, resilient and would do anything for the badge, ‘Simmo’ made his debut against the Jets in January 2007 aged 20.

From then, the striker made 237 more appearances in Yellow and Navy, winning two Premierships during this time. He is our all-time leading goal scorer, finding the back of the net 66 times, while also sitting second on our all-time appearance list. An all-time A-League great and a Mariners Legend, no list of our best ever players is complete without Simmo.

Daniel McBreen – Mariners Cap #55

106 appearances, 30 goals, 1 Championship, 1 Premiership

Daniel McBreen the Goal Machine will forever be a Mariners Fan Favourite, with his 2012/13 Isuzu UTE A-League season being a large reason why. After arriving on the Coast ahead of the 2010/11 campaign, the forward truly found his career best form two years later, scoring a remarkable 19 goals in 27 matches as he helped us win our first Isuzu UTE A-League Championship.

His goalscoring accolades that campaign included becoming the player with the most Mariners goals in a season, something he held until Jason Cummings broke the record 10 years later, while he also received the Joe Marston Medal after finding the back of the net in the 2012/13 decider. One of the all-time great characters in the competition to go along with his goal scoring abilities on the field, the Goal Machine will forever be a beloved Mariner.

Mikael Doka – Mariners Cap #211

65 appearances, 11 goals, 1 Championship, 1 Premiership, 1 AFC Cup

The member of the Mariners 20 who joined the club most recently, Mikael Doka joined the club from Brazilian giants Santos. After taking a few months to find his footing in Australia, Doka proved his potential, playing a key role in our historic Treble winning season while playing a number of different positions.

His stoppage time strike against Wellington Phoenix was the goal that ultimately won us the Premiers Plate, while his outstanding performances in the AFC Cup saw him take out the competitions MVP award. A fan-favourite who has quickly become one of the top players in the Isuzu UTE A-League competition, the Brazilian has time and time again proved his game winning ability at the biggest moments.

Alex Wilkinson – Mariners Cap #11

206 appearances, 3 goals, 2 Premierships

A starter in our first ever A-League match in 2005 aged 22, as well as the first Mariners recipient of a Yellow Card in League history, Wilkinson was an ever-present figure in the Mariners backline throughout our first seven years in the competition. After filling in as captain at stages, Wilkinson was officially given the armband on a full-time basis in our third A-League season.

He held that responsibility for a remarkable five years, the longest of anyone in Mariners history, lifting our first two pieces of silverware with the armband on. Ending his time with the club having featured over 200 times, still equal fourth on our all-time list, Wilkinson left the club in 2012 to join up with South Korean Giants Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Mathew Ryan – Mariners Cap #60

94 appearances, 1 Championship

One of the most successful ever players to ever wear a Mariners jersey, Maty Ryan begun his professional footballing career in goals on the Coast at just 18-years-old. He played three seasons for the club, departing for Club Brugge in 2013 with a multitude of personal and team accolades.

A Joe Marston Medallist in a losing team, back-to-back Young Football of the Year awards, 2011/12’s A-League Goalkeeper of the Year and a Mariners Medallist, Ryan was the man between the posts when we secured our first Championship trophy. Since then, Ryan has had a remarkable career, playing almost 100 times for the Socceroos, many of which were as Captain, while also featuring for the likes of Valencia, Brighton, Arsenal and Roma.

Marco Tulio – Mariners Cap #201

47 appearances, 24 goals, 1 Championship

One of the most technically gifted players to ever don the Yellow and Navy, Marco Tulio only spent 18 months on the Coast, but he sure did make the most of his time with us. Arriving from Portuguese Giants Sporting Lisbon, Tulio’s flair and remarkable skills were on full display from the start, with numerous highlight reel worthy moments coming throughout his first campaign.

His season ended with 10 goals, including four in the final five games of our 2022/23 Championship winning campaign, making the PFA Team of the Year. Tulio continued his dominance the next season, scoring eight times in the Group Stage of the AFC Cup, enough to win him the golden boot, while finding the back of the net a further five times in the league. The Brazilian farewelled the Mariners faithful with a special double at his final home game, before winning us his final match with a remarkable long-range strike in Western Sydney.

Josh Rose – Mariners Cap #59

206 matches, 10 goals, 1 Championship, 1 Premiership

Joining the Mariners at the beginning of the 2010/11 season, Josh Rose was an ever-present figure for the Mariners between the early to mid 2010’s. With over 200 matches in Yellow and Navy, Rose certainly solidified himself as a club legend over his seven years with the club, sitting equal fourth on our all-time appearance maker list.

A starter in our historic first A-League Grand Final win in 2012/13, the defender is also a Mariners Medal recipient after picking up the award in his first season with the club. Following a year away, Rose returned to the Mariners for one final season in 2017, finishing his career as a certified club legend.

Max Balard – Mariners Cap #172

100 matches, 4 goals, 2 Championships, 1 Premiership

One of the youngest members of the Mariners 20, Max Balard is the definition of a Mariners success story. After finding his way to the Mariners Academy, the midfielder climbed through the ranks, before making his Mariners debut in round two of the 2020/21 season. He became a regular member of the squad in the 2021/22 campaign, a position which he never gave away right until his recent departure.

Partnered alongside close friend Josh Nisbet, Balard is often under-rated by A-League fans despite his incredible success. An incredible box to box midfielder, Balard won every team accolade that the A-League had to offer as a crucial member, while also picking up the 2024 Mariners Medal. Currently playing for NAC Breda in Holland, his performances in Europe have already seen him nicknamed the ‘Aussie Kante’.

Adam Kwasnik – Mariners Cap #13

158 appearances, 43 goals, 1 Championship, 2 Premierships

Making his A-League debut in the Mariners second ever A-League game, ‘Kwas’ as he is known by almost the entire Central Coast featured across seven seasons in Yellow and Navy, split by a sole campaign across the ditch. Kwasnik currently sits second all-time on the Mariners goalscoring list, trailing only Matt Simon, and played a key role in securing our first Premiers Plate.

Despite unfortunately struggling with injuries throughout our Championship winning 2012/13 season, Kwas was thankfully still with the squad when we broke through for our first Grand Final win. That season would ultimately be his last in professional football, with his final ever match fittingly being an F3 Derby, his 23rd across his time with the Mariners.