Football: Ivan Vicelich not finished yet

Nothing rhymes with Ivan Vicelich. Photo / Getty

Ivan Vicelich is interested in being involved in the All Whites' coaching set up one day, but firstly wants to continue playing, probably into his fifth decade.

Vicelich was the notable absentee in Friday's 2-0 loss to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Yokohama, succumbing to a calf injury before the team left for Japan. Prior to that he had played in every Auckland City Club World Cup game since 2009 - nine matches across four tournaments in the United Arab Emirates, Japan and Morocco. Te Atawhai Wihongi-Hudson performed well in his place but there was a nagging feeling the team missed Vicelich's leadership and experience.

But should Auckland City qualify for next years' event in Japan, expect Vicelich to be there, even though he will 40.

"It's just about the body," said Vicelich. "Mentally, I still enjoy training and the fire is still there. It is just about getting over this injury now. I'd like to think I could still be going. As long as I keep adding value to the team I'd like to keep playing.

Vicelich's longevity is remarkable. Five of the current Auckland City squad, including Jesse Edge, Wihongi-Hudson and Clayton Lewis, weren't born when Vicelich made his All Whites debut in 1995.

"I've been blessed with no long-term injuries," he said. "I'll see how time goes but I'd like to play forever. It's times like this when you realise how much you miss it. Watching the training session [on Wednesday] you are thinking, 'man, that field looks great, the boys are buzzing'. That's when you think it would be good to be playing another 10 years. You never know what will happen but I'll play as long as I can."

When he finally retires, taking up the clipboard appeals to the 39-year-old. Vicelich has had a taste of coaching this season - as assistant to Ramon Tribulietx - and can see a day when he is involved with the All Whites again.

"I'm interested in going down that path," he said. "It's definitely a possibility and an interest to pursue that side of it. In terms of New Zealand Football, the more ex-All Whites or Kiwis we can get involved the better. Whether it is coaching roles or other roles in the administration, the more the merrier I think."

It has been 12 months since the 'Miracle of Morocco', when Auckland City trumped three professional clubs and Vicelich collected the Bronze Ball as the tournament's third-best player, sharing the stage with Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos.

"I still pinch myself and wonder how we achieved that," Vicelich said. "To pick up third place at a Fifa tournament - you're getting big odds on that, at any level. What was most impressive for me was how competitive the team was; not just hanging on in games, but winning them, scoring goals, getting a good amount of ball playing against some massive clubs."

It's also the undoubted highlight of Vicelich's long club career.

"I'd always thought we would never get another moment as dramatic as Riki van Steeden's goal in 2009," he said. "In the 93rd minute for the win, a good friend of mine - wow. But to get up to that same level again and beyond, you can't write the script any better."