Youssouf Hersi

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/video/22780483581/Hersi-opens-up

Good to see he's got taste - Hersi's a Run DMC fan!

On FFA website says he's in the squad for the derby. Hope there right lol.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1146464/Hersi-almost-quit-football

Hersi almost quit football

4 April 2013-SBS EXCLUSIVE: Dave Lewis

Western Sydney's Dutch import Youssouf Hersi has revealed he almost quit football as he sank into a pit of despair during almost two years on the sidelines after a broken leg and serious knee problems.

Reborn since taking the risk of leaving the Netherlands for the Wanderers, the 30-year-old flier still takes pain killers for his knee but has vowed to be even more damaging to opponents next season as his fitness levels rise.

Hersi, whose parents escaped war-ravaged Ethiopia for a new life in the Netherlands, has been one of many revelations for the Premiers’ Plate-winning side this season with his craft, elusiveness and speed leaving defenders in a daze.

A product of the famed Ajax system, he cut his teeth with the Amsterdam giant and also had spells with NAC Breda, NEC, Heerenveen, Vitesse, Twente and AEK Athens before suffering the leg break in the colours of De Graafschap.

The road back seemed like a cul-de-sac for Hersi, as he also battled serious knee-ligament issues and a knee infection which saw him hospitalised.

He said: “There was a time when I was ready to give up because there were so many setbacks.

“But I had some great people around, like the coach at De Graafschap, Darije Kalezic [the Swiss coach who was lined up to be Guus Hiddink’s number two at Chelsea before Turkey refused to release him from his contract back in 2011].

“He told me not to give up and gave me the encouragement and belief to continue when it seemed to me that maybe I had no future.

“I was working from eight in the morning to eight at night on my rehabilitation.

“The lowest point was five months after having surgery on my leg break they found some swelling on the knee, which turned out to be a bacterial infection.

“I had surgery to clean it out and spent three weeks in hospital. It was like having to start all over again. This is football’s dark side.â€

After 10 clubs in 12 years, he is “living in the moment†with the Wanderers and is grateful simply to be playing again.

After a detour via Cyprus, which saw him quit Alki Lanarca after two months because the club failed to pay his wages, close confidante Kalezic’s connection with Melbourne-based agent Dragan Jetvic saw Hersi enter the orbit of the fledging Wanderers for what became a whirlwind romance.

“I had a few clubs in Holland who were interested because people know me there and know what I can do, but I am a risk taker, and when the opportunity arrived to join Wanderers I was excited,†said Hersi.

“I still take anti-inflammatories to play and I had no proper pre-season but now I am staying for a second year in Sydney I hope to get stronger and be fitter and even more effective next season.â€

That statement won’t sit well with rivals who have found Hersi hard enough to stop as it is during Western Sydney’s joyride to the Premiers’ Plate.

He knows the job is not done yet – and is not bothered who his side takes on in the grand final qualifier at Parramatta Stadium on April 12. It will face either Perth Glory, Brisbane Roar or Adelaide United.

“We all want to see how far we can go,†he said. “Whoever it is we play, I say bring them on. We don’t care. We are unbeaten in 12 games and we have made success a habit. It’s been an amazing year for this club and it’s not over yet.â€

Fuelled by emotion, Hersi plays on the edge with eight yellows this season and a red card the downside to his dynamism.

“I am a winner and sometimes I get to too caught up in the moment and I have a little of a fight with the referees,†he said.

“I always apologise afterwards but in the heat of a game it’s difficult to control your feelings sometimes.â€

Hersi says coach Tony Popovic is the perfect antidote to the players getting carried away by success.

“He has the ability to bring us back to earth. He’s an outstanding coach and he’s done it as a player and knows how to keep us in check.

“This club has had great success but there is also a flip side in football and our real test may come in future when things don’t go our way and it will be important that we handle that properly, too.â€

Silly silly boy. Popa needs to sort him in off season.

Very silly challenge

My favourite player.  I think he is our best player, but he has discipline issues.

Terrible.

Sad thing is only 2 fouls all game from memory? 2 yellows.

can't believe we'll have to win the final without him

I agree, it was a stupid tackle, but maybe popa should have substituted Hersi knowing he had already been booked and at that stage we were 2-0 up?

I agree, it was a stupid tackle, but maybe Popa should have substituted Hersi knowing he had already been booked and at that stage we were 2-0 up?

I agree.

Hes been very temperamental as of late. I like him, he's a very exciting player to watch but he should just calm down

how many times has he been suspended this season?

i feel sad that he will miss the final as we need our good luck charm 16th straight victory for him.every time he has missed a match we don't get the result which i feel could be a bad omen

When was the last time we won without him?

good question cant even remember. but we might be able to do it without him.he plays with alot of passion and does some poor tackles i think due to his small size.

It's sad he won't be playing, but we're the Wanderers. One person doesn't make our team. We'll be fine.

It's sad he won't be playing, but we're the Wanderers. One person doesn't make our team. We'll be fine.

we've won every game he started so it will be tough but yep agreed. Haliti will come in and do a job most likely.

he is always so dangerous and stood out again today......we don't have anyone quite like hersi that can take players on and beat them with ease 

 

I agree, it was a stupid tackle, but maybe Popa should have substituted Hersi knowing he had already been booked and at that stage we were 2-0 up?

 

I agree.

 

Hes been very temperamental as of late. I like him, he's a very exciting player to watch but he should just calm down

I think a few minutes before his second yellow he was smashed in a tackle and I don't think he even got a free kick from the ref, so he must have been still pi55ed off in his mind when he made that silly rash challenge.  There was no need for it - we were up 2-0 with 10 mins to go and the ball was in the middle of the park not in critical danger.

I feel sorry for him missing his first Aussie GF and I will miss watching his great attacking runs, but I'm confident the team can finish the job on either MV or CCM.

The countdown starts ... 9 sleeps to go!

Hersi only has him self to blame really going to be a huge loss! we are a different side without him, we can still get it done though, we are the Wanderers!

his red card was his fault, and i was guttered for him but post match i saw how happy he looks even though he missed out on the finals, and i remembered in his culture he has already won so i think the final doesnt mean much to him, still bad for us but we have proven as a team no matter who isnt there we can cover them but its hard to cover Hersi

Only has himself to blame. Stupid brain-snap, with 12 mins left in the game and leading 2-0, why does he have to fly in with a stupid tackle like that? Sure popa will be absolutely fitlthy at him. WIll be a huge loss for us next week, hopefully whoever replaces him is well and truly up for it.

 

Hersi puts revenge at top of agenda

April 14, 2013

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Sebastian Hassett Football reporter

Youssouf Hersi holds the Premiers' Plate aloft after winning the semi-final against the Brisbane Roar on Friday. Photo: Getty Images

He might be missing next week's A-League grand final but Western Sydney midfielder Youssouf Hersi has a clear message: we want to face Central Coast at Allianz Stadium - and punish them.

If it seems early in the Wanderers' tenure to start developing rivals, somebody ought to tell that to the newly crowned premiers, who will play close attention to Sunday's semi between the Mariners and Melbourne Victory at Bluetongue Stadium.

The reason why the Wanderers want to face the Mariners so much is because they feel disrespected by the second-placed team - primarily Graham Arnold. The coach hasn't been shy in making clear his objections about the Wanderers' debut concessions, particularly their allowance of seven foreigners, two more than the rest of the league.

But it was directly after the Wanderers' 1-0 win in Gosford - one that altered the title race in favour of Western Sydney - that has driven fury through the Wanderers' camp. When asked who the Wanderers would rather play in the decider, Hersi was blunt.

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"I think Central Coast. The coach is a little bit - I don't want to say it - but he [thinks] they [should] win everything," he said. "I can't say the words, you [the media] can say what you want, but I want us to play against them and win the grand final."

Hersi said those post-match comments in Gosford would provide plenty of fuel for the Wanderers' dressing room if the Mariners were to advance. "Last time he said to us in the press conference that we had luck and that they were the better team," he said. "So I hope we can play them again and win again. Then he can talk again."

Hersi will most likely be the hardest of all the hard-luck stories which make up the narrative of grand finals in any code. His career seemed all but done when the Ajax academy graduate was cut adrift by Alki Larnaca last season, where a knee injury ruined his spell in the Cypriot league.

The Ethiopian-born Dutchman initially struggled with the Wanderers in pre-season after coming in on trial but soon won over the crowds as his skill and daring came to the fore. However, he'll be a frustrated spectator at 4pm next Sunday after picking up two yellow cards in the semi-final win over Brisbane Roar on Friday night.

"I feel 50-50. We have the cup [Premiers' Plate] and I was enjoying celebrating that. Life will go on," he said. "I will now support my teammates and hopefully we can win the grand final. But I can't do anything now. I could hit something but it wouldn't change the situation."

However, Hersi acknowledges it's been a special season, one that has rekindled his passion for football after some testing times. "It's like a dream for me, and if we win the double, it will be fantastic," he said.

Hersi had a short post-match exchange with Wanderers coach Tony Popovic, who now has to think about who can replace the 30-year-old on the right side of midfield. "What can he say - he can say nothing. He knows that I know what I did [was wrong]," he said. "We can't change the situation. It happened and the only thing I can do is enjoy [qualifying] for the grand final. Some players have luck because they play the game and some players don't have luck. I have no luck. It's something I can maybe think about for next year.''

Popovic wasn't pleased at Hersi's decision to fly in on Brisbane captain Massimo Murdocca but understood it was a by-product of the winger's edgy style. "It's hard to say I'm not disappointed with that, but Youssouf plays at 100 per cent," Popovic said. "He's great for the team. He's unpredictable, his intensity is high. He gives everything he has - and it's all at 100 miles per hour."

The coach insisted that the sending off wasn't the act of a violent player, just one who let the moment get the better of him. "It's just that exuberance, unfortunately, that has cost him," he said.

Twitter - @sebth

Popovic wasn't pleased at Hersi's decision to fly in on Brisbane captain Massimo Murdocca but understood it was a by-product of the winger's edgy style. "It's hard to say I'm not disappointed with that, but Youssouf plays at 100 per cent," Popovic said. "He's great for the team. He's unpredictable, his intensity is high. He gives everything he has - and it's all at 100 miles per hour."

Throw in his desire to get the better of any man he faces on the field, whether it be with his skill and/or his use of speed and physical impact...well that's Youssouf to a T.

You will be sorely missed this week Youssouf, I cant believe it will be another six months wait to watch your brilliance again. train your young apprentice well this week..

Only has himself to blame. Stupid brain-snap, with 12 mins left in the game and leading 2-0, why does he have to fly in with a stupid tackle like that? Sure Popa will be absolutely fitlthy at him. WIll be a huge loss for us next week, hopefully whoever replaces him is well and truly up for it.

I think it's ******* stupid that there are suspensions at all in the finals series for second yellows. If it was violent conduct then fine, but a basic second yellow means he misses out on the GF? It's bullshit.

 

Only has himself to blame. Stupid brain-snap, with 12 mins left in the game and leading 2-0, why does he have to fly in with a stupid tackle like that? Sure Popa will be absolutely fitlthy at him. WIll be a huge loss for us next week, hopefully whoever replaces him is well and truly up for it.

 

I think it's ****ing stupid that there are suspensions at all in the finals series for second yellows. If it was violent conduct then fine, but a basic second yellow means he misses out on the GF? It's bullshit.

At the end of the day, Youssouf will be Yousseff..and I was worried after his first yellow. When I saw him take off after the Roar player I turned to my son and said "NO NO DONT DO IT"..too late, he did. The yellow was fair on both occasions, but i cant see why Berisha wasn't sent from the field for being a dog that he is. so many people have agreed that the A League has really come of age in the past few years, but the standard of refereeing still needs to be bought up to standard. This I feel is the next important development of the A League..That and our own purpose built 35000 seat stadium at the Blacktown sporting complex..

At the end of the day, Youssouf will be Yousseff..and I was worried.....................This I feel is the next important development of the A League..That and our own purpose built 35000 seat stadium at the Blacktown sporting complex..

That and a proper leagues club where we can meet up and celebrate all things Wanderers.

EDIT.............Sorry but this is off the topic thread.

 

 

 

 

At the end of the day, Youssouf will be Yousseff..and I was worried.....................This I feel is the next important development of the A League..That and our own purpose built 35000 seat stadium at the Blacktown sporting complex..

That and a proper leagues club where we can meet up and celebrate all things Wanderers.

One major contributor to our numbers at home is due to the ease and accessibility of parramatta, they should just upgrade the stadium in parramatta and kick out the not so electric eels!

 

Only has himself to blame. Stupid brain-snap, with 12 mins left in the game and leading 2-0, why does he have to fly in with a stupid tackle like that? Sure Popa will be absolutely fitlthy at him. WIll be a huge loss for us next week, hopefully whoever replaces him is well and truly up for it.

 

I think it's ****ing stupid that there are suspensions at all in the finals series for second yellows. If it was violent conduct then fine, but a basic second yellow means he misses out on the GF? It's bullshit.

Gotta disagree, Mack. There were 27 players on Friday who were disciplined enough to not get red carded. Youssouf is an exceptional player, buti can't think of anyone else who has been suspended three times this season. It is in-character behaviour.

an all star