Gearing up for his 10th A-League Men season, Adelaide United midfielder Isaias spoke to Front Page Football about his time in Australia and his plans post-retirement.
When the 2024/25 A-League Men season kicks off, Isaias will have featured in 10 of Adelaide United's 20 league campaigns. (Image: Courtney Pedlar)
A by-product of the A-Leagues' forced austerity has seen clubs being creative when using their five allocated Visa slots for importing players.
Many A-League Men sides have turned their attention to footballers in their prime instead of signing players in their twilight years.
The theory behind this trend is two-pronged. Firstly, younger players can likely adapt to the physical demands of Australian football more effectively. Secondly, and most importantly, their hunger to succeed can lead to influential performances, positive results, and eventually even a transfer fee or involvement in the club's community post-retirement.
While the jury is out on the imports for season 2024/25, one tried and tested Visa signing was Isaias, who was convinced to take the plunge and move to Adelaide United by Josep Gombau shortly after the Spanish coach was hired to revolutionise the way the club played its football.
Isaias' adventure down under did not start as he had hoped, being sent off in his first A-League match against Perth Glory. However, he recovered to win the club's Player of the Season award in his first season, which was a sign of things to come.
From there, the plunge he took as a 26-year-old has been life-changing, with the midfielder becoming a significant cornerstone for the club's second success-laden decade.
"It's amazing; it's the most special club that I have played for," Isaias reflected on the eve of his 10th A-League Men season.
"I have played for the most years of my career in this club; I feel at home when I play here. For me to represent this club and this state is a pleasure that I cannot describe with words.
"My kids were born here, and my family is very happy here, so for me, it is an enormous pleasure."
Since putting pen to paper in 2013, Isaias has built an impressive resume as one of the most decorated A-Leagues players, winning a premiership, a championship, two Australia Cup titles, and spending three seasons as captain of the Reds.
While describing his immense pride in the project that began over a decade ago still influencing Adelaide today, Isaias understands that the club and he, as a player, are in a different position in 2024. As his teammates have gotten younger, the midfielder finds himself in the role of a mentor now more than ever.
"I have always been very vocal on the pitch, and now, with a young squad, I try to be even more vocal and even to have individual talks with them and try and help them with my experience," Isaias explained.
"Hopefully, they can pick up some stuff I have lived through from my experience, and they have the opportunity to grow even quicker. We have a very good squad with very talented players, and I hope, with my experience, they can grow and achieve very good things."
Isaias has seen the league change a lot during his time in Australia. In recent times, his main takeaway is that matches have changed from being primarily transitional affairs to team's becoming more structured. He praises the current crop of coaches for managing their squads' ever-decreasing age profiles.
"The coaches have been better prepared and know a little more about how to set up tactically. In the last couple of years, the league has been getting younger and younger," he said.
"We have a lot of young products in this country, and I think that is the main difference. Before, it was more experienced teams, and there are more young squads at the moment."
Admitting to Front Page Football that this will more than likely be his final A-League Men season as a player, Isaias shared his hunger for helping the Reds improve on a disappointing 2023/24 season, forecasting a refined approach, as confirmed previously by new Technical Director Ernest Faber.
"We are planning on working on a different style of play that I think will hopefully suit us better, having more control of the games, and have control [of] possession that I think will help us to be under control more."
Whatever happens on the field in season 2024/25, Isaias' love for his adopted country has not changed. Having started studying his badges in Europe before moving to Australia, the midfielder is keen on a coaching role once he hangs up his boots, and he is keen to continue his association with his beloved club.
"The lifestyle here in Adelaide, I think, is fantastic. I love everything: the beaches, the parks, how the people welcome you everywhere, the amazing weather, and everything is positive. This is why I have stayed here for so long and why I plan to stay here after football.
"Obviously, we talked with the club, and they said they would love us to be involved and stay with Adelaide for a long time, and that is my plan. My family is very happy here, and I am very happy. As long as the club is happy to keep me involved, I will be more than happy to stay here and keep providing whatever role they want me to try to help the team and help the club."
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Isaias has not been alone in this adventure. After being joined by fellow Spanish-speaking players such as Marcelo Carrusca, Sergio Cirio, Pablo Sanchez, Hiroshi Ibusuki, and Juande during his time in Adelaide, he and Javi Lopez are the last two stalwarts of an influential period in Adelaide United's history.
Despite playing his football in Qatar at the time, Isaias helped then Director of Football Bruce Djite sign his friend Lopez after his contract expired at Espanyol.
Isaias has seen his compatriot fall in love with Australia and hopes he and his family stick around for years to come like him. The duo will complete their coaching badges together at the club during the upcoming A-League Men season.
"I don't think people in Europe realise how good it is here until they get here. Once they get here they see how lucky we are here, what we have, and how good the lifestyle is. Before they come here, they don't picture how good it is," Isaias said.
"Javi also didn't expect the lifestyle to be that good, and now, after four or five years, he's thinking of staying here for a long time."
Currently only 15 matches behind Eugene Galekovic's all-time Adelaide United appearance record, Isaias will begin his tenth season at Coopers Stadium on the 26th of October against the reigning A-League Men champions, Central Coast Mariners.
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Looking at the huge support for the Socceroos last Thursday what is the club going to do to be proactive and get many if the supporters who do not normally come to home games to help fill Coopers Stadium. Certainly one way is to get an experienced overseas striker with flair and to have a house full sign. Many of the other A League clubs attract strikers who get 15 or more goals and history has shown their part in winning championships. Carl recently said his priority is to win silverware. 2919 is some time ago now.
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Mark Jones a long time club member