Brett Holman, the Socceroos midfielder, is feeling restless at his Dutch club AZ Alkmaar as the transfer window approaches.
The top scorer for Australia at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa believes he is playing the best football of his career and hinted that it might be the right moment for him to transition to one of Europe’s top leagues.
“Now, more than ever, it’s on my mind,” Holman stated.
“There comes a point when you think, after being in the Netherlands for eight years, that it’s about time to make a move.”
The window for transfers among European clubs is set from January 1-31.
At 26 years old, Holman is expected to be among the first selected when the 23-man squad for the Asian Cup is revealed on December 28.
His strong performance in South Africa during the June tournament has carried over to his club, as AZ Alkmaar currently holds fifth place in the Eredivisie.
This season, he has only missed three matches, with a calf injury sustained during a friendly against Poland in Krakow in September being the sole reason for his absence.
“I feel like I’m improving as well,” he mentioned.
“I’m learning and demonstrating what I’ve learned.”
Holman believed that the increased opportunities with the Socceroos played a significant role in his career advancement in 2010.
“In the games I participated in, often I was coming off the bench, taking on small roles, and in those instances, you have to make a significant impact or risk not performing well,” Holman explained.
“Many times, during the games I did enter, I didn’t create a strong enough impact.”
With Holger Osieck stepping in as the new coach for the Socceroos after the World Cup, Holman might have expected to re-establish his place yet again.
However, he has won the favor of the German coach, who appreciates the energy, flexibility, and creativity that Holman contributes to the game.
The ex-Parramatta Power player felt that Osieck’s methods aligned well with his own playing style.
“I’m definitely enjoying his vision of how football should be played,” said Holman.
“He encourages you to express yourself and show him your talents.”
Having been on the outskirts of national selection during Australia’s disappointing 2007 Asian Cup campaign, Holman believes that the Socceroos have gained wisdom from their first experience in the tournament.
He participated in one starting role and came off the bench twice in the team’s four matches, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Japan.
Holman believes Australia deserves recognition as Asia’s top-ranked nation and a serious contender for the title.
“I think we deserve that acknowledgment based on our style of play and the caliber of players we possess,” Holman stated.
“Thus, our ambitions should be set high.”
