Sydney FC forward Al Hassan Touré on Mo's success, improving the A-League & the downside of Europe

 

Absolute baller (and brother of Norwich City's Mo) Al Hassan Toure joins The Failed Footballer to talk about his football journey from Liberia and Guinea to the A-League, the reality of chasing a career overseas, and representing the Socceroos. He opens up about growing up in a football-obsessed family, breaking into Adelaide United's first team at 19, and sharing the international stage with his younger brother Mohamed.

He also reveals the harsh side of playing in Europe, including a stint in Turkey where players went unpaid for six months, the injury struggles that nearly derailed his career, and how Sydney FC helped him rediscover his love for the game. Plus, his thoughts on the future of the Socceroos, playing in the Australia Cup, and how the A-League can improve. 

 

In this episode:

00:00 Intro

00:35 Introducing Al Hassan Toure

00:53 Why A-League pre-seasons are too long

02:27 Winning the Australia Cup twice

04:14 Growing up in Liberia, Guinea and Australia

07:16 Realising he could become a professional footballer

08:39 Breaking into Adelaide United's first team

10:36 Chasing the European dream

11:20 "They stopped paying us for six months"

12:36 Injury setbacks in France

16:48 Life playing in the USA with FC Tulsa

18:33 Returning home and signing for Sydney FC

20:20 Making his Socceroos debut

21:53 Sharing the journey with brother Mohamed Toure

23:35 Watching family at the World Cup

25:25 Future goals and ambitions

27:12 How the A-League can improve

29:13 Sydney FC fans and final thoughts

 

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