Vale Rale Rasic: A Socceroos pioneer

It’s hard to imagine that so much life experience can be packed into one person’s voyage of discovery but in the case of Harry Michaels it has all materialised.

Michael’s recently, published autobiography is the fascinating account of a man who was determined to succeed in life, whatever the obstacles.

Significantly, his early life at the age of nine was smeared with the tragic loss of his father. Many people would have found it extremely difficult to ever recover from such a bitter experience but not Harry Michaels.

Incredibly, something in the makeup of this young man encouraged him to achieve greatness in honoring the life of his father.

There is a constant message in the book that Michaels would honor his father’s memory forever by achieving perfection in his life endeavours.

Michaels achieved many milestones in his life and football was to become a central theme after he first kicked a ball with his peers in the narrow streets of Cyprus, followed by playing in the school team when he stayed with his aunt in London for a few years after his father’s death.

Australia is the lucky country and when Michaels and his family migrated to Australia, this country was to become infinitely better for it.

In a relatively short space of time, Michaels and his family adjusted to life in their adopted country and when Harry acquired a part in the Channel Ten sitcom, Number 96, the sky was the limit for his future plans.

He became a household name in the living rooms of Australian television viewers and eventually succeeded in entering the cut-throat world of production with the Greek Variety Show.

His biggest success was with Aerobics Ozstyle which originated in 1997 when he witnessed some people doing exercise routines for a television show on the beaches of California and subsequently instigated a pilot television show in Australia.

Currently, it is experiencing a huge revival on Youtube.

Michael’s great love for football naturally led him into the broadcasting arena of the world game and from 1982-2006, he covered NSL and international matches for SBS, including the 1993 World Youth Cup in Australia, Australia v Argentina World Cup qualifier featuring the immortal Diego Maradona, the 1997 World Cup qualifier between the Socceroos and Iran and 2005 elimination match in Sydney between Australia and Uruguay which received some of the highest ratings of any sporting contest ever televised in Australia.

Perhaps, the most dramatic event of all was the coverage of the Pratten Park riot in 1985 at a match between Sydney Olympic and Sydney City.

If this wasn’t enough, Michaels also financed Wollongong Wolves in the 1988 NSL season and was successful in attracting the talents of Paul Mariner, Alan Brazil and Trevor Francis to the club as guest players which led to the first major title won by an Illawarra club since South Coast United led by the mercurial, Jim Kelly, won the 1963 NSW State League grand final in front of a record Australian club attendance of 30,500.

He was the President of Sydney Olympic from 1991-1993 and made a major impact on the club.

Michaels never wanted to be praised for his contribution to football and very people knew he introduced Ericsson Australia, Nanda Spaghetti, Coca Cola, Winfield, Beach Fashions, and Westend Beer Company as sponsors of the NSL, while never asking for any financial reward.

Also, when the broadcasting company which produced the A-League faltered half way through the 2023/24 season, it was Harry Michaels who stepped in to fill the void.

Ironically, Harry was not asked to tender for the broadcasting rights in the following season.

It was something he found hard to accept but successful people like Harry don’t dwell on such events and seek the next challenge.

Hence the title of his book, ‘Never Standing Still’ is a true reflection of a man who let’s no barrier stand in the way to achieve his next goal where others would have given up long before.

Appropriately, his true worth and contribution to the community was duly recognised when he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2004 for his services to broadcasting and football.

This book should be read by all people who want to be inspired by a story where adversity was converted to positives and all football administrators who would learn how the man Harry Michaels became a winner and a highly respected public face in Australian society for his unselfish community contribution.