Juan Mata, 38, named A-League’s best player after revival with Melbourne Victory

World Cup winner Juan Mata, 38, was written off after a difficult first season in Australia, but he had the last laugh by winning the A-League Men’s Johnny Warren Medal as player of the year.

The out-of-contract Melbourne Victory playmaker said after receiving the award that he questioned at the start of the season whether he would continue playing.

“There is a time in your career where you start getting older and sometimes it takes more effort to get up in the morning, to go to training, and after last season in Sydney – I enjoyed very much the league, the lifestyle and everything but I didn’t play so much – I was thinking what I wanted to do with my life,” he said.

“But Melbourne Victory appeared and again I fell in love with football.”

Mata had a difficult introduction to Australia in 2024 after signing with Western Sydney Wanderers following brief stints in Turkey and Japan. At the time, both club and player – whose peak years were past – sought to revive their fortunes.

However, Mata struggled to convince then-Wanderers coach Alen Stajcic he deserved a starting role, playing only 582 minutes across the season.

Undeterred by Mata’s first-year struggles, Melbourne Victory signed him. Club head of football John Didulica and coach Arthur Diles valued the former Manchester United and Chelsea player’s on-field qualities and dressing room presence, and Mata – deployed in a prominent attacking role – experienced a renaissance.

This season he played 1,684 minutes, scoring five goals and assisting 13 others in a season of promise that ended abruptly when Victory lost to Sydney FC in the elimination final.

Mata said he would trade the Johnny Warren Medal for team success and expressed gratitude to Melbourne Victory.

“They created a context and an environment in which I could enjoy football again. Everyone in the club, my teammates, they have a fantastic culture, and it is a privilege to be part of this,” he said.

Mata’s future remains uncertain. He said after receiving the award he would take time to consider his options and has not confirmed whether he will continue playing.

“That’s the big question for me now, what I want to do in my life – if I want to keep playing or not. It’s difficult to stop when you’re enjoying. It’s also a good time to stop when things are going well,” he said.

“I want to go back to Europe, take some time, and make the decision. I’m happy here and the club is trying to do everything they can and I’m very grateful for that. I’m very grateful to the league also. I will take some time and decide, with a Melbourne coffee maybe.”