A-League Men: How retiring Perth Glory great Josh Risdon’s humility and mentality paved way for great career

To those who have known him best over the course of a 15-year career, retiring Perth Glory defender Josh Risdon’s humility meant his achievements often flew under the radar. Even though he played three World Cup games as a Socceroo and has been one of Australia’s best right-backs since his debut, a host of Risdon’s Glory coaches and teammates down the years believe he never quite got the flowers he deserved. And across a career borne from the sacrifices made by a teenage Risdon to chase his dream, the Bunbury product’s down-to-earth nature in spite of his glossy achievements have endeared him to those who crossed his path. “He’ll definitely go down in A-League history as the best right-back. I can only think of maybe (Sydney FC’s) Rhyan Grant that’s somewhere close,” former Glory captain Jacob Burns told The West Australian. The 33 year-old will retire after Perth’s meeting with Brisabane Roar at HBF Park on Saturday, ending a career which saw Risdon reach the sport’s pinnacle and entrench himself as a modern day Glory great. Risdon’s 170 previous Glory games is the most A-League matches by a Perth player and he will finish up at 17th all-time appearances in the league. The 2012 Most Glorious Player never won a major trophy with Perth despite starting in their 2012 A-League grand final and 2014 and 2015 Australia Cup final defeats. But he did win 14 Socceroos caps, stare down French superstars Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe at a World Cup and helped Western United to a 2022 A-League grand final victory. It all started for Risdon in Bunbury, and when his talent caught the eye of Perth-based representative squads, his parents would routinely drive him the four-hour round trip and back on an alarmingly frequent basis. Risdon then made the brave call to move to Perth’s northern suburbs by himself as a teenager and link up with ECU Joondalup (now Perth RedStar) and their renowned youth development pipeline. “He came from Bunbury at a very young age, and left his family to come up as well to Perth and stay here. That grounded him quite a bit,” said former Glory coach Ian Ferguson, who gave Risdon his Perth debut against North Queensland Fury in 2010 as an 18 year-old. “I know he was homesick at times, but it gives you a little insight into him and his mental toughness, because he decided to stay even though he was homesick. The easy option would have been to go away and go back to Bunbury and forget football. “He was ferocious in the tackle, his ball retention was good and he was getting up and down to get crosses into the box. He was hungry, worked hard, dedicated and he was a kid that listened as well when you spoke to him.” Ex-English Premier League midfielder Burns was captain when Risdon broke into the first team and said he made an instant impression — in more ways than one. “I remember distinctly, this young guy, he had a mullet or Mohawk hairdo, and thinking, ‘my lord, what’s going on here,’” Burns said. “He was head and shoulders above from day one. When he was asked to join the first team, he took it all in his stride, didn’t look out of place at all. “I rattled a few passes into him, and it was almost like, the harder the pass, the better he got. It was incredible, which was quite unique. As a young guy, I remember that really stood out for me.” Burns’ former midfield partner Steven McGarry said Risdon’s impact was immediate. “He replaced Scott Neville, broke into the team and was a consistent performer in 2012 grand final year. He played with no fear, was physical, loved a gallop up and down that right hand side and always had a desire to learn and improve,” he said. Ex-Glory striker Shane Smeltz quickly noted Risdon’s character, and it would continue to serve him well throughout his career. “Nothing phased him. He was ready to take on any challenge,” Smeltz said. “The biggest compliment I can give him is he had a super mentality and desire to be a footballer, and that’s carried him through his career and allowed him to achieve what he has done. “From an early age, nothing phased him. He wasn’t bothered about his age; he was one of the only young ones that embedded himself as a starting player in a strong side. He took every challenge on, you knew what you’d get from Rizzo. “Myself and other senior players knew if he continued to evolve as a footballer and learn along the way, he was going to have a fantastic career — and that’s how it panned out.” Even after he consolidated himself in Perth’s side and progressed in his career, which included a Socceroos debut in 2015 and stints at Western Sydney Wanderers and Western United before returning to Perth in 2024, Risdon stayed humble. “If Rizzo was any more laid back, he’d be laying on the floor,” Burns said. When winger Chris Harold moved to Perth from Gold Coast United, he quickly struck up a partnership with Risdon on and off the field, linking well with the defender on the right flank while also moving in with him. For all the plaudits Risdon earned from Perth fans, Harold said his old housemate’s reserved nature probably limited wider-spread acclaim. “He didn’t come across as full of himself at all, which I found quite surprising considering how solidified his position was in the starting team at such a young age,” he said. “Flying under the radar is a good way of putting it. He’s not big on social media, and not this high-publicity type personality. He goes about his business and keeps to himself, speak when someone speaks to him, rather than making everything about him.” Current Glory co-captain Adam Taggart has known Risdon since his ECU Joondalup days and said it was hard to put his impact on the game in WA into words. “If you really look into his story and the success he’s had in his career, the challenges he’s had to face to just be a professional footballer in general is amazing,” he said. “He doesn’t take too much of the limelight. He’s very modest and quiet, but he’s loved by everyone. He’s a quiet person, but a massive personality in terms of what he brings to the group.” Burns was just happy his former teammate did receive the rewards merited by his consistent performances. “At the World Cup, I was privileged enough to be there at Russia when he played his games,” he said. “To watch him live, it was quite special, knowing where he came from, the determination, the sacrifice of the family, to travel up all the way from Bunbury and to follow his dreams. Not everyone gets to achieve that.”