Joe Gauci’s move to Aston Villa is a ‘fantastic opportunity’ for the Australia goalkeeper as he looks to make his mark in the Premier League under Unai Emery.
That is according to Mark Schwarzer, the legendary Socceroos shot-stopper who knows a thing or two about life in English football.
Schwarzer was almost an ever-present during nearly two decades of Premier League football. And the former Middlesbrough, Chelsea and Fulham glovesman is thrilled to see Joe Gauci follow in his footsteps, Aston Villa completing a deadline day deal which sees the 23-year-old become the most expensive export in the history of Australia’s A-League.
Aston Villa sign Joe Gauci from Adelaide United
“Joe Gauci’s move to Aston Villa is a huge one,” Schwarzer tells Optus Sport of Villa’s reported £1.3 million signing.
“Villa are a massive club. Under Unai Emery, they’re slowly being awakened and being at the heart of it is a fantastic opportunity for Joe.”
Schwarzer expects Gauci – who has two senior caps for Australia and was included in the A-League’s Team of the Year in 2023 – to provide back-up for World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez once Robin Olsen’s contract expires in the summer.
Gauci has already described Martinez as a ‘world-class’ talent. And while first-team opportunities may be few and far between initially, Schwarzer agrees that the chance to hone his talents alongside a goalkeeper of Martinez’s talent and experience can only benefit the Adelaide-born glovesman.
‘It’s going to improve him massively’
“He gets to learn from a player voted the best in the world little over a year ago,” Schwarzer adds. “Being an understudy to a top goalkeeper is about taking elements of what he does and adding it to your own repertoire. Using them, testing them and seeing what works for him. And, more importantly, what doesn’t. It’s going to improve his game massively.
“But it’s not just having a world-class teammate, it’s about everything else around him too. From improved goalkeeper coaching, to a great sense of pressure and expectation, exposure to the threat of relegation and the promise of promotion, European football…
“They’re all experiences you just don’t get in the A-League.
“At 23, it’s the perfect age for Joe to make this transition to European football. It’s an amazing opportunity to absorb all of this new information and experiences in the most competitive landscape of the most elite league in the world.
“I’m excited for him. It’s an enormous challenge for him but it’s also an enormous opportunity and I’m so glad he’s got it. I’m excited to see what the future holds for him.”
Gauci is one of four January signings to arrive at Villa Park. Betting big on youth, the Champions League chasers also brought in Morgan Rogers, Kosta Nedeljkovic and former Arsenal starlet Lino Sousa.
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