How Craig Goodwin fought through pain to star at World Cup and win Johnny Warren Medal

For a year that could have ended before it began through a chronic injury, this season has been full of incredible achievements for new Johnny Warren Medallist Craig Goodwin, writes ADAM PEACOCK.

Adam Peacock

@adampeacock3

3 min read

June 2, 2023 - 6:00AM

Craig Goodwin’s stellar season has been rewarded with the Johnny Warren Medal. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

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World Cup goal scorer. Adelaide United legend. And now, Johnny Warren Medallist.

Craig Goodwin’s incredible last 12 months were capped on Thursday night by winning the Warren Medal for best player in the A-League Men’s 2022-23 season.

When you consider what he put his body through to achieve all of the above, it’s nothing short of extraordinary.

Goodwin started and finished the season with osteitis pubis, a chronic groin problem that reacts horribly to both kicking a ball and running. Not ideal for a footballer. Then there was a hernia which grew near to the injury that hindered his every step late in the season.

“Challenging” was a word Goodwin used promptly when asked to sum him his season.

“Yes, I have struggled with (injury). Thankfully for the support and the coaches, my partner Katelyn and medical teams, it was managed.”

Goodwin receives his medal from Shannon Warren. Picture: Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images

Goodwin started the season last October in constant fear. The osteitis pubis problem restricted his pre-season to one week and wouldn’t go away as November’s World Cup drew closer.

Fortunately, he had faith from Graham Arnold, with the Socceroos manager trusting Goodwin to manage his own pain and preparation.

“Absolutely,” Goodwin says when asked if he’s grateful for Arnold’s patience.

“There were times of rumours that I was getting surgery before the World Cup, so it was nice for me to have conversations with Graham and for him to be very understanding of my situation.”

What followed etched Goodwin’s name in Socceroos folklore. The opening goal against France. A deflected shot in the round of 16 encounter against Argentina, which whistled past Emi Martinez to make the last 15 minutes an almost out-of-body experience for every Australian football fan.

“The national team for me has been something that’s been so close but so far at times, because I’ve been involved in more squads than I have been involved in games,” Goodwin says.

“To start in games and play in the World Cup is a massive thanks to (Arnold), in trusting me to be one of the players to deliver for him.”

Goodwin scored the Socceroos’ opening goal of the World Cup against France. Picture: Clive Mason/Getty Images

*****

Doing it the hard way barely begins to describe Craig Goodwin’s path to professional football and beyond.

He moved from Adelaide to Melbourne as a 19-year-old, where the late bloomer was spotted playing NPL state league football by Melbourne Heart. The club handed Goodwin a meagre youth league contract, which had to be supplemented by a loan from his dad, plus a job at KFC.

Long gone are secret herbs and spices, and long has the loan to dad been repaid, in every way possible.

Goodwin eventually got his crack at A-League level in 2012 with Heart, before moving to Newcastle, scoring the winner in front of 36,000 in Alessandro Del Piero’s first home game for Sydney FC. Halcyon days for the A-League, early days for Goodwin, who made his way back to Adelaide in 2014 and the rest – moves overseas, Socceroos caps, becoming the man in Adelaide – has followed.

Goodwin celebrates the winning goal for Newcastle against Del Piero’s Sydney FC in 20212. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

Now the best player in Australia’s domestic competition – where Socceroos and young talent are flourishing, and more people know his name than ever – Goodwin has clear plans to see out the rest of his footballing days in Adelaide.

A clear objective is to try and win a second championship with the Reds, after success in 2016 and several near misses since.

“I’ve got a lot more in me,” the 31-year-old says. “It would take an extremely good offer to move from Adelaide now. I’m in a very comfortable position, very happy where I am.”