Socceroos Mile Jedinak, Tim Cahill and Mark Milligan have paid tribute to Hungarian-Australian football icon and SBS commentator Les Murray ahead of the team's clash with Hungary.
The Socceroos face Hungary in their final World Cup warm-up this weekend, before taking on France in their opening match on June 16.
The team is looking to build on last week's 4-0 win over the Czech Republic.
Captain Jedinak said the team was not underestimating their Hungarian opponents, who have never beaten the Socceroos.
Les Murray poses for a photo in Sydney. Source: SBS
"Everybody's excited, worked and prepared really well and looking forward to the challenge ahead," Jedinak said.
Preparing for the game at Budapest's Groupama Arena on Saturday afternoon (Sunday morning AEST), Milligan said it was appropriate to honour the contribution made by Murray.
"Just thinking back to my first memories of Les Murray back when I was a child, watching him commentate on the Olyroos back then on soccer Sundays, I thought it was appropriate that we recognise him as we are here in his home country," Milligan said.
The relentless advocate for Australian football died after a long illness at the age of 71 in July 2017.
Since 1980, Murray played a key role in developing and advocating for the game in Australia, leading the World Cup coverage on SBS for several decades.
He also became affectionately known as Mr Football for his tireless promotion of football as a game that could be embraced by Australia's sporting mainstream.
Born as László Ürge in Budapest in 1945, Murray immigrated to Australia with his family following the 1956 Soviet invasion of Hungary.
Settling in Wollongong, Murray found it was football that helped to bring together migrants in the community.
He later went on to a commentating career alongside former Socceroos captain Johnny Warren, with the pair dubbed “Mr and Mrs Soccer”.
Jedinak said he grew up with those voices.
"For me, he was the voice of Australian football for many years. Along with Johnny Warren, he had great visions for the game in our country," he said.
"And it is fitting that we are here in Hungary, the place of his birth to celebrate - hopefully tomorrow night - a good occasion."
Tim Cahill said Murray left a lasting legacy.
"Les is a legend, an icon on all our TVs. (It was) something I grew up to as a kid; World Cups, listening to him commentating. Also, he is a great guy, and now that we're in Hungary, it is great for us to pay tribute to a gentleman."
