Grella rates Antonis as 'probably best of his generation'

Gifted midfielder Terry Antonis has been dubbed “probably the best player of his generation” as he battles for fitness at new club PAOK in the Greek Super League after his move from Sydney FC in August.

Terry Antonis in action during his time with Sydney FC Source: Getty Images

The accolade comes from former Australia midfield general Vince Grella, who in his new life as a player agent is masterminding the future of the fringe Socceroos player, who thus far has struggled to live up to his potential due to a series of injury setbacks.

But Grella, who won 46 caps for his country and was one of Australia's stars at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, is convinced that a stringent fitness regime being undertaken by Antonis, under the guidance of a leading Italian conditioning expert, will help the 21 year-old deliver on his undoubted promise.

Antonis is still awaiting his debut for the club, sitting sixth on the ladder and competing in the UEFA Europa League, after being beset by quad issues.

But he is likely to be match ready by the end of November, and Grella is gushing in his appraisal of what he might accomplish for both club and country.

“Terry, for me, is a player that has unbelievable potential, probably among the best, if not the best, of his era,” Grella said.

“For me, in that group of 93’s, the boy is special. It's not just because I look after him. The reality is he’s a special player.

“The problem is he’s had a few hiccups physically and that has maybe stopped his development in certain things.

“But he is now working with a top fitness coach in Greece, who is an Italian I worked with in Torino for a year when I was there, and he is spending a lot of time on him.

“He says if he can get this boy right, and he knows a player after working in Italian football for the 20 years, Terry can make a big impression there.

"He has told me that PAOK doesn’t have a player of Terry's technical ability in their squad, which is a big call. That’s a massive call.

“PAOK is a big club, and I think we have to try our best in every possible to assist Terry physically. I think he’s a month or less away from being match fit.”

Blessed with vision, touch, awareness and poise under pressure, Antonis, who made 69 appearances in five seasons with Sydney FC, overcame a career threatening thigh injury during his time with the Sky Blues and Grella says he was always going to take time to adapt to his new surroundings.

“The first six months in Greece for Terry were always always going to be a little bit difficult,” Grella said.

“But once he gets four or five months of training under his belt, then you are going to see the best of him.

“You can get away with certain things in the A-League but that’s not possible in European football, it’s a simple as that.

“The boy, like all of them, you need to have a bit of patience with them and give them the opportunity to grow into the new country, culture, language, training load and style.

“The judgements sometimes on the player are a bit rushed … these boys deserve a bit if time to adapt.

“When I went to Italy from Australia, it took me a couple of seasons to get to the point where I wanted to be at,” said Grella, who distinguished himself in Italy during spells with Empoli, Ternana, Parma and Torino.

“Sometimes players feel that if they are playing in the A-League they should be playing straight away in Europe and it's not that easy.”