Airdate: Football Belongs

Optus Sport will screen Football Belongs a series profiling Australia’s European football and social clubs.

Seen through the eyes of international and Socceroos stars, the 13 part series is a celebration of immigration stories and traditions, incorporating song, dance, food, wine and festivals with over 100 interviews including with FIFA World Cup coaches, Ange Postecoglou and Rale Rasic, coaching great Frank Arok and legendary Socceroos John Aloisi, Adrian Alston, Mark Bresciano, Milan Ivanovic, Zeljko Kalac, Tony Popovic, Ray Richards, Mark Schwarzer, Josip Skoko and Sasa Ognenovski.

Santo Cilauro, George Donikian and Nick Giannopoulos also tell of how football shaped their lives.

“Australian football has been woven with European thread, and Football Belongs captures the culture and passion of the people for whom football was the foundation of their second home,” Optus’ Director of Sport Richard Bayliss said.

“The series and long-form special will highlight just how integral European culture is to our sporting landscape, and what it has contributed to our nation as a whole.”

It begins with a feature length episode on NPL club Preston Lions and the Macedonian football community.

Each Wednesday thereafter are new episodes with local communities from Albania, Croatia, England, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia and Turkey.

The series will be available to watch for free on selected Optus Sport platforms (data charges may apply).

Wednesday March 11 on Optus Sport.