Socceroos World Cup hero Mitch Duke has taken a major career step forward after starring in Australia’s giant-killing run in Qatar
- Socceroos striker signs J2 side Machida Zevlia ahead of 2023 season
- Following a very impressive World Cup, Duke, 31, led the line in Qatar
- Duke also played for Fagiano Okayama and Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan
Socceroos World Cup hero Mitch Duke is on the move in Japan, signing J2 side Machida Zelvia ahead of the 2023 season.
It followed the veteran scoring the winner for Australia against Tunisia in Qatar in the group stages.
The Socceroos shocked the Middle Eastern world, beating the Africans and hugely fancied Denmark to reach the round of 16, where they lost to eventual winners Argentina.
Duke, 31, has been on Fagiano Okayama’s books for the past two campaigns, scoring 11 goals in 49 appearances in the J2 competition.
Machida Zelvia will be Duke’s third club in Japan, with the striker having also spent three seasons with Shimizu S-Pulse between 2015 and 2018.
Socceroos World Cup hero Mitch Duke (pictured right) moves to Japan, signing J2 side Machida Zelvia
Duke scored the winner for the Socceroos with this glancing header against Tunisia at the World Cup
Duke is hungry to help Zelvia achieve a promotion.
‘I am delighted to sign for Machida for the 2023 season,’ Duke told the club’s website.
‘I’m looking forward to getting started, meeting everyone at the club, meeting my team-mates and playing in front of fantastic fans.
‘I know it will be a great year, we have big ambitions and I hope my experience from the World Cup will help play a part in us getting (promoted) to J1.
‘I can’t wait to start, I’m loving being back in Japan, it’s my second home.’
Zelvia kick off their J2 campaign at home against Vegalta Sendai on February 18.
Australia’s Mitchell Duke (left) and Argentina’s Lionel Messi fight for the ball at the World Cup in Qatar
Duke and Messi were later summoned for drug testing after the game at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium – and the Aussie striker was initially not happy
After Lionel Messi and his teammates ended Australia’s World Cup dreams, a ‘furious’ Duke revealed he had caught the superstar’s jersey post game.
Duke and Messi were summoned for post-game drug testing at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium – and from the start the Japanese based forward was fuming.
‘Last game, the way it ended, I just wanted to be with the guys after our trip,’ Duke told CODE Sports.
‘That’s why I’m raging.’
Messi doesn’t speak English, so Duke eventually dared to ask for his hero’s jersey through a translator.
After drinking seven bottles of water so he could provide a urine sample, Duke returned to Australia’s dressing room to find a souvenir he would always cherish lying on top of his bag: a priceless gift from the Argentine kit man, no lacking.
Duke later confirmed that Messi’s prized jersey will be a significant addition to his ‘man cave’ when he retires.
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