Mitch Langerak - Socceroos & Nagoya Grampus Japan
Mitch joined the Goalkeeping Australia Academy in 2000 at the age of 13 the same year the Academy started in Bundaberg. Mitch then spent the next 5 years working with John Gorza before he was identified nationally and was inducted into the Australian Institute of Sport at age 18 also representing Australia at Under 20 level for the Young Socceroos. In 2008 Mitch was signed by Melbourne Victory FC and quickly established himself as the 1st team keeper for the club in the A-League before being signed in 2010 by German Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.
Mitch has since won 2 Bundesliga titles, 2 DFB Supercup Finals and 1 DFB Pokal Cup Final with Dortmund playing in all competitions including several Champions League appearances.
In 2015 Micth signed for Bundesliga 2 Club VfB Stuttgart for the 2015/16 season going on to be the number 1 keeper in the 2016/17 season wining the Championship.
After a short spell in Spain Mitch joined Japanese J-League team Nagoya Grampus as their number 1 keeper for the past 4 seasons. Mitch currently holds the J-League record on 17 clean sheets in a single season
Internationaly Mitch established himself as a Socceroo goalkeeper and was in the Australian Squad that competed in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Finals in Brazil and the Asian Cup Finals in Australia in 2015. After 5 appearances for the Young Socceroos and 8 caps for the Socceroos Mitch announced his retirement from International football in 2021.
TESTIMONIAL
“I began working with John at the age of 13 when I left my hometown of Tieri to Bundaberg to join the Goalkeeping Australia Academy. For the next 5 years I enjoyed the best technical and tactical coaching that Queensland could offer. During this time I relied on John to help me improve every aspect of my goalkeeping and without the opportunity to work as closely as I did, I would never have been able to make the next step in my career. At Goalkeeping Australia Academy I have seen 1st hand the improvement and development of many young goalkeepers who have moved on to represent their state and National teams. I am forever grateful to the work that was put into me and I know that if not for my move into the A-League and then overseas I would still be in Queensland training with John”
Mitch Langerak