Rale Rasic was Born in the former Yugoslavia in 1935, He gained selection at the tender age of 17 to play for the Yugoslavia Youth team. Securing a Physical Education degree at Belgrade University before coming to Australia gave him a good base and backup for a professional carrier. Rale joined Melbourne in 1962, helping them to win the State League championship and Dockerty Cup. He also represented Victoria nine times before retiring as a player in 1966. A coaching career that blossomed right from the start, with a Victorian State League championship and a national Under-16 title. He was appointed as the national coach in August 1970, starting an incredible run of success for the Socceroos including a 12-match unbeaten streak in the 1972 world tour, an undefeated tour of Asia, and a 2-2 draw with Pele’s Santos. As the national coach, he took the Socceroos through the 1974 rounds to line up matches against West and East Germany and Chile, culminating in Australia’s first appearance in the World Cup Finals in Germany. Rasic was the inaugural NSL Coach of the Year with Marconi Fairfield in 1977, an honor he received again in 1987 with Apia Leichhardt. He has also won the national league championship and the NSL Cup. In 2001 he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal and the Centenary Medal for "services to soccer", and in 2004 the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for "service to soccer as a player, coach, and administrator."

Heinrich Haussler is the founder of the Joeys Mini World Cup. In 2010 Heinrich run the inaugural tournament at Inverell NSW. Over the last 12 years, the tournament evolved and grew from its original 16 teams in 2010 to a tournament that attracts now close to 100 teams to the annual event. Heinrich has been the tournament director for the last 12 years and has promoted this unique event here in Australia plus Overseas. The tournament has established itself as the largest regional football tournament in Australia and as the tournament that provides rewards for players and coaches unmatched anywhere else in the world. The week-long event is a celebration of the round ball and a week where players and coaches can live their dream.

The event is a drawcard for the hosting region attracting thousands of visitors for a week long visit to the region, inputting millions of dollars into local business. The region also benefits with returning visitors throughout the year. The event will be hosted by Lismore in 2022 with an offer to resign for another 3 years after the successful staging of the tournament in 2022. I am looking forward to the start of the tournament in September and I wish Lismore and area a speedy recovery from the flood that has devastated this area early March, but hasn’t broken the spirit of this wonderful community. Our hearts go out to you and we sincerely hope that we can help you in your recovery. Thank you Lismore for being our host city.

Jackson Haussler went to Germany at the age of 14 years to follow his dream of becoming a professional football player. He achieved that and spend 8 years in Germany where he played football and coached. When he returned to Australia he had all the knowledge that qualified him as a selector for the Joeys Mini World Cup. Jackson speaks fluent German and has connections to our partner clubs in Germany. He is a very important part of the Joeys Mini World Cup team.

Chris McLeod has been supporting the tournament since it began in 2010. He is among the player selectors and has traveled to Germany with the Joeys All-Star team five times. His efforts have been crucial in bringing teams from Toowoomba Grammar School and the wider Toowoomba region to the tournament. Additionally, he has facilitated player exchanges between Toowoomba Grammar and clubs and schools in Germany.

Our Head of Media, Laini Kirkman, has more than nine years experience within the Communications sector. Starting at a Cadet Journalist level, Laini developed her skills and writing talents to later progress into Senior Journalist and Relieving Editor roles at a number of regional newspapers. More recently, her career has taken a pivot into Marketing and Communications for a not-for-profit organisation. Laini is passionate about delivering profile stories that showcase people’s achievements, engage readers and inspire others. You can reach Laini via email Laini.kirkman@hotmail.com

Katrina Heathwood first became involved when her daughter was selected to go on the 2019 Joeys All-Star Football Tour of Germany. Being able to experience this tour from a parent’s perspective was an eye-opener and gives those that participate an understanding of the tournament’s concept and the unique opportunities that arise. My daughter Stella had a wonderful experience in Germany and now has a German pen friend she communicates with on a regular basis. Pen friend Franka is organizing to come over for a visit to Australia.

From my involvement at the tour and my friendship with Heinrich, I have decided to be involved with the tournament looking after the team and player registrations. I have been heavily involved with football for over 15years and look forward to assisting in my new role with the Lismore Joeys Mini World Cup.\

Jon Maclean has been at the Joeys Mini World Cup since 2015 when it was still held at Inverell NSW Jon brought teams from the Newcastle area as a manager and coach. Jon followed the move to Hervey Bay and supported the event as a coach and a selector for the Joeys All-Star Team.

Jon has gone on several German tours and coached the women's and youth teams successfully during these tours. Jon took his Son Reece on the 2017 tour and during this tour, he became good friends with Heinrich Haussler and Chris McLeod. Through these friendships, Jon has been able to work with some fantastic coaches at all levels of the game. Jon has always been eager to learn more about football to extend his knowledge as a coach for the benefit of his players. Jon already has his bags packed for yet another stint with the Joeys All-Star Team in Germany

Scott Goodwin has been a coach bringing teams to the Joeys Mini World Cup since 2011. Scott coached junior mixed sides in the early years of the cup and now coaches a Women’s team that he puts together with players from Qld and NSW. Scott’s connection with Adelaide brings teams and players from South Australia that join the women’s team in the tournament. Scott Goodwin also had the offer as one of the awarded coaches to travel to Germany in 2019.

Scott’s daughter Steffanie traveled on the 2019 Joeys All-Star Football Tour of Germany. This tour gave Steffanie the experience of playing top-level football with coaches and players from one of the powerhouses of World Football.

Cal Lynch- Rockhampton - Cal attended his first Joey's Mini World Cup at Hervey Bay in 2018 and has been provided with an opportunity to tour Germany as a subsidised coach. Cal liaises with clubs throughout Central Queensland promoting the tournament and is looking forward to Lismore '22. He has maintained his FA coaching accrediation across a range of disciplines from miniroos to youth football. In 2021 he was nominated as a selector for the U14 age group and simultaneously coached a Rockhampton team (Portugal) in the U16 division.

Mark Acaster & his company Red Lion Football have supplied all of the World Cup team kits, tournament tee shirts, back sacks & footballs since the tournament’s inception in 2010

Mark has a wealth of experience in the football industry & been distributing football brands to football clubs, Academies & schools now for 30 years

Mark says - “It has been an absolute privilege to have been involved with the World Cup since its inception! It has been amazing to watch the tournament grow from strength to strength! Through working with Heinrich we have developed a great friendship & I look forward to working with Heinrich for many years to come”