By Brandon Galgano (@bgalgano94)

Former Green Gully premiership-winning skipper Andy Vargas has announced his retirement following a highly decorated career at the very top of Victorian and Australian football.

The older brother of former Melbourne Victory and one-time Socceroo Rodrigo Vargas, Andy Vargas now moves into the head coach role with Green Gully’s U18 side.

Having joined the club following the demise of the National Soccer League (NSL) in late 2003, Vargas went on to be a part of four Victorian Premier League (VPL) championship squads and lifted the 2013 Dockerty Cup trophy as captain.

Despite having been a part of a number of Green Gully’s championship sides, Vargas said each title held a special place in his heart.

But the Melbourne-born 32-year-old singled out the 2005 VPL success as one of his most cherished moments in football.

"I’m so proud to have been a part of such a successful era for this club and every single title is so special because it takes so much hard work to go all the way in such a competitive league,” Vargas said.

"If there is one that maybe stands out in my mind, it was the 2005 title as it was the club’s 50th year in existence and to win the league and then to back that up with a 2-0 win over Heidelberg in the grand final alongside my brother Rodrigo was truly special for me and for the club.”

Despite feeling like his body could handle another season of top-flight Victorian football, Vargas felt there was no better time to move into coaching.

"I do feel that my body was feeling good and I was still contributing to the team as captain and I would’ve loved to have gone around again next year but I guess it just wasn’t to be,” he said.

"I have definitely been thinking more and more about getting into coaching over the past few years and with the injury I sustained this year (against Goulburn Valley in Round 18) which kept me out for the second half of the season. I guess it just fast-tracked that process.’’

Having played over 100 games in the NSL with the likes of Carlton, Eastern Pride/Gippsland Falcons and powerhouse Melbourne Knights, it was somewhat of a surprise that Vargas was not picked up by an A-League club, a fact which Vargas admits is disappointing despite almost signing with the now defunct Gold Coast United in 2009.

"Yeah it is a little disappointing as I always believed I had the ability and talent to play at the highest level and I did feel like I had a few good solid seasons down at Knights before the A-League came about,” he said.

"But I guess maybe one of the reasons [for not playing A-League] was that when I was younger I maybe struggled to keep my emotions on the field in check once I crossed that white line, and in this day and age attitude is just as important as playing ability in football.

"I have no regrets though about how I went about my playing career and I was close to signing with Gold Coast at one point, but in the end it didn’t eventuate and I was more than happy to stay here at Gully and finish off my career.’’

In terms of people who have had the greatest influence on his own playing career, Vargas said there were three men in particular who had had a profound impact on shaping not just his ability as a player, but also his insight into football in general.

"I’ve been lucky enough to have played with and trained under some great professionals from when I was a young kid right up to this day,” he said.

"Firstly I’d have to say that Ernie Merrick had the biggest influence on my career as a youngster, accepting me into the first ever Victorian Institute of Sport program. I had Ernie for a good five seasons and his coaching methods were second to none, he was a real scholar of the game and his coaching was second to none and this is evidenced by his successes with Melbourne Victory.

"More recently I’d have to say that Ian Dobson (two-time Green Gully premiership coach) was outstanding with us. You can’t win titles like we did without a fantastic leader at the helm and Dobson was just unbelievable with his professional conduct, knowledge of the game and attention to detail being right up there with the very best.’’

"I’d have to say though that having a brother like Rodrigo with whom I have played alongside and shared so many great memories with down at Knights (in the NSL) and Gully, really has been special. From when we were young kids we would always push each other all the way to achieve our best and I was so proud to see him achieve the things he did with Victory after we won those titles with Gully in 2004 and 2005."

To see such a great champion depart the game is always sad, but it is not the last we will see of Vargas who harbours hopes of one day securing a coaching gig at a senior NPL level or higher.

"One day I would love to have a go at coaching a team in the highest leagues,” he said.

"I feel I have had a fantastic career as a player and I most certainly am looking forward to passing that knowledge and experience I have gained onto the next generation of players coming through.’’

If his distinguished playing career is anything to go by, Vargas could well be on his way to creating a legacy in the coaching field too.

Andy Vargas’ playing history:

East Bentleigh SC – 1990-1992
Brunswick Zebras – 1993
Springvale City – 1996
Carlton SC (NSL) – 1997
Port Melbourne Sharks - 1998
Eastern Pride/Gippsland Falcons (NSL) – 1998-1999
Melbourne Knights FC (NSL) - 2000-2001, 2003
Green Gully – 2003-2014

Pictured: Andy Vargas lifts the Dockerty Cup trophy in 2013 (Image credit: Anita Milas)