Report by Ghaz Ramli

Travis Dodd is back in the beautiful game.

The former Socceroo has joined Bayswater City as assistant coach as the club aims to achieve successive NPL WA titles.

Pictured: Dodd gets ready at Bayswater. Photo: Ghaz Ramli

“It’s great to be back in the game,” Dodd said. “I thank the club and (Bayswater coach) Chris (Coyne) for the opportunity and hope to share my experience and knowledge to take the club to the next level,” said the 35-year-old ex-Perth Glory attacking midfielder.

Coyne and Dodd had a brief spell as teammates during the latter’s first season at Glory.

A Socceroo himself, Coyne is looking forward to working with Dodd as the club looks for more silverware this season.

“To have someone of Travis’ calibre as both a coach and a person is essential in moving the club forward,” Coyne said.

“He has all the tools to coach at the highest level and I look forward to working with Travis as do all the staff and players at Bayswater.”

Dodd celebrates after scoring against Kuwait in 2006. Photo: Getty Images.

With a glorious professional career spanning over 15-years, Dodd has marked his spot in in the game both domestically and internationally.

As a teen, Dodd managed to turn some heads when he was Adelaide City's fourth youngest National Soccer League (NSL) player of all time at just 16 years and 281 days. He was also the fifth player in Adelaide’s NSL history to score a hat-trick.

In 2003, he moved abroad, beginning his stint with Malaysian club Johor, then Greek club Panionios NFC, even scoring for the Greek side against Italian side Udinese in a UEFA Cup first round match.

Dodd returned to Australia in 2005 and was a part of the Adelaide United team that won the 2005–06 Hyundai A-League Premiership.

He was the first Australian player to score a hat-trick in the Asian Champions League, scoring all three in a 3–0 win against Vietnamese side Dong Tam Long An, which prompted speculation he would soon join Japanese giants, Kashima Antlers, although the move never came to fruition

As captain of Adelaide United in 2008, Dodd scored 11 goals including one in the FIFA Club World Cup against Waitakere United which took the team to the quarterfinals.

He signed with Glory in March 2011 but was not re-signed last season after he tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament.
 
Dodd made his debut for the Socceroos at the AFC Cup qualifier against Kuwait in 2006 and scored the opening goal for the home side in a 2–0 win. He was the first indigenous Australian player to score a goal for the Socceroos.

“The game is growing here in WA and the clubs are professional outfits and you can clearly see that with Bayswater City,” said the father of two.

“From the president to the members the objectives and football philosophy is well structured and managed and I see this club growing positively. I want to be part of it and it's development.”