268: Jackson Irvine (Part A)
5/12/202647 min
A global footballer, a leader, and unapologetically himself. Vice-captain of Australia, and yes… the coolest Socceroo there is. Beneath the style is a story built on dedication, sacrifice, and an unshakeable belief in the dream.
From kicking a ball around Rowville, to packing his life at 16 and heading to Scotland with no guarantees, this is a journey of pure intent. Irvine opens up on the mindset that carried him from suburban Melbourne to Europe, the brutal realities of professional football, and the moments that tested everything, including turning down generational money, the loneliness of lockdown training in a park, and fighting his way back when the game almost slipped away.
There’s stories from Celtic to St. Pauli, from Hamburg streets to the World Cup. From local footy nostalgia to standing across from greatness like Lionel Messi. It’s about ownership. It’s about resilience. And it’s about building a life bigger than the game itself, through culture, community, and connection.
For the next generation, this one hits deep, what you can control, what you can’t, and how consistency, effort, and self-belief stack up over time.
This special episode of The Howie Games, powered by Powerade, is all about fuelling your journey, on and off the field. Because as Jacko shows, greatness isn’t given, it’s built.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 0· Soundbite0:00
[upbeat music] A listener production.
Jackson Irvine· Guest0:04
Okay, are you recording?
Mark Howard· Host0:06
[upbeat music] Hey, team. Thanks to the good folk at Powerade. Welcome to episode 268 of The Howie Games, Part A, featuring Socceroo Jackson Irvine.
Speaker 3· Soundbite0:20
Leckie almost getting in each other's way. Boyle into the area. He's done brilliantly. The cutback and the goal from Jackson Irvine.
Speaker 4· Soundbite0:27
And the suits are waiting. Goodwin's delivery, back post. It's 1-0 Australia. It's Jackson Irvine who's turned, turned the ball home.
Speaker 3· Soundbite0:34
And still going. Here's Jackson Irvine. It's there for Australia. Jackson Irvine.
Speaker 4· Soundbite0:41
Shuffle again from Craig Goodwin. Whipped in towards an earf- Oh, lovely header, Jackson Irvine. That's a peach.
Mark Howard· Host0:48
Jackson is a very cool cat who has played football all over the globe, currently in the Bundesliga. [chuckles] Good name for a comp, the Bundesliga.
Speaker 4· Soundbite0:59
Boys in brown in the middle waiting for the set piece, which is not the best, but it might make the best of it. And they do. It's the captain, Irvine, half-volleying it into the back of the net.
Mark Howard· Host1:10
Jackson is captain of St. Pauli, yes, in the Bundesliga. He's also been the skipper of the Socceroos, and he's set to head to his third World Cup. Phenomenal, really, for a bloke from the suburbs of Melbourne. Personally, I can't wait for the World Cup. Jacko comes to us courtesy of Powerade, powering your game. Hydration's the key.