Marcus Younis takes us inside his journey from Western Sydney Wanderers Academy to PSV Eindhoven, Brøndby IF, Melbourne City FC, and being close to a Socceroos call-up before the 2026 World Cup.
In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with the 20-year-old Australian winger to trace a career that has already taken him across three countries. Marcus talks about growing up in a football family in Sydney, joining the Western Sydney Wanderers Academy at 12, and losing nearly two years of football to a string of injuries between the ages of 14 and 16 before going from U18s to an A-League debut inside a single year under Marko Rudan.
We move through his first professional contract at the Wanderers, the decision to leave the A-League for a year on loan at PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Eerste Divisie, and the unexpected coach change at Brøndby IF in the Danish Superliga that turned a dream start into months on the sidelines. Marcus is candid about how hard it is to live and train alone in a foreign country at 20, and what it taught him about the side of professional football nobody talks about.
He closes with a breakdown of his breakout loan at Melbourne City FC, including the 93rd-minute AFC Champions League Elite winner against Ulsan that sent the club through to the knockouts. He shares his read on the Socceroos heading into the 2026 World Cup, the advice that changed how he approaches his game, and what he would say to the 11-year-old version of himself just starting at the Wanderers Academy.
IN THIS EPISODE_
▸ Growing up in a football family and learning from backyard battles with his older brother ▸ Joining Western Sydney Wanderers Academy at 12 and the nine years that followed ▸ Two years lost to injury between 14 and 16 and how he came back stronger ▸ Going from U18s to an A-League debut in 12 months under Marko Rudan ▸ Signing his first professional contract at 18 with Western Sydney Wanderers ▸ Why he chose PSV Eindhoven over staying in the A-League ▸ The reality of being a foreigner inside a Dutch second team ▸ The Brøndby IF coach change that derailed a perfect start ▸ Coming home to Melbourne City FC and finding form again ▸ His 93rd-minute AFC Champions League Elite winner against Ulsan ▸ Why life outside football matters more than young players realise ▸ His read on the Socceroos heading into the 2026 World Cup ▸ His best advice for young players still chasing the dream