Vale – Willem ‘Willy’ Slager
/Adelaide Croatia would like to express its sincere condolences to the Slager family.
Willy Slager joined Adelaide Croatia Soccer Club in 1963 from Sturt Orange. It was in his first season that Adelaide Croatia got a taste for just how good Slager was. Slager won the golden boot in 1963 and would go on to become Adelaide Croatia’s all-time top goal scorer with over 150 goals in 300 games, in a career spanning from 1963-1975.
Representing Adelaide Croatia, Slager wore his heart on his sleeve and gave everything and more to the club, becoming club captain at the peak of his career. Slager was loved by the Croatian community.
Slager led Adelaide Croatia to the 1972 & 1975 Division Two Championship. He captained Croatia to the historical Wills Cup win in 1974 as a second division side over the much-fancied Cumberland United. Croatia was able to shock the state with a 4-3 win in extra time, overturning a 3-1 deficit!
Slagers love for the club was passed down to his sons Robert & Andrew who would go on to represent the club. Robbie becoming a club legend winning the league title for Croatia in 1984 & 1988.
Slager was a state representative, a life member of Adelaide Croatia and an inaugural Hall of Fame Inductee with the Croatian Soccer Association.
Funeral will be held 12th of March, 10:30am at Taylor & Forgie Chapel on Adelaide Rd, Gawler, opposite Gawler race course.
Počivao u Miru Božjem. Rest in Peace Willy Slager.
