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Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Behind the soccer manager helping Albo
Anthony Albanese made a calculated diplomatic move when he took a walk along Shanghai's waterfront with a former Socceroo. Kevin Muscat has become something of a celebrity in the coastal Chinese city since January 2024 when he became the manager of Shanghai Port FC. In his first year at the helm, Muscat brought the club its first back-to-back title in the Chinese Super League after Shanghai Port won in 2023 under Javier Pereira. The club is fourth on the table after 16 games in 2025. On Sunday, the Prime Minister made clear what Muscat's success meant for Australia's diplomatic efforts with the global superpower when he called the manager and his team 'ambassadors'. Anthony Albanese walked The Bund waterfront in Shanghai with Kevin Muscat. NewsWire / Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer Credit: News Corp Australia 'It's great to be here with Kevin Muscat, now the manager here of Shanghai Port FC and, indeed, the premiership-winning manager here,' Mr Albanese said. 'One of the things about Australia and China going forward is that we build the people-to-people relationships. 'You do that by the participation of Australians here, whether it be here in football, whether it be the tennis tournament that is going to take place in Chengdu for the Australian Open. 'Whether it be the business relationships that we have here as well. 'This is an important relationship and I've just been chatting with Kevin about the fact that they are ambassadors as well.' Muscat welcomed Mr Albanese to China, lending no-small part of his brand to the six-day diplomatic trip. 'It sounds like you've got a big a few days ahead of you, but also thank you for taking the time to saying hello and taking the time to come in and spending this morning with us in Shanghai,' Muscat said. He then presented Mr Albanese with his own Shanghai Port FC jersey, complete with Mr Albanese's name and a number 10 on the back. Mr Albanese said he would 'be able to wear that around Australia proudly,' but noted that he had played on Parliament House's football team who were 'not very good'. Muscat presented Mr Albanese with a Shanghai Port FC jersey. NewsWire / Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer Credit: News Corp Australia During his time as a professional soccer player, Muscat earnt a reputation as a hardman, with English striker Peter Crouch saying the Australian was the only footballer who genuinely scared him on the pitch. Muscat received 123 yellow cards and 12 red cards in his professional career and in 2013 was voted football's dirtiest ever player by Spanish website El Gol Digital. He represented Australia at a national level 46 times and played eight seasons across four teams in the UK. He returned from the UK and played 113 games for Melbourne Victory before his retirement in 2011. Muscat welcomed Mr Albanese to Shanghai. NewsWire / Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer Credit: News Corp Australia Muscat went on to become a successful coach, winning titles with Melbourne Victory and the Japanese team Yokohama F. Marinos, along with Shanghai Port FC. His success has won him fans in Shanghai; in an interview with The Australian he revealed a portrait sent by a fan that included the message, 'Kevin, with you here, we never fear any team.' Soccer diplomacy could help warm the relationship between the two countries. NewsWire / Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Albanese has used soccer diplomacy to warm the relationship with China as he faces a grilling following a US defence adviser's push for Australia to detail its response if China were to invade Taiwan. Known China hawk and US President Donald Trump's key defence adviser Elbridge Colby has called for countries the US deem to be lagging on defence spending to rapidly increase funding. Coalition MPs questioned Mr Albanese's approach on Monday and said it was indicative of there not being a strong relationship between Mr Albanese and Mr Trump. Mr Albanese also continues to face pressure to try to lock in a face-to-face meeting with Mr Trump.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Behind Anthony Albanese's stroll along The Bund with Kevin Muscat
Anthony Albanese made a calculated diplomatic move when he took a walk along Shanghai's waterfront with a former Socceroo. Kevin Muscat has become something of a celebrity in the coastal Chinese city since January 2024 when he became the manager of Shanghai Port FC. In his first year at the helm, Muscat brought the club its first back-to-back title in the Chinese Super League after Shanghai Port won in 2023 under Javier Pereira. The club is fourth on the table after 16 games in 2025. On Sunday, the Prime Minister made clear what Muscat's success meant for Australia's diplomatic efforts with the global superpower when he called the manager and his team 'ambassadors'. 'It's great to be here with Kevin Muscat, now the manager here of Shanghai Port FC and, indeed, the premiership-winning manager here,' Mr Albanese said. 'One of the things about Australia and China going forward is that we build the people-to-people relationships. 'You do that by the participation of Australians here, whether it be here in football, whether it be the tennis tournament that is going to take place in Chengdu for the Australian Open. 'Whether it be the business relationships that we have here as well. 'This is an important relationship and I've just been chatting with Kevin about the fact that they are ambassadors as well.' Muscat welcomed Mr Albanese to China, lending no-small part of his brand to the six-day diplomatic trip. 'It sounds like you've got a big a few days ahead of you, but also thank you for taking the time to saying hello and taking the time to come in and spending this morning with us in Shanghai,' Muscat said. He then presented Mr Albanese with his own Shanghai Port FC jersey, complete with Mr Albanese's name and a number 10 on the back. Mr Albanese said he would 'be able to wear that around Australia proudly,' but noted that he had played on Parliament House's football team who were 'not very good'. During his time as a professional soccer player, Muscat earnt a reputation as a hardman, with English striker Peter Crouch saying the Australian was the only footballer who genuinely scared him on the pitch. Muscat received 123 yellow cards and 12 red cards in his professional career and in 2013 was voted football's dirtiest ever player by Spanish website El Gol Digital. He represented Australia at a national level 46 times and played eight seasons across four teams in the UK. He returned from the UK and played 113 games for Melbourne Victory before his retirement in 2011. Muscat went on to become a successful coach, winning titles with Melbourne Victory and the Japanese team Yokohama F. Marinos, along with Shanghai Port FC. His success has won him fans in Shanghai; in an interview with The Australian he revealed a portrait sent by a fan that included the message, 'Kevin, with you here, we never fear any team.' Mr Albanese has used soccer diplomacy to warm the relationship with China as he faces a grilling following a US defence adviser's push for Australia to detail its response if China were to invade Taiwan. Known China hawk and US President Donald Trump's key defence adviser Elbridge Colby has called for countries the US deem to be lagging on defence spending to rapidly increase funding. Coalition MPs questioned Mr Albanese's approach on Monday and said it was indicative of there not being a strong relationship between Mr Albanese and Mr Trump.
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
PM juggles military tensions amid football diplomacy
Football and tourism have been the focus of the prime minister's first full day in China as questions about Australia's participation in a potential future conflict with the Asian superpower overshadow his six-day tour. Former Socceroo Kevin Muscat joined Anthony Albanese on a morning walk along Shanghai's historic Bund promenade on Sunday to promote the two nations' interpersonal links. Now coaching Shanghai Port FC, Muscat last year became the first Australian manager to lead a Chinese Super League team to the premiership. The former midfield enforcer has brought over a host of Australian coaching staff, including fellow ex-Socceroo Ross Aloisi, in a sign of the deepening collaboration between Australia and China on the sporting field. A keen tennis player, Mr Albanese will also make an announcement about extending an Australian Open wildcard tournament in the southwestern city of Chengdu later in the visit. "One of the things about Australia and China that's so important is we build people-to-people relations and we do that by the participation of Australians here," the prime minister said. "Whether it be here in football, or whether it be the lead-in tournament that's going to take place in Chengdu for the Australian Open (or) the business relationships that we have here as well." Looking across the Huangpu River to the towering skyscrapers on the opposite bank, Mr Albanese reflected on the phenomenal economic transformation China had undergone in recent decades. That boom has seen no small benefit flow to Australia, whose iron ore exports helped build the Shanghai skyline and filled the federal government's coffers. "When I first came here in the 1990s, the area Pudong was very different indeed," Mr Albanese said in a meeting with local Chinese Communist Party official Chen Jining. "There were farms where there is now a great metropolis. "The development we can see across the river is symbolic of the extraordinary development that China has seen in recent decades, lifting literally hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and creating economic benefit for the people of China but also increased economic engagement with countries like Australia." A burgeoning Chinese middle class, with a new found appetite for travel, has flocked to Australia in recent decades though recent tourist numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels. To promote Australia as a travel destination, the prime minister will oversee the signing of a memorandum of understanding between online travel giant - which owns popular bookings sites such as Skyscanner - and Tourism Australia. He will also unveil a new tourism campaign to air in China starring local film star Yu Shi and Ruby the Roo, an animated kangaroo voiced by Rose Byrne. Amid the positive rhetoric around Sino-Australian relations, Mr Albanese is doing his best to dodge the US-sized elephant in the room. Military tensions were highlighted by revelations that US defence strategist Elbridge Colby has been pushing Australia and Japan to clarify what role they would play in a potential conflict with China But acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy on Sunday reiterated Australia's long-established stance on whether it would join the US in a war. "The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance," he told ABC's Insiders program. Football and tourism have been the focus of the prime minister's first full day in China as questions about Australia's participation in a potential future conflict with the Asian superpower overshadow his six-day tour. Former Socceroo Kevin Muscat joined Anthony Albanese on a morning walk along Shanghai's historic Bund promenade on Sunday to promote the two nations' interpersonal links. Now coaching Shanghai Port FC, Muscat last year became the first Australian manager to lead a Chinese Super League team to the premiership. The former midfield enforcer has brought over a host of Australian coaching staff, including fellow ex-Socceroo Ross Aloisi, in a sign of the deepening collaboration between Australia and China on the sporting field. A keen tennis player, Mr Albanese will also make an announcement about extending an Australian Open wildcard tournament in the southwestern city of Chengdu later in the visit. "One of the things about Australia and China that's so important is we build people-to-people relations and we do that by the participation of Australians here," the prime minister said. "Whether it be here in football, or whether it be the lead-in tournament that's going to take place in Chengdu for the Australian Open (or) the business relationships that we have here as well." Looking across the Huangpu River to the towering skyscrapers on the opposite bank, Mr Albanese reflected on the phenomenal economic transformation China had undergone in recent decades. That boom has seen no small benefit flow to Australia, whose iron ore exports helped build the Shanghai skyline and filled the federal government's coffers. "When I first came here in the 1990s, the area Pudong was very different indeed," Mr Albanese said in a meeting with local Chinese Communist Party official Chen Jining. "There were farms where there is now a great metropolis. "The development we can see across the river is symbolic of the extraordinary development that China has seen in recent decades, lifting literally hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and creating economic benefit for the people of China but also increased economic engagement with countries like Australia." A burgeoning Chinese middle class, with a new found appetite for travel, has flocked to Australia in recent decades though recent tourist numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels. To promote Australia as a travel destination, the prime minister will oversee the signing of a memorandum of understanding between online travel giant - which owns popular bookings sites such as Skyscanner - and Tourism Australia. He will also unveil a new tourism campaign to air in China starring local film star Yu Shi and Ruby the Roo, an animated kangaroo voiced by Rose Byrne. Amid the positive rhetoric around Sino-Australian relations, Mr Albanese is doing his best to dodge the US-sized elephant in the room. Military tensions were highlighted by revelations that US defence strategist Elbridge Colby has been pushing Australia and Japan to clarify what role they would play in a potential conflict with China But acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy on Sunday reiterated Australia's long-established stance on whether it would join the US in a war. "The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance," he told ABC's Insiders program. Football and tourism have been the focus of the prime minister's first full day in China as questions about Australia's participation in a potential future conflict with the Asian superpower overshadow his six-day tour. Former Socceroo Kevin Muscat joined Anthony Albanese on a morning walk along Shanghai's historic Bund promenade on Sunday to promote the two nations' interpersonal links. Now coaching Shanghai Port FC, Muscat last year became the first Australian manager to lead a Chinese Super League team to the premiership. The former midfield enforcer has brought over a host of Australian coaching staff, including fellow ex-Socceroo Ross Aloisi, in a sign of the deepening collaboration between Australia and China on the sporting field. A keen tennis player, Mr Albanese will also make an announcement about extending an Australian Open wildcard tournament in the southwestern city of Chengdu later in the visit. "One of the things about Australia and China that's so important is we build people-to-people relations and we do that by the participation of Australians here," the prime minister said. "Whether it be here in football, or whether it be the lead-in tournament that's going to take place in Chengdu for the Australian Open (or) the business relationships that we have here as well." Looking across the Huangpu River to the towering skyscrapers on the opposite bank, Mr Albanese reflected on the phenomenal economic transformation China had undergone in recent decades. That boom has seen no small benefit flow to Australia, whose iron ore exports helped build the Shanghai skyline and filled the federal government's coffers. "When I first came here in the 1990s, the area Pudong was very different indeed," Mr Albanese said in a meeting with local Chinese Communist Party official Chen Jining. "There were farms where there is now a great metropolis. "The development we can see across the river is symbolic of the extraordinary development that China has seen in recent decades, lifting literally hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and creating economic benefit for the people of China but also increased economic engagement with countries like Australia." A burgeoning Chinese middle class, with a new found appetite for travel, has flocked to Australia in recent decades though recent tourist numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels. To promote Australia as a travel destination, the prime minister will oversee the signing of a memorandum of understanding between online travel giant - which owns popular bookings sites such as Skyscanner - and Tourism Australia. He will also unveil a new tourism campaign to air in China starring local film star Yu Shi and Ruby the Roo, an animated kangaroo voiced by Rose Byrne. Amid the positive rhetoric around Sino-Australian relations, Mr Albanese is doing his best to dodge the US-sized elephant in the room. Military tensions were highlighted by revelations that US defence strategist Elbridge Colby has been pushing Australia and Japan to clarify what role they would play in a potential conflict with China But acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy on Sunday reiterated Australia's long-established stance on whether it would join the US in a war. "The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance," he told ABC's Insiders program. Football and tourism have been the focus of the prime minister's first full day in China as questions about Australia's participation in a potential future conflict with the Asian superpower overshadow his six-day tour. Former Socceroo Kevin Muscat joined Anthony Albanese on a morning walk along Shanghai's historic Bund promenade on Sunday to promote the two nations' interpersonal links. Now coaching Shanghai Port FC, Muscat last year became the first Australian manager to lead a Chinese Super League team to the premiership. The former midfield enforcer has brought over a host of Australian coaching staff, including fellow ex-Socceroo Ross Aloisi, in a sign of the deepening collaboration between Australia and China on the sporting field. A keen tennis player, Mr Albanese will also make an announcement about extending an Australian Open wildcard tournament in the southwestern city of Chengdu later in the visit. "One of the things about Australia and China that's so important is we build people-to-people relations and we do that by the participation of Australians here," the prime minister said. "Whether it be here in football, or whether it be the lead-in tournament that's going to take place in Chengdu for the Australian Open (or) the business relationships that we have here as well." Looking across the Huangpu River to the towering skyscrapers on the opposite bank, Mr Albanese reflected on the phenomenal economic transformation China had undergone in recent decades. That boom has seen no small benefit flow to Australia, whose iron ore exports helped build the Shanghai skyline and filled the federal government's coffers. "When I first came here in the 1990s, the area Pudong was very different indeed," Mr Albanese said in a meeting with local Chinese Communist Party official Chen Jining. "There were farms where there is now a great metropolis. "The development we can see across the river is symbolic of the extraordinary development that China has seen in recent decades, lifting literally hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and creating economic benefit for the people of China but also increased economic engagement with countries like Australia." A burgeoning Chinese middle class, with a new found appetite for travel, has flocked to Australia in recent decades though recent tourist numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels. To promote Australia as a travel destination, the prime minister will oversee the signing of a memorandum of understanding between online travel giant - which owns popular bookings sites such as Skyscanner - and Tourism Australia. He will also unveil a new tourism campaign to air in China starring local film star Yu Shi and Ruby the Roo, an animated kangaroo voiced by Rose Byrne. Amid the positive rhetoric around Sino-Australian relations, Mr Albanese is doing his best to dodge the US-sized elephant in the room. Military tensions were highlighted by revelations that US defence strategist Elbridge Colby has been pushing Australia and Japan to clarify what role they would play in a potential conflict with China But acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy on Sunday reiterated Australia's long-established stance on whether it would join the US in a war. "The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance," he told ABC's Insiders program.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
PM strolls Shanghai's Bund under watchful eyes of Chinese officials
Anthony Albanese has taken a walk down Shanghai's world-famous waterfront under the watchful eyes of Chinese officials, with his hosts doing their utmost to give him an unobstructed view of the towering central skyline. Onlookers gazed with unabashed curiosity as the Prime Minister and his posse strolled along the picturesque Bund with an air of confidence akin to the man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo. 'It isn't racism,' one Australian official told NewsWire. 'They just haven't seen so many white people in a big group like this before.' Among the curious crowds were people eager to extend warm welcomes and well-wishes in English. 'Hello, welcome,' a young man said. Another onlooker said she wished 'you have a warm stay'. But asked any questions that strayed from general niceties, they simply smiled and repeated their greetings. Mr Albanese was accompanied by Australian soccer legend Kevin Muscat. Mr Muscat is now head coach at Shanghai Port FC. 'A legendary Australian footballer, and now the manager here of Shanghai FC port and indeed, premiership winning manager here,' Mr Albanese told reporters from the promenade. 'One of the things about Australia and China that's so important is that we build people-to-people relations. 'And we do that by the participation of Australians here, whether it be here in football, whether it be the leading tournament that's going to take place in Chengdu, for the Australian Open, whether it be the business relationships that we have here as well.' China's charm offensive comes as Canberra and Beijing strive to focus on the positives of their relationship. Mr Albanese, who touched down in Shanghai on Saturday, has spruiked tourism, trade and people-to-people links. The Chinese government is acutely aware that Australia's relationship with the US is strained by the Trump administration's tariffs and the Albanese government's lacklustre defence spending. In the minds of Canberra and Beijing, both are reasons to talk more, not less. Ahead of Mr Albanese's lengthy state visit, China's ambassador invited the Albanese government to deepen the Australia's economic relationship with China and find consensus on differences — however chiasmic they may be. The envoy even teased co-operation on artificial intelligence. Though, Mr Albanese has so far neither embraced nor rejected the wooing and instead stuck firmly to his China mantra: 'We will co-operate where we can, disagree where we must, but engage in our national interest.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Albo's Shanghai stroll under watchful eyes
Anthony Albanese has taken a walk down Shanghai's world-famous waterfront under the watchful eyes of Chinese officials, with his hosts doing their utmost to give him an unobstructed view of the towering central skyline. Onlookers gazed with unabashed curiosity as the Prime Minister and his posse strolled along the picturesque Bund with an air of confidence akin to the man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo. 'It isn't racism,' one Australian official told NewsWire. 'They just haven't seen so many white people in a big group like this before.' Among the curious crowds were people eager to extend warm welcomes and well-wishes in English. 'Hello, welcome,' a young man said. Another onlooker said she wished 'you have a warm stay'. But asked any questions that strayed from general niceties, they simply smiled and repeated their greetings. Mr Albanese was accompanied by Australian soccer legend Kevin Muscat. Mr Muscat is now head coach at Shanghai Port FC. 'A legendary Australian footballer, and now the manager here of Shanghai FC port and indeed, premiership winning manager here,' Mr Albanese told reporters from the promenade. 'One of the things about Australia and China that's so important is that we build people-to-people relations. 'And we do that by the participation of Australians here, whether it be here in football, whether it be the leading tournament that's going to take place in Chengdu, for the Australian Open, whether it be the business relationships that we have here as well.' China's charm offensive comes as Canberra and Beijing strive to focus on the positives of their relationship. Mr Albanese, who touched down in Shanghai on Saturday, has spruiked tourism, trade and people-to-people links. The Chinese government is acutely aware that Australia's relationship with the US is strained by the Trump administration's tariffs and the Albanese government's lacklustre defence spending. In the minds of Canberra and Beijing, both are reasons to talk more, not less. Ahead of Mr Albanese's lengthy state visit, China's ambassador invited the Albanese government to deepen the Australia's economic relationship with China and find consensus on differences — however chiasmic they may be. The envoy even teased co-operation on artificial intelligence. Though, Mr Albanese has so far neither embraced nor rejected the wooing and instead stuck firmly to his China mantra: 'We will co-operate where we can, disagree where we must, but engage in our national interest.'
