Birighitti won’t hold grudge for AZ’s snub

But United keeper eyes huge win

FOR Dundee United goalkeeper Mark Birighitti, tonight’s encounter with AZ Alkmaar represents a golden opportunity for his career to come full circle.

As a 15-year-old, the Australian made his first ever trip abroad for a trial with the Dutch club.

Now, at the age of 31, he wants to seize the chance to go back there and shatter their European dreams.

Birighitti was never signed by the Eredivisie outfit, but there was no bitterness in his voice last night as he reflected on an experience that he feels prepared him well for the highs and lows of a life in football.

Looking around Alkmaar’s AFAS Stadion ahead of this evening’s third qualifying round clash in the Europa Conference League, he recalled: ‘I was only 15 at the time — I stayed in a hotel just around the corner from here and we trained on the pitch out the back.

‘It was a great experience and the first time I’d ever left Australia. It was a big stadium and, in Australia, you didn’t see football stadiums like this and quality training pitches. It was amazing.’

After his rejection, Birighitti subsequently returned to the Netherlands to play for NAC Breda, but his heart now firmly belongs to a Dundee United side who are looking to progress at Alkmaar’s expense after Glenn Middleton’s wonder goal gave them a 1-0 first-leg victory at Tannadice.

‘When I was at NAC Breda, we played here and we had a horrendous time. We got smashed by them,’ remembered Birghitti (right).

‘I had come over myself for the trial with Alkmaar. Fair play to the club, they looked after me. My mum and dad dropped me off at the airport and I flew over to Amsterdam. One of the guys from the club met me. I actually just bumped into him in the dugout. I had a good chat with him and he remembers me. He’s a good guy. ‘For me, it was a great experience. I was only a teenager at the time and was lucky enough to get a trial for one week. ‘It was a step up in terms of quality, the training, the speed they do things. ‘The environment, the players and how technically good they are, it was a big step up. It was a good experience and, playing against AZ now, it’s a good place to come to and I can’t wait for it.’ Birighitti is hoping to play a major part in what could be a historic evening for United as manager Jack Ross seeks to restore a flavour of the club’s European glory runs under Jim McLean.

Recalling the days when he woke up in the early hours of the morning in Australia to watch European football on television with his father, the chance to shake up the continent is an exciting prospect.

That was apparent after the final whistle sounded on last Thursday’s triumph over the Dutch side when he celebrated by rolling around on the pitch with a supporter who had leapt on to the park.

It’s no exaggeration to say that playing in Europe has been a lifelong dream for the Tannadice new boy.

‘For me, coming from Australia, growing up as a young kid waking up at 3am to watch European games, to actually be a part of it, to experience that atmosphere (last week), words can’t describe it,’ said the former Swansea and Central Coast Mariners player, who signed a two-year deal with United last month.

‘It was nuts. It was amazing to see. I really enjoyed the occasion and I hope we can — and I’m confident — get a result and progress to the next round and challenge for the group stage. It was probably one of the best atmospheres that I’ve been a part of.

‘Obviously, I’ve been in the UK before with Swansea, but I never played there. I played in Holland for a season with NAC Breda and, yeah, there were a couple of good games, but the atmosphere at Tannadice was unbelievable.’

Birighitti, who is of Italian heritage, has the perfect idol from whom to draw inspiration as he seeks to embark on a European odyssey.

He grew up watching Gianluigi Buffon on TV and had the opportunity to meet his hero following an A-League All Stars game against Juventus in 2014.

He said: ‘He’s an absolute legend. Alessandro Del Piero was in my team at the time and I asked him to sort out a catch-up with Buffon.

‘Fair play to him, he hooked me up with him after the game. It was a great half hour.’

I had come over to the trial myself. Fair play, the club looked after me