OC in Profile:
Jordan Swibel (OC 2016)
For Jordan Swibel (OC 2016), football has always been an important part of life. “I was just born with a football at my feet, and that was all I did. Night and day, whether I was at home or at school, I was just always playing football.”
Jordan’s love of football (as well as his talent and hard work) has led to his current career playing professionally for a club in Israel, after several seasons with Australian teams like Sydney FC. And
for those who knew him at Cranbrook, this success is probably no surprise.
“I was always competitive, and I hate losing,” Jordan laughs. “So that was always ingrained in me. I didn’t care whether it was a football game for the 1st XI or the 7A’s or house football day, I just wanted to win!”
This competitive streak saw Jordan gain a spot in the 1st XI when he was in Year 9, later becoming the team’s captain, as well as being selected for the CAS squad in Year 12. At the same time, his father, Michael Swibel, was heavily involved in the campaign to get the new stand, canteen, and scoreboard at Dangar.
To Jordan, it felt like football was getting the same attention as other sports, and it was a great time to be playing in Cranbrook’s top team.
“The school put the money and the time and the effort towards that. So, you could say there was a big change towards the program, and a big mentality switch when I was there.”
While still in Year 12, Jordan joined Sydney FC as a train-on player in the Y-League (Youth League), before formally getting a place in the youth team the following year. He worked his way up the club, getting ten appearances in the A-League with Sydney FC, as well as two games in the Asian Champions League.
“I’m a Sydney FC fan, so to be able to represent my boyhood club was an absolute dream come true,”
Jordan says. “My debut was a very, very special moment. With my family in the crowd and my friends there as well, they knew how hard I’d worked for that first opportunity.”
Unfortunately, Jordan’s time at Sydney FC eventually came to an end. (“That’s professional football, you know, it’s not sunshine and rainbows all the time.”) He spent a year with the Western Sydney Wanderers, and then headed to Israel where he joined the Hapoel Nof HaGalil Football Club, which is currently competing in the country’s second division league.
From a field at Dangar, via the Sydney Football Stadium, Jordan is now playing professionally each week in stadiums full of thousands of fans, a world away from Sydney.
“There are a lot of similarities because at the end of the day, it’s 11, versus 11 and one round ball,” he says. “But, in saying that, there are a lot of differences. There are things like the pace of the game, how quickly teams move the ball, and the tactical decisions that coaches make for certain teams is different here compared to Australia.”
Jordan credits his teachers at Cranbrook for being supportive and accommodating of his football aspirations, particularly if he had training or travel commitments for games. But even then, when he was sitting in class, the sport was never far from his mind.
“I think I always knew that I was going to be here. If I never thought that I would be here, I wouldn’t be,” Jordan says. “Obviously I do realise how blessed I am, and I count that blessing every day that I do get to play professional football. But it’s taken a lot of hard work and sacrifice, that’s for sure!”
So, what’s next for Jordan? Well, he’s always been goal-oriented and had big plans – and that hasn’t changed.
“I want to play for the Socceroos. I want to play in the top division in Europe. Those have been my goals since I was a little kid, to represent my country and play the biggest games in the world. And that will never stop being my goal. I think if I one day woke up and I said to myself, ‘I just don’t feel I’m going to do that’, then I probably wouldn’t play football anymore.”
So, who knows, maybe next World Cup, we won’t just be cheering for the Socceroos, we’ll also be cheering for an Old Cranbrookian too.
Friends for Life
A very composed and respectful student who took his studies and sport seriously. An accomplished footballer who captained Australia at the Maccabiah Games when he was only 18. An early indication of Jordi’s commitment to excellence was his submission for a Year 9 PDHPE Project which focused on skill development. His submitted video showed Jordi practicing hitting the crossbar of the posts in Rodney Reserve over and over again!
Sam Carroll, PDHPE Teacher & Cranbrook School Head of Rowing
Jordan (Jordi) and I have shared so many amazing milestone moments together during our time at Cranbrook and since. We first met prior to senior school when we played for our local football team, Queens Park FC. Instantly we built a strong friendship, becoming a dynamic duo.
Matteo Mangioni, OC 2016 and best friend
Jordi just so happened to be attending Cranbrook and by absolute luck of the draw we were put in the same house. Jordi was a quiet and unassuming student at Cranbrook, someone who was always there for his friends and gave great advice. I felt privileged to begin school every day with my best mate.
Above anything, football was the priority. What inspired me most about Jordi’s journey to becoming a professional football player was his discipline and relentlessness to never give up on his dream. I feel extremely proud watching Jordi play, knowing how hard he has worked to be out on the pitch.
