The Socceroos' breakout star Jordan Bos is taking the hype surrounding his World Cup debut in stride, describing himself as a 'pretty chill guy' who prefers to focus on playing rather than pressure.
The 23-year-old left full-back, who has been tipped as one of the stars of the 2026 World Cup by international media, spoke to reporters at the Socceroos' training base in Oakland, California. 'Not really pressure,' Bos said when asked about the expectations. 'I don't really look at that stuff. Or think about it too much.'
From Point Cook to Feyenoord
Bos grew up in Point Cook, in Melbourne's western suburbs, and started his junior career at Hoppers Crossing. His father Jacco is a Dutch backpacker who met his mother Sandra while travelling in Australia. After joining Melbourne City's academy at 13, Bos moved to Belgian club Westerlo for around $2 million, then transferred to Dutch giants Feyenoord for approximately $9 million.
In his first season in the Eredivisie, Bos immediately impressed, winning the league's player of the month award for September 2024. He finished the season with four goals and six assists, helping Feyenoord secure second place and a Champions League spot. His value has since soared, approaching the record fee for an Australian player – the $26 million Leicester City paid for Harry Souttar in 2023.
Laid-back approach, explosive style
Despite his rapid rise, Bos remains grounded. 'I'm more of a guy that just plays and gets on with it,' he said. His relaxed demeanour contrasts with his aggressive playing style, which has drawn comparisons to the character Ash from the video game Rainbow Six Siege – described as 'aggressive, impulsive, and overly confident'. Bos laughed off the comparison but acknowledged his attacking instincts. 'I do like attacking but I don't think my defensive side has ever really been a problem either,' he said.
Family ties and future plans
Bos's younger brother Kasey recently signed a loan deal with Excelsior, Rotterdam's third-largest club, meaning the brothers will live close to each other. Bos said he is in no rush to leave Feyenoord, where he feels comfortable and connected to his Dutch heritage. A childhood photo of him wearing Feyenoord's red and white strip has gone viral.
As the Socceroos prepare for their opening match against tournament dark horses Turkey, Bos will likely face Juventus attacker Kenan Yildiz. When asked what he knows about the winger, Bos grinned: 'I'll definitely do my research in the next couple of days. I don't watch that much football in my downtime, so we'll see.'
