The National Museum of Australia has received a major donation of the Johnny Warren collection which includes a Leader Hall of Fame trophy posthumously awarded to the former St George and Socceroo captain in March.

Almost 500 objects related to the life of the footballer, administrator, journalist and television personality have been donated to the museum.

The objects range from a 1953 under 12’s trophy, through to the FIFA Centennial Order of Merit medal which was presented by FIFA President Sepp Blatter in 2004. It was the only medal awarded to an Australian, one of only 100 worldwide.

Other highlights include Johnny Warren’s Soccerroo shirt worn in the match against East Germany in the 1974 World Cup and his Medal of the Order of Australia awarded in 2002.

Johnny Warren played 42 times for the Socceroos including the 1974 World Cup. For more than 30 years he became the face of football in Australia through his tireless commitment to the development of the game.

The Johnny Warren collection was donated to the National Museum by his brothers Geoff and Ross Warren, his nephew Jamie Warren, and his partner Sibere Rodrigues.

Geoff, Ross and Jamie all attended the Leader's 2007 Sportstar of the Year presentation night on March 28 where Johnny Warren was a popular inclusion in the Hall of Fame.

On the night, Les Murray, the SBS football presenter and Johnny's lifelong friend, paid a moving tribute to the football visionary who successfully predicted that Australia's football future lay in Asia.

The Director of the National Museum of Australia, Craddock Morton said: ''We intend to exhibit elements of the Johnny Warren collection in our permanent galleries in the neat future and we are looking at opportunities to tour the collection around the country in coming years''.

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