Nishan Velupillay walks into Operator Diner in Melbourne's CBD with an air of effortless cool, exuding confidence and laid-back style. As we settle in for a chat over coffee, it's clear that there's more to this young star than just his talent on the field. From his roots in a football-loving family to his studies and interests off-pitch, Velupillay's journey blends passion, determination, and style — three words that align with our own brand, too. He's one of Ultra Football's favourites. 

"I started playing when I was five," he reminisces. "Mum and Dad reckon I wasn’t too interested back then for whatever reason and I stopped. I'm not sure why, but then I came back a year later and from that point on I never stopped loving playing the game." It's a familiar story of early beginnings in the sport that most elite athletes we speak to share, fuelled by a love for the beautiful game that runs deep within his family.

Coming from a lineage of football fans, Velupillay's path into football was written early on. "My Dad loves it and used to enjoy playing. He loves watching it still and Mum and Dad were very encouraging when I was young," he explains. "My older brother still plays and also coaches at FTS (Football Technique School). I spent a lot of time at FTS - that's where I really raised my game after starting out at Endeavor United. The same club Jackson Irvine and a few others have played at."

His talent soon stood out while he was at FTS, leading him to join Bentleigh Greens and eventually Melbourne Victory, a club he had followed since he was a boy, even being in the stands at the iconic 6-0 Grand Final win against Adelaide as a 6-year-old. "After being in the FTS program for a while, I got a chance at Bentleigh Greens under 18s and 20s and it didn’t take long to get into the Seniors," he recalls. "That stint led to a 4-week trial at Victory back when Brebs (Grant Brebner) was there, and I’ve been there since. Signing was a proud moment for me and my family."

His rise in performances of late hasn't gone unnoticed, with Melbourne Victory securing him on a long-term deal back in November last year. But Velupillay remains grounded, focused on the present and dedicated to furthering his game. "I always try to be the best version of myself and work to help the team. If I’m helping the team, I’m happy," he asserts. 

When talking about how the team has looked like it's gelled well this season, with many players such as the newly re-signed Zinedine Machach calling it a "family", Velupillay agreed the team has been well put together this season. “It's been great. A lot of our foreign guys are older so they’ve got good experience and know what it takes to win. They’ve been great to have around the place. Then you look at younger guys like Fabian Monge and Ryan Teague who are playing a lot, that has been great, too. Having that good mix of old and young I think has helped. While at the end of the day knowing, If you’re good enough you’re old enough. We’ve got a good squad all competing really hard for their place.”

When we pushed him on where he might like to end up playing one day, he was resolute. “I don’t get drawn into things like what the future might hold. Everyone dreams of playing at the highest level, but I’m focused on the here and now always will be. I just want to keep working hard and improving." 

Off the pitch, Velupillay's interests are as diverse. From music, fashion, food and culture, he's got plenty of passions. "Fashion-wise I like brands like Zara and Uniqlo - I’m a big fan of keeping it plain and simple. Not much colour, I keep it clean. Industrie is another brand I like. They all have similarity I guess in that way."

Away from the intensity of matchdays, Velupillay and his teammates have found golf as a new way of switching off but keeping that togetherness all good teams have. "Recently a few of the boys and I have been getting into it," he reveals. "Starting off I’m not the best just yet but it’s fun. Jake Brimmer’s been playing for a while and is really good, Teaguey (Ryan Teague) and Eli Adams are pretty good, too. I’m just starting off but hope to improve over time. It’s good to have something else away from the game to focus on.”

Despite his demanding schedule, Velupillay also has an interest in studying, albeit with some challenges that come with being a professional footballer. "I was studying finance. But with travel and all that, it’s become hard to commit to it at the moment," he admits. "I’ll probably pick it up down the track because I actually really enjoy it. It’s good to keep switched on and focus on learning." 

As we moved into discussions about his influences and music taste, Velupillay's passion shines through. "I love old school R&B, UK rap like M Huncho and D-Block Europe. Me and Teaguey listen to a lot of that. And things like old school rap. I like house, too. It gets played a lot in the change rooms," he shares, offering insight into the pre-game vibes at the club. When pressed on who's on tunes duty, he further explained. “Broxy (Leigh Broxham) was in charge of matchday tunes for a while, but now it’s mainly Daniel (Arzani). He’s got all kinds of music. The boys just let him go for it. He's got a wide range and I don’t mind it, for sure.” When pressed on what his go-to is, “To get me hyped for a game? I’d go for All of the Lights by Kanye West.” 

During our chat, it was clear that Velupillay is grateful for the support of Melbourne Victory's passionate fanbase. "It’s been so good," he enthused. "Even playing in Newcastle a few weeks back, you could hear them chanting and pushing you on all game. They’re the best group of fans. We're looking forward to our upcoming home games, especially the derby in a few weeks. The last one was epic, but they are getting a lot more cagey these days. Hopefully, we can get a few past them this time for our fans.”

As our conversation drew to a close, we spoke about his gruelling club and international schedule of late. We caught up just before he headed off for Olyroos duty, and were keen to know where he might be headed for a post-season break. "I don’t know yet. It depends on how long I get too be honest. I might go back to see some of my family in Perth… my partner has just gone to Europe for a bit, so it might not be back there given she would have just been, so most likely we'll be putting our feet up somewhere hot." 

It will be a well-deserved break after what could still prove to be a season to remember in Melbourne, even if they might not be getting the amount of wins many expected so far. With just four games of the regular season left, it's go-time for Victory. With Velupillay relishing the chance at a finals run, buoyed by some impressive form on Olyroos duty, he will make an impact, we're sure of that.

Catch Nishan Velupillay and Melbourne Victory in action this Saturday night at AAMI Park against Melbourne Victory. 

Photos by Aleksandar Jason.