"Hallo - my name is Sasa Ilic," is how Charlton Athletic staff were greeted back in September by a giant Australian goalkeeper. They had no idea that the English resident with Yugoslav ancestry was their key to the Premiership.

Ilic was born in Melbourne in 1972 but studied for his PE degree at Belgrade University. After watching a video of him, Leon Shepherdson, chairman of St Leonards Stamcroft FC in the Dr Martens Southern League, brought the ex-Partizan Belgrade and Radnicki player to Sussex.

Ilic completed his degree at Brighton University and, after a trial with Aston Villa, finally signed for Charlton late in January this year. He has received some interest from the Yugoslavian national set-up and believes he could one day play for the country. "It would be an honour - playing for any country would be," he said, explaining that, at 25, he could still play in two or more World Cups.

The last few weeks have been exhausting. "It's been terrifying - the fact I've been getting so much media attention," said Ilic. "There was a lot of pressure for me to perform at Wembley."

He said the atmosphere in London was incredible. "It was fantastic, I loved it. It will be with me all my life." The prospect of playing in front of 78,000 fans did little to faze the Charlton keeper. "The more people I play in front of, the better I feel," he said.

But he did feel the burden of pressure at the end of extra time as fellow players said: "It's up to you now Sasa." During the penalty shoot-out, Ilic found a two pence coin on the pitch. "I thought `Find a penny, pick it up and it might bring you good luck,'" he said. He tossed the coin before each spot kick and decided he would dive right if it landed tails and left for heads.

After six efforts had flown past him, he tossed the coin for the final time but ignored the result. He dived to the left and comfortably saved Michael Gray's weak effort to make Addicks history. "Maybe it did bring me luck in an indirect way," said Ilic. Last week it was announced that Ilic had signed a four-year deal with Charlton and he is relishing the prospect of Premiership football.

"I can't wait - it's another challenge," he said. "It was a challenge to play in the first team and play well. It's time to accomplish other dreams now."

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