EXCLUSIVE
Former soccer sex symbol and Dancing With The Stars champion Anthony Koutoufides is preparing for “the fight of his life” after confirming a surprising move in the political arena.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal the much-loved former Carlton Football Club player will officially announce his decision to run in the upcoming Melbourne mayoral race on Thursday.
The 51-year-old has spent the past month agonizing over the proposal and weighing the impact the high-profile role – and the scrutiny that comes with it – could have on his wife, Susie, and their three children.
However, the former Australian Gladiators reality TV star has since received the backing of her entire family in the upcoming political fight and is currently finalising her candidacy – and running mates – ahead of Thursday’s announcement.
Despite overtures from both political parties, the AFL legend – widely regarded as Australian football’s first “modern” star – has decided to go his own way and will stand as an independent.
The decision will see Kouta take on incumbent Nicholas Reece, who has been holding the hot seat since taking over as Melbourne’s 105th Lord Mayor in July following the resignation of his predecessor, Sally Capp.
Koutoutfides first mentioned he was considering entering politics last month after revealing that a friend had contacted him about the October mayoral race.
Anthony Koutoufides (pictured with his wife Susie) will run for Melbourne mayor in October
‘Kouta’ was crowned Dancing With The Stars champion in 2006 alongside Natalie Lowe (pictured)
Koutoufides (pictured in action for Carlton during a 2005 clash against the Sydney Swans) was one of the country’s biggest football stars in his prime.
At the time, he spoke about his love for the southern capital and his desire to give back to the community that has supported him throughout his sporting and media careers.
“I’m really looking forward to it because I’m keen to do something if I can,” he told The Age last month. ‘I love this city, I love this country.’
‘Kouta’ was an AFL force in the 1990s and early 2000s, playing 278 games for Carlton and winning a championship with the club in 1995.
He was considered a sex symbol and appeared as a pin-up in the daring Men For All Seasons calendar, which was hugely popular at the time.
Koutoufides became a reality TV star with roles such as ‘Kouta the Greek God’ in the Seven Network’s 2008 revival of Gladiators, and two appearances on Dancing With The Stars, and was crowned champion on the reality dance show in 2006.
He has already had a taste of the level of scrutiny that will come with a move into politics after a nasty row between the Australian and the builder overseeing work on his family mansion made headlines across the country in January.