Matt Simon
|
Simon playing for Central Coast Mariners in 2008 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthew Blake Simon | ||
| Date of birth | 22 January 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Sydney, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker/Winger | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Sydney FC | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Wyoming | |||
| East Gosford | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2006 | Central Coast Lightning | 35 | (8) |
| 2006–2012 | Central Coast Mariners | 114 | (36) |
| 2012–2013 | Jeonnam Dragons | 6 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | Central Coast Mariners | 33 | (5) |
| 2015– | Sydney FC | 26 | (3) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2008 | Australia U-23 | 10 | (5) |
| 2009 | Australia | 2 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11:42, 16 November 2016 (UTC). | |||
Matthew Blake "Matt" Simon (born 22 January 1986) is an Australian international football (soccer) player who plays as a striker for Sydney FC in the A-League.
Simon started his senior career with Central Coast Lightning before joining Central Coast Mariners in 2006. In 2012, Simon signed with K-League club Chunnam Dragons, however, his opportunities at the club were limited by persistent injuries. In 2013, Simon rejoined the Mariners. He moved to Sydney FC after being released by the Mariners in 2015. Simon remains the Mariners' all-time leading goal scorer.
Simon has made two appearances for the Australia national team. He also appeared for Australia U23 at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Club career
Central Coast Mariners
He was added to the Mariners' squad in the week leading up to their 2006 Pre-Season Cup play-off against Newcastle Jets. Simon was then brought back to the squad after Nik Mrdja suffered a heel injury before the round 19 clash against Newcastle. He starred for the Central Coast Lightning during their 2006 NSW Winter Super League campaign. Simon had a solid 07-08 season with the Mariners despite not scoring any goals. In the first league game for the 08-09 season Simon immediately broke his duck and scored off a header that would prove to be the start of his wonderful season.
After a successful 08-09 season, in January 2009, He was offered a 2-year contract by Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids but turned it down citing his preference to remain in Australia with the possibility of playing in Europe in the future. Later in the year, he extended his contract with Central Coast Mariners, staying with the club until 2012.[1]
Move to South Korea
On 30 December 2011 it was announced that he had signed a three-year contract worth $400,000 per year to play for K-League side Jeonnam Dragons.[2] It was later announced that Jeonnam Dragons paid a transfer fee of $170,000 to acquire the player.[3]
Return to Central Coast Mariners
On 16 May 2013 it was announced that he had re-signed with the Mariners.
Sydney FC
On 3 August 2015 it was announced that Matt Simon had signed with Sydney FC, reuniting with his former coach Graham Arnold after he penned a one-year deal with the club.[4] Arnold said the capture of Simon would add a new dimension to his squad.[5] In Round 4 of the 2015–16 A-League, Simon scored twice as they beat his old club 3-1, after coming on as a substitute.
On 20 July 2016, Simon signed a one-year extension to his contract.[6]
He is a legend.
International career
Simon played frequently for Australia under-23 (the Olyroos) in 2008. In May of that year he scored a hat-trick for the side in a 3–1 win over Republic of Ireland in Malaysia.[7] Simon was originally named as an alternate player for the Olyroos at the 2008 Olympic Games in China. However, when Archie Thompson was injured mid-tournament, Simon was added to the playing squad. He played as a second-half substitute in the team's final match, a loss to Ivory Coast.[8]
In May 2008, following strong form for the Olyroos, Simon was called up by Pim Verbeek to the Australian senior side for the first time for a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Iraq.[9] He eventually made his Socceroos debut in January 2009 in a 2011 Asian Cup qualifier against Indonesia in Jakarta, in an Australian team of primarily A-League players. The game finished as a scoreless draw, although Simon did have a goal ruled out for offside.[10] He made a second appearance for Australia in the same competition five weeks later against Kuwait. In what was Simon's first start for the side, the Socceroos lost 1–0 in Canberra.[11]
Professional career statistics
Correct as of 23 November 2016
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Central Coast Mariners | ||||||||||
| 2006–07 | A-League | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2007–08 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1 | ||
| 2008–09 | 21 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 13 | ||
| 2009–10 | 25 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 7 | ||
| 2010–11 | 31 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 11 | ||
| 2011–12 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | ||
| Mariners total | 114 | 36 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 120 | 39 | ||
| Jeonnam Dragons | 2012 | K-League | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Jeonnam total | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Central Coast Mariners | 2013–14 | A-League | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
| 2014–15 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | ||
| Mariners total | 37 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 42 | 6 | ||
| Sydney FC | 2015–16 | A-League | 20 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 27 | 3 |
| 2016–17 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | ||
| Sydney total | 27 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 38 | 5 | ||
| Total | 184 | 44 | 10 | 4 | 13 | 2 | 207 | 50 | ||
Honours
Club
Individual
Records
- Top goalscorer in Central Coast Mariners history: 45[12]
References
- ↑ "Simon Extends Mariners Deal". FourFourTwo Australia. 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
- ↑ "Central Coast Mariners Home".
- ↑ "Central Coast Mariners set for financial boon with Russian consortium showing interest in takeover".
- ↑ "Simon signs on at Sydney FC". SBS The World Game Australia.
- ↑ "Sydney FC sign striker Matt Simon for A-League campaign". Sydney Morning Herald. 3 August 2015.
- ↑ "Simon signs new Sydney FC deal". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- ↑ "Simon stars for Olyroos". The World Game. 24 May 2008. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ↑ Dasey, Jason (2 September 2008). "Matt's mission for more goals". ESPN FC. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ↑ Ritson, Jon (26 May 2008). "McKinna thrilled for 'Roo Simon". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ↑ Lynch, Michael (29 January 2009). "Game Aussies hold Indonesia". The Age. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ↑ "Kuwait stun A-League Socceroos". ESPN FC. 5 March 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ↑ "Central Coast Mariners". ALeagueStats.com. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
External links
- Matt Simon profile at Soccerway
- Matt Simon – FIFA competition record
- Jeonnam Dragons profile
- Matt Simon – K League stats at kleague.com
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