Matt Simon
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Simon playing for Central Coast Mariners in 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 | |||||||||||||||||
| 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 | 20 | (3) | |||||||||||||||
| National team‡ | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Australia U-23 | 10 | (5) | |||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Australia | 2 | (0) | |||||||||||||||
Honours
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* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 April 2016. | ||||||||||||||||||
Matthew Blake 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. Simon is the Mariners' all-time leading goal scorer. He moved to Sydney FC after being released by the Mariners in 2015.
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.
International career
Following a brilliant display for the Olyroos in the Intercontinental Cup, including a hat-trick against the Republic of Ireland in the semi-finals,[6] Simon received a call-up to the Australian National Team by manager Pim Verbeek for the World Cup Qualifiers against Iraq.[7]
| # | Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Game time | Match Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 January 2009 |  Indonesia | 0-0 | Draw | 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification |  56' | Report |
| 2 | 5 March 2009 |  Kuwait | 0–1 | Loss | 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification | Full game | Report |
Career statistics
(Correct as of 29 December 2014)
| Club | Season | Division | League | Cup | Asia | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Central Coast Mariners | ||||||||||
| 2006–07 | A-League | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 0 | |
| 2007–08 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 21 | 1 | ||
| 2008–09 | 21 | 11 | - | - | 4 | 2 | 25 | 13 | ||
| 2009–10 | 25 | 7 | - | - | - | - | 25 | 7 | ||
| 2010–11 | 31 | 11 | - | - | - | - | 31 | 11 | ||
| 2011–12 | 14 | 7 | - | - | - | - | 14 | 7 | ||
| Jeonnam Dragons | 2012 | K-League | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 7 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Central Coast Mariners | 2013–14 | A-League | 25 | 2 | - | - | 4 | 0 | 29 | 2 |
| 2014–15 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | ||
| Total | 149 | 41 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 161 | 45 | ||
Honours
With Central Coast Mariners:
Personal Honours:
- Central Coast Mariners Mariners Medal: 2008-2009
References
- ↑ "Simon Extends Mariners Deal". FourFourTwo Australia. 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
- ↑ http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/centralcoastmariners/news-display/Matt-Simon-KLeague-Bound/43955
- ↑ http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/central-coast-mariners-set-for-financial-boon-with-russian-consortium-showing-interest-in-takeover/story-e6frf4gl-1226266443487
- ↑ "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 Treble Sinks Irish - Australian FourFourTwo - The Ultimate football Website
- ↑ Simon Added To Roos Squad - Australian FourFourTwo - The Ultimate football Website
External links
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