Matt Smith (soccer, born 1982)

Matthew Terence Smith (born 14 October 1982) is a soccer manager and former player. He is currently assistant coach of Macarthur FC in the A-League Men.[3]

Matt Smith
Smith with the A-League trophy (Brisbane Roar, 2012)
Personal information
Full name Matthew Terence Smith
Date of birth (1982-10-15) 15 October 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth Chichester, England
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
UWE Hartpury Uni., Gloucestershire
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2001 Portsmouth 0 (0)
2005 Chichester City United 18 (5)
2006–2007 Cirencester Town 0 (0)
2007 Gold Coast City 25 (2)
2008–2010 Brisbane Strikers 24 (3)
2009–2010North Qld Fury (loan) 11 (0)
2010–2014 Brisbane Roar 112 (5)
2015–2018 BG Pathum United 120 (7)
2019 Kitchee 9 (0)
2019 Gold Coast Knights 9 (0)
2020–2022 Brisbane City 54 (1)
International career
2012 Australia 3[2] (0)
Managerial career
2020–2022 Brisbane City
2022–2023 BG Pathum United
2023– Macarthur FC (Assistant coach)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 October 2022

Born in England, Smith emigrated to Australia where he started his professional soccer career with North Queensland Fury during the 2009-10 A-League season and then signed a two-year contract with Brisbane Roar at the start of the A-League 2010–11 season. He has played for the Australian national team, and coached Brisbane City FC out of NPL Queensland in 2020, as The Azzurri were relegated into the FQPL in 2021.[4] The Azzurri return in NPL Queensland in 2022.[5]

Club career

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Born in Chichester, England, Smith started his career playing University football in England, where he represented several different Universities before being signed by Championship club Portsmouth.

Smith moved to Australia for one year in 2004 and returned in 2006, during which time he attended Hartpury College in Gloucestershire and completed his master's degree in Sports Management.[6] He also captained the Hartpury senior side to the BUSA National Championship in 2007.[citation needed]

He moved to Australia and played for Palm Beach before moving to Brisbane Strikers. He was signed on an injury replacement loan at North Queensland Fury to replace Scottish defender Scott Wilson.[7]

Brisbane Roar

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On 16 April 2010 it was announced that Smith joined the Brisbane Roar on a two-year deal after his contract with North Queensland expired due to ownership changes.[8] On 6 September 2011, the Roar announced that Smith would replace departed midfielder Matt McKay as captain of the club.[9] On 10 September 2012, Smith signed a new 3-year contract at the Roar, extending his stay until the end of the 2015/16 season.[10]

Bangkok Glass

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It was announced in December 2014 that Smith would leave the Brisbane Roar and join Bangkok Glass for an undisclosed fee.[11]

Kitchee

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On 31 December 2018, Smith moved to Hong Kong Premier League club Kitchee.[12]

On 12 February 2019, in the third qualifying match of the 2019 Asian Champions League, Kitchee played away to Perak. During the match, Matt Smith was sent off after picking up his second yellow card in the 49th minute. Kitchee lost the match on penalties in the end.[13]

Return to Australia

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On 1 July 2019, National Premier Leagues Queensland side Gold Coast Knights SC announced the signing of Smith.

Personal

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Smith married Aicha Bendjelloul, an English woman on 17 May 2012 in a civil ceremony in Brisbane, Australia. They then celebrated with family and friends by hosting a party on the Thai island of Koh Samui.[14]

Together, they have 4 children Isla, Ava, Ruby and Owen.[15] Smith is qualified with a BA Degree in Marketing and Leisure Management and a Masters in Sports Management from Hartpury College in Gloucestershire.

A-League statistics

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As of 17 December 2018
Club Season League1 Cup International2 Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
North Queensland Fury 2009–10 11 0 11 0
Total 11 0 0 0 11 0
Brisbane Roar 2010–11 33 2 33 2
2011–12 27 0 5 0 32 0
2012–13 14 0 0 0 14 0
2013–14 29 3 29 3
2014–15 3 0 1 1 0 0 4 1
Total 106 5 1 1 5 0 112 6
Bangkok Glass 2015 33 4 1 0 2 0 36 4
2016 31 0 0 0
2017 30 0 0 0
2018 26 3 0 0
Total 120 7 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career Total 237 12 1 1 5 0 243 12

1 - includes A-League final series statistics
2 - includes FIFA Club World Cup statistics; AFC Champions League statistics are included in season commencing after group stages (i.e. ACL and A-League seasons etc.)

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 19 March 2023
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
BG Pathum United 29 October 2022 19 March 2023 20 9 2 9 045.00
Total 20 9 2 9 045.00

1 Results from penalty shoot-outs are counted as draws in this table.

Honours

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Player

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Club

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Brisbane Strikers
Brisbane Roar
Kitchee
Gold Coast Knights

Brisbane City

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Manager

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Brisbane City

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Individual

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References

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  1. ^ "BGFC Website". Archived from the original on 9 August 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  2. ^ Dasey, Jason. "Former Brisbane Roar defender Matt Smith extends Bangkok Glass stay". ESPN FC. ESPN. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  3. ^ FC, Macarthur (18 July 2023). "Matt Smith joins Bulls coaching ranks". Macarthur FC Official website. Macarthur FC. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Matthew Smith - Player Statistics". GameDay. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Matthew Smith - Player Statistics". GameDay. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  6. ^ Matt Smith: Meet the three time A-League winner who started his professional football career at 27 englishplayersabroad.com
  7. ^ "Matt Smith signs with North Queensland Fury". Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Brisbane secures Matt Smith". Archived from the original on 26 February 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Smith to lead the Roar". Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Super six sign on - Brisbane Roar FC 2014". Archived from the original on 19 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  11. ^ "Captain Matt Smith to leave A-League champions Brisbane Roar". ESPN. 10 December 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  12. ^ Gao, Si Kei (31 December 2018). "傑志簽入36歲澳洲前國腳中堅 28歲展職業生涯擁高學歷". HK01. Retrieved 31 December 2018. (in Chinese)
  13. ^ Mohd Hafizee Mohd Arop (13 February 2019). "Perak squeeze through past stubborn Kitchee". New Straits Times.
  14. ^ Party Set To Thai Knot The Courier Mail [dead link]
  15. ^ "Brisbane skipper Matt Smith hoping to celebrate new baby with a Roar premiership | The Courier-Mail". Archived from the original on 21 March 2014.
  16. ^ "2021 TEAM OF THE SEASON". Football Queensland. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  17. ^ "2021 Football in Queensland Awards Night winners". Football Queensland. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  18. ^ "A-League All Stars vs. Juventus 2 – 3". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
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