Shane Smeltz

Shane Smeltz

Personal information
Full name	Shane Edward Smeltz
Date of birth	29 September 1981 (1981-09-29) (age 29)
Place of birth	Göppingen, West Germany
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Gençlerbirliği S.K.
Number	TBA
Youth career
1997–1998	QAS
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1999	Gold Coast City	2	(0)
1999–2001	Brisbane Strikers	25	(0)
2002	Napier City Rovers	21	(20)
2002–2003	Adelaide City	29	(7)
2003–2004	Adelaide United	7	(1)
2005	Mansfield Town	5	(0)
2005–2006	AFC Wimbledon	43	(26)
2006–2007	Halifax Town	31	(2)
2007–2009	Wellington Phoenix	39	(21)
2009–2010	Gold Coast United	28	(21)
2010–	Gençlerbirliği S.K.	0	(0)
National team‡
	New Zealand U-20
2004	New Zealand U-23	5	(7)
2003–	New Zealand	33	(17)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 August 2010. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 24 June 2010 (NZST)

Shane Edward Smeltz (born 29 September 1981 in Göppingen, Baden-Württemberg)^[1] is a New Zealand professional association football player. He plays as a striker for Turkish Süper Lig club Gençlerbirliği S.K..

Club career

Smeltz played for a variety of professional Australian clubs before trying his luck in England with Mansfield Town in 2005.^[2] Before signing for English side Halifax Town, Shane Smeltz played in 61 competitive matches for AFC Wimbledon, including 11 as a substitute, and scored 26 goals.

Wellington Phoenix

Smeltz returned to New Zealand in 2007 signing a two-year deal with the Wellington Phoenix. In his first season he finished second in the Golden Boot race with nine goals from 19 appearances. In the 2008–09 season, Smeltz scored a record equalling 12 goals for the A-League season proper, resulting in the A-League Golden Boot 2008/09 and also goal of the season for his winning strike against Melbourne Victory at Westpac Stadium in round 13. The game finished 2-1.

Gold Coast United

In November 2008 the Phoenix lost its battle to retain Smeltz for the 2009 season as he signed a three-year deal with Hyundai A-League expansion club Gold Coast United.^[3] Smeltz scored nine goals on his Gold Coast United debut as Miron Bleiberg's men recorded a 12–1 victory in their inaugural outing, a friendly against Mudgeeraba SC. On 8 August 2009, Smeltz scored his club's first goal in their first A-League game against Brisbane Roar. In the following week Shane Smeltz scored an impressive four goals against North Queensland Fury, which included a penalty. Smeltz and Gold Coast recorded their first loss to the Central Coast Mariners at the next round, notable for being the only game he had not scored a goal.

A week later, Smeltz rebounded from his clubs first loss to help in the win against Sydney FC. In the process he added another two goals to his tally taking him to an outstanding 8 goals from 5 games, his single man goal count was greater than any other clubs overall amount in the league.^[4]

With 19 A League goals to his name, he is currently the record holder for most A League goals in a season. This 19 goal effort broke his own record he shared with former Newcastle Jets' striker Joel Griffiths of 12 goals.

Shandong Luneng

On 12th July, 2010, after a stellar season with Gold Coast United, it was announced Smeltz had agreed to terms with Chinese club Shandong Luneng on a two-year contract subject to passing a medical.^[5] On July 17, 2010, it was announced that Smeltz had "changed his mind about China and decided to return home", just five days into his contract. There was some confusion after his decision to return home in regards to who he was contracted to.

Shandong Luneng had paid the transfer fee to Gold Coast United, but a Football Federation Australia source confirmed that Gold Coast United did never dispatch Smeltz's International Transfer Clearance form , meaning Smeltz was therefore free to rejoin them without any possibility of an international tug-of-war over his services.

It is not yet known whether he will continue his career with Gold Coast United or look for another overseas club. On July 17th, 2010, Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer publicly stated that he is "hopeful of retaining him for the coming season."^[6]

It is said that Shandong Luneng could go to FIFA and have Smeltz banned for two years.^[7]

Gençlerbirliği S.K.

On August 24, his overseas career was given a lifeline when he was linked with Turkish Süper Lig club Gençlerbirliği S.K.. He will fly out from the Gold Coast for talks with the club. ^[8]

International career

Smeltz has played for the under 20, under 23 and senior New Zealand national teams.^[9][10] He scored in his first game for the All Whites, an away friendly on 25 April 2006, against Chile. In that game Smeltz also became the first AFC Wimbledon player to win international honours, and the first to become an international goalscorer.

In May 2007, he was the scorer of both New Zealand goals in an impressive 2-2 draw against Wales.

On 19 November 2007, following his impressive form with Wellington Phoenix in the A-League and consistent performances for the All Whites, Smeltz was voted New Zealand footballer of the year, ahead of English Premier League star Ryan Nelsen and Celtic striker Chris Killen.^[11] In December 2008, Smeltz was belatedly named Oceania federation player of 2007.

Smeltz travelled to South Africa as part of the New Zealand squad for both the 2009 Confederations Cup ^[12][13] and 2010 World Cup Finals.

On 20 June 2010, at the seven minute mark of a World Cup match against reigning champions Italy, Smeltz scored the opening goal, enabling the All Whites to draw the game 1-1.^[14] This goal made Smeltz the first player in the Hyundai A-League to score a goal at the FIFA World Cup.

International goals

Goal	Date	Opponent	Final Score	Result	Competition
1	25 April 2006	Chile	1-4	Loss	Friendly
2	26 May 2007	Wales	2-2	Draw	Friendly
3
4	17 October 2007	Fiji	0-2	Win	2008 OFC Nations Cup
5	17 November 2007	Vanuatu	1-2	Win	2008 OFC Nations Cup
6	21 November 2007	Vanuatu	4-1	Win	2008 OFC Nations Cup
7
8	6 September 2008	New Caledonia	1-3	Win	2008 OFC Nations Cup
9
10	10 September 2008	New Caledonia	3-0	Win	2008 OFC Nations Cup
11
12	3 June 2009	Tanzania	2-1	Loss	Friendly
13	10 June 2009	Italy	4-3	Loss	Friendly
14	9 September 2009	Jordan	1-3	Win	Friendly
15
16	29 May 2010	Serbia	0-1	Win	Friendly
17	20 June 2010	Italy	1-1	Draw	2010 World Cup
Last updated 20 June 2010

Career statistics

All-Time Club Performances

Club	Season	League Two		FA Cup		Carling Cup		Europe		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Mansfield Town F.C. (Football League Two)	2004–05	5	0							5	0
	Club Total	5	0							5	0
Club	Season	Isthmian Prem		FA Trophy		League Cup		Europe		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
AFC Wimbledon (Isthmian League Premier Division)	2005–06	43	26							43	26
	Club Total	43	26							43	26
Club	Season	Conference National		FA Cup		Carling Cup		Europe		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Halifax Town F.C. (Conference National)	2006–07	31	2							31	2
	Club Total	31	2							31	2
Club	Season	A-League		Finals Series				Asia		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Wellington Phoenix F.C. (A-League)	2007–08	19	9							19	9
	2008–09	20	12							20	12
	Club Total	39	21							39	21
Club	Season	A-League		Finals Series				Asia		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Gold Coast United F.C. (A-League)	2009–10	25	19	1	0					26	19
	Club Total	25	19	1	0					26	19
Career totals
Last updated 6 April 2010

Honours

Personal Honours:

• Oceania Footballer of the Year: 2007, 2008
• Johnny Warren Medal: 2008-2009 with Wellington Phoenix
• A-League Golden Boot: 2008-2009 with Wellington Phoenix - 12 goals
• A-League Golden Boot: 2009-2010 with Gold Coast United - 19 goals
• NZF Men’s Player of the Year: 2007
• Wellington Phoenix Player of the Year: 2007-08
• Wellington Phoenix Player's Player of the Year: 2007-08, 2008-09
• Wellington Phoenix Media Player of the Year: 2007-08, 2008-09
• Wellington Phoenix A-League Golden Boot: 2008-09

References

External links

• Gold Coast United profile
• Oz Football profile
• NZF - All White profile
• Shane Smeltz career stats at Soccerbase
• Shane Smeltz - FIFA competition record

New Zealand squads New Zealand squad – 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup 1 Batty • 2 Oughton • 3 Mulligan • 4 Zoricich • 5 Hay • 6 Wilkinson • 7 Vicelich • 8 Lines • 9 Burton • 10 Jackson • 11 Killen • 12 Elliott • 13 Bouckenooghe • 14 Nelsen • 15 Smeltz • 16 Coveny • 17 de Gregorio • 18 Smith • 19 Utting • 20 Davis • 21 Hickey • 22 Wilson • 23 Paston • Coach: Waitt New Zealand squad – 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup 1 Paston • 2 Scott • 3 Lochhead • 4 Oughton • 5 Sigmund • 6 Vicelich • 7 Elliott • 8 Brown • 9 Smeltz • 10 Killen • 11 Bertos • 12 Moss • 13 Barron • 14 Christie • 15 Brockie • 16 James • 17 Mulligan • 18 Boyens • 19 Old • 20 Wood • 21 Bright • 22 Smith • 23 Bannatyne • Coach: Herbert New Zealand squad – 2010 FIFA World Cup 1 Paston • 2 Sigmund • 3 Lochhead • 4 Reid • 5 Vicelich • 6 Nelsen (c) • 7 Elliott • 8 Brown • 9 Smeltz • 10 Killen • 11 Bertos • 12 Moss • 13 Barron • 14 Fallon • 15 McGlinchey • 16 Clapham • 17 Mulligan • 18 Boyens • 19 Smith • 20 Wood • 21 Christie • 22 Brockie • 23 Bannatyne • Coach: Herbert