| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alexander Smith | ||
| Date of birth | 16 July 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Windsor, England | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker, Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Wellington Phoenix | ||
| Number | 24 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2003 | Centenary College of Louisiana | ||
| 2004 | SMU Mustangs | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2005–2006 | FC Dallas | 0 | (0) |
| 2007 | DFW Tornados | 6 | (3) |
| 2010 | Fraser Park | 20 | (11) |
| 2011 | Sydney Olympic | 11 | (8) |
| 2011 | Gold Coast United | 0 | (0) |
| 2011 | Sydney Olympic | 3 | (2) |
| 2011– | Wellington Phoenix | 8 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:00, 7 April 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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Alex Smith (born 16 July 1985) is an English-American footballer who plays for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League. He was briefly contracted to Gold Coast United, however was released pre-season without making a single appearance for the club. His position is striker.
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Smith was born in Windsor, England, however moved to the United States aged one. He began his footballing career whilst at college in the United States. He played 17 times for Centenary College of Louisiana scoring six times with six assists. In 2004, he was transferred to Southern Methodist University where he scored a further 13 in 19 appearances for the Mustangs. Returning to England in 2005, Smith trialled with Shrewsbury Town and Walsall. However, he was not offered a contract at either club. Returning to America in 2006, he was declared ineligible to continue playing college football by the NCAA. Deciding to make a career out of football, Smith trialled with MLS club Kansas City Wizards before being signed on a one-year contract by FC Dallas.[1][2]
After coming out to Australia on holiday in 2005, he moved to Cairns in 2010 but soon moved to Sydney where he signed for NSW Super League club Fraser Park where he won the 2010 NSW Super League Player of the Year award.[3]
Smith signed for NSW Premier League club Sydney Olympic for the 2011 NSW Premier League season and was an immediate success, scoring a hat trick on debut against South Coast Wolves in Round 1[4] and scored the only goal in their 1-0 win over 2010 NSW Premier League champions Blacktown City.[5] Smith played his final game for Olympic in the Round 12, 1-0 win over South Coast Wolves.[6]
Smith was invited to trial with the Gold Coast while he was playing for Fraser Park. Pleased by what he saw, and further encouraged by his start with Sydney Olympic in the NSW Premier League, United coach Miron Bleiberg snapped Smith up on a one-year contract for the 2011-12 A-League season.[7] He officially joined their squad, and had his first proper training session on the 17th June.[8]
Despite Smith joining the Gold Coast for their pre-season, Manager Miron Bleiberg has asked Smith to accept a contract pay out, in exchange for the immediate termination of his one-year contract, as Bleiberg wanted to make sign former Blackburn Rovers striker Maceo Rigters who had recently turned down a contract with fellow A-League club Wellington Phoenix.[9] On 1 September 2011 it was confirmed that Smith and United had reached an agreement in regards to the termination of his contract.[10]
After being unceremoniously dumped from the Gold Coast team, Smith returned to New South Wales where it was announced he would re-sign with Sydney Olympic, who welcomed him with open arms.[11] He arrived in time for the Final Round of the NSW Premier League against APIA Leichhardt Tigers, and picked up on where he left off, scoring the opening goal for Olympic in their 3-0 victory, in which Olympic were also crowned Premiers.[12] His return to Belmore would continue to be successful, with Smith opening the scoring in the 2011 NSW Premier League Grand Final against Sydney United. Olympic would go on to win 2-0, securing the first Premiership and Championship double since the NSL folded.[13]
After spending the last month traveling from Sydney to the Gold Coast where he still resides after being unceremoniously dumped from the Gold Coast, it was announced he would fly to Wellington, New Zealand to trial with A-League club Wellington Phoenix in the hope of securing a 10-match loan guest stint, with the hope of extending it to a full contract.[14]
Smith signed a short term contract with the Phoenix as an injury replacement player, for Mirjan Pavlovic who broke his arm at training.[15] He made his A-League debut off the bench in the Round 2 victory against the Newcastle Jets in Wellington.[16]
Personal Honours
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