Iain Fyfe

Iain Fyfe
Personal information
Full name Iain Fyfe
Date of birth 3 April 1982 (1982-04-03) (age 29)
Place of birth Adelaide, Australia
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Centre back
Club information
Current club Busan I'Park
Number 3
Youth career
Salisbury United
1999–2000 SASI
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2003 Adelaide City 55 (6)
2003–2004 Sydney Olympic 23 (0)
2004–2005 Hamilton Academical 15 (0)
2005–2009 Sydney FC 88 (4)
2009–2011 Adelaide United 52 (5)
2011– Busan I'Park 8 (1)
National team
1999–2000 Australia U-17 9 (1)
2001 Australia U-20 2 (0)
2003 Australia U-23 5 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:47, 24 October 2011 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17:30, 28 October 2010 (UTC)

Iain Fyfe (born 3 April 1982) is an Australian football (soccer) player who currently plays as defender for Busan I'Park in the K-League.

Contents

Club career

On completion of his SASI program in 2000, Iain joined hometown NSL club Adelaide City. After just three appearances off the bench in 2000/01, he broke into the Adelaide first team the following season, making 52 appearances in two years before moving to Sydney Olympic in 2003. He also earned a call up to the Australian Under-23 side for a friendly against Spain, but it would be the only one. Domestically, his move was positive, becoming a key figure for Olympic, playing all-but-one matches of the 2003/04 season.

Scotland

Following the collapse of the NSL after that season, Fyfe went overseas and trialled at various clubs, including Scottish Premier League side Hibernian,[1] before signing for Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Second Division. There he played alongside fellow Australians, David Carney as well as childhood friend and former Adelaide City teammate Scott Tunbridge.[2] Fyfe struggled to break into the Hamilton first team, making only fifteen appearances before being released in early 2005.

Sydney FC

Partnered next to first Mark Rudan and later Jacob Timpano, Fyfe was in the Sydney first XI for much of the A-League season. However he was dropped to the bench for the penultimate round due to inconsistent form. Several strong performances from Rudan kept him there, making only one start and three appearances off the bench in the club's last five games, although a missed match was through suspension. In the A-League grand final, Fyfe played an important role in defending Sydney's 1-0 lead over the Central Coast Mariners, having replaced injured Mark Rudan with 20 minutes remaining.

In the 2006-07 season, Fyfe was shifted to a wide defensive role by new coach Terry Butcher, who opted to play Mark Milligan in midfield rather than his usual right back position. The impact of the move was immediately apparent with Fyfe, goal-less in the previous season, scoring the winning goal against Central Coast in the opening round and netting again in the 3-2 loss to Melbourne Victory a week later. He went on to play every match of the season up until Sydney's semi-final exit. Strong performances led to another call up to the national team, included in the A-League-based Australian side for the 2007 Asian Cup qualifier against Kuwait on 16 August 2006, but again did not make an appearance.

During the Pan-Pacific Championship Iain played his 100th competitive game against Major League Soccer Glamour team Los Angeles Galaxy. Sydney went on to lose the match 2-1, with Sydney's goal coming from Brendan Renaud. He was Sydney's most capped player, and most consistent, only missing 3 competitive matches, in the 3 years Sydney have played in the A-League.[3]

Adelaide United

On 24 November 2008, it was announced in November that Iain had signed a contract with Adelaide United commencing April 2009; this brings Fyfe back to Adelaide where he began his career after 5 years playing in Sydney and Scotland.[4][5] Starting all the games in the opening of his first season back at Adelaide, Fyfe's first goal allowed his club to equalise against Wellington Phoenix in round five.[6]

He scored his second goal for Adelaide in a 1-1 draw against Central Coast Mariners in Round 2 of the 2010-11 season.[7] On 14 January 2011, It was announced that Iain would be joining K-league club Busan I'Park FC. His farewell game for Adelaide was meant to be on the 29 January 2011 against Central Coast Mariners at Hindmarsh Stadium, but due to a hamstring injury his last game was on 21 January 2011 against North Queensland Fury when they won 8-1.[8]

Busan I'Park

In January 2011, Fyfe joined South Korean club Busan I'Park.[9] Fyfe made his first start and debut for Busan I'Park in their 2-1 away loss to Jeju United in the first week of the 2011 K-League season.

International career

Fyfe started his career in 1999, joining a talent identification program at the South Australian Sports Institute, and was soon exposed to the international football stage. He was selected for the Australian U17 side in qualifying matches for the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship and retained his place in the Joeys squad for the final tournament in New Zealand. Australia marched through to the final against Brazil, the match ending scoreless after extra time and proceeding to penalties. Fyfe entered the match as a substitute in extra time to secure the defence, but in the shoot-out he was tasked with Australia's ninth penalty kick. His shot was dramatically saved by goalkeeper Rubinho, allowing Brazil to take the title.

On 16 February 2005, Iain Fyfe returned to Australia became the 16th member of the inaugural Sydney FC squad.[10] Playing at centre back under coach Pierre Littbarski, Fyfe was instrumental in Sydney's qualification for the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship, being named Player of the Tournament for the 2005 Oceania Club Championship.[11] This prompted his inclusion in a Socceroo training camp with new manager Guus Hiddink, and his inclusion on the substitutes bench for the World Cup qualifier against Solomon Islands.

Honours

With Australia:

With Sydney FC:

Personal Honours:

Career statistics

(correct as of 28 January 2011)[12][13]

Club League Season League Playoffs Cup Int'l Cup Total
Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls
Adelaide City NSL 2000-01 3 0 - - - - - - 3 0
2001-02 23 0 - - - - - - 23 0
2002-03 20 3 9 2 - - - - 29 5
Sydney Olympic FC NSL 2003-04 23 0 - - - - - - 23 0
Hamilton Academical F.C. SFL 2004-05 15 0 - - - - - - 15 0
Sydney FC A-League 2005-06 21 0 2 0 4 0 2 0 29 0
2006-07 21 2 2 0 6 0 6 0 35 2
2007-08 15 0 - - 3 0 - - 18 0
Adelaide United A-League 2009-10 26 1 - - - - - - 26 1
2010-11 26 4 - - - - - - 26 4
Busan I'Park K-League 2011 - - - - - -
Career totals 227 12

'International Cup' matches refer to AFC and Club World Cup competitions.

References

External links