| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joel Michael Griffiths | ||
| Date of birth | 21 August 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Sydney, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Playing position | Right Winger / Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Beijing Guoan | ||
| Number | 29 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Menai | |||
| Sutherland | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1997–1999 | Sydney United | 28 | (4) |
| 1999–2001 | Parramatta Power | 51 | (15) |
| 2001–2003 | Newcastle United Jets | 45 | (28) |
| 2003–2006 | Neuchâtel Xamax | 72 | (4) |
| 2006 | Leeds United | 2 | (0) |
| 2006–2010 | Newcastle United Jets | 60 | (28) |
| 2008 | → Avispa Fukuoka (loan) | 9 | (3) |
| 2009 | → Beijing Guoan (loan) | 20 | (8) |
| 2010– | Beijing Guoan | 50 | (18) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 1999 | Australia U-20 | 5 | (1) |
| 2005- | Australia | 3 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 October 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Joel Griffiths (born 21 August 1979) is an Australian football (soccer) player who currently plays for Beijing Guoan.
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He played for Sydney United, Parramatta Power and Newcastle United in the now defunct National Soccer League. He also had a brief stint with Leeds United where he made two appearances.[1]
He joined the Newcastle Jets on 31 July 2006, for an undisclosed fee after a brief spell in England with Leeds United,[2] having signed from Swiss club Neuchâtel Xamax on 17 January 2006.[3] He only managed two substitute appearances for Leeds and Griffiths attributed the lack of first team football to the perceived animosity from ex-Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell who only provided "non stop criticism".[4]
After joining the Newcastle Jets in the 2006-07 season Griffiths quickly formed the basis of the team that underwent a strong resurgence under new coach Gary van Egmond.[5] His memorable performances include scoring two goals in extra time against Perth Glory in round 20 to draw the game at 3-3.[6] At the end of the regular season Griffiths had contributed a total of 6 goals for the Jets.[7][8] The Jets would finish third in the regular season and be narrowly knocked out of the chance to play in the AFC Champions League and the 2006-07 Grand Final.[9]
In the 2007-08 Joel's twin brother Adam Griffiths joined the team. With the loss of key attacking players such as Nick Carle, Milton Rodriguez and Vaughan Coveny, Griffiths became the key to the Jets attack throughout the season. Early in the season Griffiths controversially assaulted a linesman, which he was incorrectly awarded just a yellow card for, narrowly escaping harsh punishment due to FIFA regulations. His club fined him two weeks wages (one week of which was suspended). He later apologised for his actions. His performances on the pitch quickly lead him to be the focus of much media attention, with Griffiths remaining in career best form for much of the season.
2 stunning goals against Melbourne Victory in round 17 saw him called into the training squad for the A-League based Socceroos, but later had to withdraw from the squad due to injury. At the end of Griffith's outstanding regular season he had scored 12 goals, which earned him the A-League Golden Boot award. Finishing 2nd in the regular season on goal difference, the Jets later went on to win the Grand Final.
With the conclusion of the season, Griffiths joined J. League Division 2 side Avispa Fukuoka on a loan spell. On 5 March 2008, it was announced that he joined the Japanese club on loan. In July he returned to Newcastle. Joel was set to become the Newcastle million dollar man and play as a marquee player. However this was cancelled, with Griffiths joining brother Ryan at Chinese club Beijing Guoan on a year long loan.
Joel was suspended for 5 matches earlier in the 2009 CSL season for elbowing an opposing player, and then later on the year, given a 7 week suspension for making a gesture towards opposing supporters. Although contracted to the Newcastle Jets for another two years, Griffiths refused to attend training.[10] After impressing on loan at Beijing Guoan, he joined them on a permanent basis. Newcastle Jets agreed to an undisclosed fee.
He represented Australia at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship held in Nigeria. Griffiths made his debut for the full national team on 9 October 2005 against Jamaica, scoring a goal before celebrating by hopping up and down like a Kangaroo.[11] This was Australia's final warm up match before their World Cup qualifier playoff match against Uruguay.[12]
In January 2008, he was named in the 22-man Socceroos squad for the training camp at Sydney,[13] but did not play the World Cup Qualifying match against Qatar due to injury.[14]
In May 2010, after not making the 31 man provisional squad for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, Joel made the following Statement:
There was no phone call, not even a text. Not once did he come and watch a game, Griffiths told the Herald via email yesterday. He made the effort to watch the third division in England or third division [in] Italy, and sometimes they [the Australian players] were not even on the bench.
It really pisses me off when he said we have better strikers than Joel Griffiths, how the f--- would he know? He's never seen me for two years and when he did I was [A-League] MVP and golden boot.
Joel's twin brother, Adam and younger brother, Ryan are also professional footballers.[15] He married his childhood sweetheart, Bianca Jensen, in December 2007.[16][17] His daughter, Gizelle Janson Griffiths, was born on 29 April 2009.[18]
| Australia national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2005 | 1 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 3 | 1 |
With Newcastle Jets:
With Beijing Guoan F.C.:
Personal Honours:
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/thanks-for-nothing-pim-griffiths-20100514-v4f2.html
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