Michael Theo

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Michael Theo

Theo at Brisbane Roar in 2012
Personal information
Full nameMichael Theo
Date of birth (1981-02-11) 11 February 1981
Place of birthMelbourne, Australia
Height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Club information
Current clubBrisbane Roar
Number1
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1998–2000Bulleen Inter Kings0(0)
2000Bulleen Zebras1(0)
2000–2001South Melbourne0(0)
2001Bulleen Zebras24(0)
2001–2002Football Kingz20(0)
2002–2003Blackpool2(0)
2003–2004South Melbourne5(0)
2004Bulleen Zebras19(0)
2005–2009Melbourne Victory71(0)
2009–2010Norwich City1(0)
2010–Brisbane Roar107(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 February 2014.
† Appearances (Goals).

Michael Theo [2][3][4] (formerly Theoklitos) (born 11 February 1981) is an Australian goalkeeper who plays for Brisbane Roar.

Biography

Theo was born in Melbourne, Australia.

Early career

He began his career as a youngster playing in the Victorian Premier League (VPL) for Bulleen Zebras. He was then picked up by South Melbourne FC but failed to make an appearance. The Football Kingz FC showed a lot in interest in him, signing him for the 2001-2002 season where he became a fan favourite making 20 appearances in the National Soccer League. During his time with the Kingz he was scouted by Blackpool FC who signed him in 2002. Due to injury he only played in three games, only two of which counted as full representation for Blackpool. He returned to Australia where he rejoined Bulleen. While playing for them in the 2004 VPL final, he saved three of four penalties to help Bulleen to victory.[5]

Melbourne Victory

Michael Theo (then known as Theoklitos) with Melbourne Victory in 2008.

He joined Melbourne Victory FC for their inaugural season in the 2005/06 A-League. In the 2006/07 A-League season, Theoklitos kept ten clean sheets from 21 games, attracting interest from both the Australia and Greece national associations. He has not made a senior appearance for either country.

In the 2008/09 season, Theoklitos was part of Melbourne Victory's grand-final success, keeping five clean sheets at the end of the season. He earned another call-up to the Australian national squad for the match against Kuwait on 5 March 2009, but did not play.

In May 2009, Theoklitos declined a contract extension. In July 2009, it was confirmed that he would be leaving Melbourne Victory, with his contract expiring on 30 July. In early July 2009, he signed a two-year contract with English League One side Norwich City.[6]

Norwich City

In the opening match of the season on 8 August 2009, Theoklitos made his debut for Norwich against Colchester United at Carrow Road, conceding five goals before half-time and seven in total. He described the match as "the worst performance I've had in my career" to BBC Radio Norfolk.[7] Despite the performance, Theoklitos still had the support of manager Bryan Gunn, a former goalkeeper himself.[7] However, Gunn did not have the support of the Norwich board, and was replaced by Colchester manager Paul Lambert, who had engineered the 7–1 defeat. Under Lambert, Theoklitos was demoted to third-choice goalkeeper.

He was recalled to the first-team bench for a Football League Trophy match against Gillingham, but according to the club he failed to show up for the match, causing the club to discipline him.[8][9] Theoklitos denied the claim, saying "It's not that I did not turn up but I was half an hour late" because "I got my wires mixed up".[10]

Lambert confirmed in December 2009 that he expected Theoklitos to be leaving the club.[11] Theoklitos' contract was terminated by mutual consent in March 2010.[12] His debut match was the only one he played for the Canaries.[10]

Brisbane Roar

Theoklitos playing for the Brisbane Roar

On 14 March 2010, Theoklitos signed with the Brisbane Roar on a three-year deal.[13] He made his debut in round one of the A league season against Gold Coast United, in a 0–0 draw.[14] Theoklitos registered a second clean sheet against Sydney FC in round two.

Following the 3–0 loss to Melbourne Victory, Theoklitos had gone 876 minutes without conceding a goal, setting a new record for the most minutes without conceding a goal in an Australian League—beating former recordholder Jeff Olver's record of 790 minutes.[15] Theoklitos won the Goalkeeper of the Year award for the 2010/11 A-League season.[16]

International career

Although selected by Australia on two occasions, Theoklitos has yet to make an appearance for the Socceroos. Of Greek ancestry, he has also received interest from Greece's national association, but so far has only featured for Australia.[17]

Career statistics

As of 7 February 2014

CS = Clean Sheets

Club Season Division League1 Cup International2 Total
Apps CS Apps CS Apps CS Apps CS
Bulleen Zebras 2000 Victorian Premier League 1?00--1?
2001 24?00--24?
2004 19?00--19?
Total 44?00-- 44?
South Melbourne 2000–01 National Soccer League 00000000
2003–04[18] 53000053
Total 530000 53
Football Kingz 2001–02[18] National Soccer League 2030000203
Total 2030000 203
Blackpool 2002–03[19] Division Two 2000--20
Total 2000-- 20
Melbourne Victory 2005–06[18][20] A-League 10121--122
2006–07[18][20] 201021--2211
2007–08[18][20] 2064051297
2008–09[18][20] 211043--2513
Total 712712551 8833
Norwich City 2009–10[21] Football League One 1000--10
Total 100000 10
Brisbane Roar 2010–11[20] A-League 3312----3312
2011–12[20][21] 298--60358
2012–13[20][21] 298--11309
2013–14[20] 165----165
Total 10733--71 11434
Career Total 25066125122 27473

1 - includes A-League final series statistics
2 - AFC Champions League statistics are included in season commencing during group stages (i.e. ACL 2012 and A-League season 2011–2012 etc.)

Personal life

The Michael Theo Soccer Academy was established in 2010. Now in its third year the annual clinics are run during the July school holiday period.

Theo married wife Victoria (née Curtis) in April 2011. She owns a cosmetics company.

On 1 August 2012 Theoklitos announced that he had changed his name by deed poll to Michael Theo.[2][3][4] He said: "Around the football traps, I’ve always been known as Michael Theo so I just thought, why not make it official? It’s no big deal, I haven’t changed my name completely, just shortened it. I’ve been thinking about it for a while and it was a decision I made on my own, it’s really not so hard to do on deed poll. My signature has altered, slightly changed but that’s pretty much it."[4]

Honours

With Melbourne Victory:

  • A-League Championship (2): 2006–2007, 2008–2009
  • A-League Premiership (2): 2006–2007, 2008–2009

With Brisbane Roar:

Personal Honours:

  • A-League Goalkeeper of the Year (3): 2006–2007, 2007–2008, 2010–2011
  • Most minutes (876) not conceding a goal in an Australian League (With Brisbane Roar, 2010–11) [citation needed]
  • Most clean sheets (12) — A-League with Matthew Ryan [citation needed]
  • Most decorated player in the A-League [citation needed]

References

  1. "Michael Theo". footballaustralia.com.au. Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 15 January 2014. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/veteran-brisbane-roar-goalkeeper-changes-his-name-by-deed-poll-to-michael-theo/story-e6frf4gl-1226440965911#.Ud1lKfnLqSo
  3. 3.0 3.1 http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/247041,goodbye-theoklitos-hello-theo.aspx
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/brisbaneroar/news-display/Theo-is-the-name-of-the-game/48365
  5. http://www.greengully.com/349.html
  6. Aussie Keeper Joins Canaries, Norwich City F.C., 8 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-08
  7. 7.0 7.1 "Norwich keeper admits to blunders". BBC. 10 August 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2010. 
  8. Cuffley, David. Norwich City 'keeper goes AWOL. The Pink'Un. 7 October 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  9. Norwich keeper fails to turn up. BBC Sport. 7 October 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Micallef, Phillip. Norwich nightmare spurs on Theoklitos. The World Game (SBS). 4 January 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  11. "Norwich City Goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos Rules Out A-League Return With Melbourne Heart". Goal.com. 28 December 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2010. 
  12. Theoklitos Leaves City (press release). Norwich City Football Club. 9 March 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  13. http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/news/977192/Theoklitos-joins-Roar
  14. Goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos leaves Norwich City
  15. Banking, Ally. Roar keeper sets record. Brisbane Times. 14 September 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  16. Gatt, Ray. Brisbane's Michael Theoklitos has bounced back from his Norwich nightmare. The Australian (Surrey Hills, NSW, Australia: News Limited). 8 March 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  17. "Norwich City Player Profile". Norwich City. 
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 "Michael Theo » Club matches". worldfootball.net. 
  19. "Michael Theo Soccer Stats". The Irish Times. 
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 "Michael Theo (Brisbane Roar)". Ultimate A-League. 
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 Michael Theo profile at Soccerway

External links

Awards
Preceded by
Clint Bolton
Hyundai A-League
Goalkeeper of the Year

2006/07, 2007/08
Succeeded by
Eugene Galeković
Preceded by
Eugene Galeković
Hyundai A-League
Goalkeeper of the Year

2010/11
Succeeded by
Matthew Ryan
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