Alex Smith (footballer, born 1985)

For other people named Alex Smith, see Alex Smith (disambiguation).
Alex Smith
Personal information
Full nameAlexander Smith
Date of birth16 July 1985
Place of birthWindsor, England
Height1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionCentral Midfielder / striker
Club information
Current team
Far North Queensland
Number8
Youth career
2003Centenary College of Louisiana
2004SMU Mustangs
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2006FC Dallas0(0)
2007DFW Tornados6(3)
2010Fraser Park20(11)
2011Sydney Olympic11(8)
2011Gold Coast United0(0)
2011Sydney Olympic3(2)
2011–2013Wellington Phoenix40(1)
2013Oakleigh Cannons9(2)
2014–Far North Queensland32(34)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19.9.14.
† Appearances (Goals).

Alex Smith (born 16 July 1985) is an English-American footballer who is captain of the FNQ FC Heat.

Career

College football

Smith was born in Windsor, England, and moved to the United States at age one. He began his soccer 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 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. Returning to the US in 2006, he was declared ineligible to continue playing college soccer by the NCAA. Deciding to make a career out of soccer, Smith trialled with the MLS club Kansas City Wizards, before being signed on a one-year contract by FC Dallas.[1][2]

Australia

After coming out to Australia on holiday in 2005, he moved to Cairns in 2010, and later 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] He later moved back to Cairns in late 2013

Sydney Olympic

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]

Gold Coast United

Smith was invited to trial with the Gold Coast while he was playing for Fraser Park. Pleased by what he saw, and encouraged by his start with Sydney Olympic, United coach Miron Bleiberg signed Smith 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 17 June.[8]

Despite Smith joining the Gold Coast for their pre-season, Miron Bleiberg asked Smith to accept a contract pay out, in exchange for the immediate termination of his one-year contract, as Bleiberg wanted to sign former Blackburn Rovers striker Maceo Rigters, who had turned down a contract with 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]

Return to Belmore

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 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 travelling from Sydney to the Gold Coast where he still resides, it was announced he would fly to Wellington, New Zealand to trial with Wellington Phoenix in the hope of securing a 10-match loan guest stint, with the hope of extending it to a full contract.[14]

Wellington Phoenix

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] On 18 January 2012 Smith's contract was made permanent lasting until the end of the season.[17] Smith went on to make 24 appearances that season. It was then announced Smith had signed for the 2012–2013 season. He started the first 11 games of the season but fell out of favour with coach Ricki Herbert. In June 2103 it was announced that Smith would not be offered a new deal with the club.

Far North Queensland Heat

In late 2013 Far North Queensland FC secured the signing of star player Smith. Since his arrival into Cairns, Queensland, Smith has held numerous coaching clinics, school clinics, holiday clinics and has also traveled to communities up in Cape York Peninsula like Weipa, Queensland to help young football talents and coaches to better learn their game. Smith's first game for the Heat was against their rivals in the Northern Fury FC in Townsville. In the 44th minute, the captain scored the opening goal of the FNQ FC Heat's campaign and his first goal for the club.

Honours

Personal Honours

References

  1. ↑ "Alex Smith Video". 2006. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  2. ↑ "FC Dallas Acquires Marcelo Saragosa and Alex Smith". Our Sports Central. 19 July 2006. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  3. ↑ Stavroulakis, Mark (10 November 2010). "2010 Silver Medal Dinner a success as Alexander Smith grabs the plaudits". NSW Premier League. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  4. ↑ "Champs Suffer New Season Defeat". Australian FourFourTwo. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  5. ↑ "Olympic Remain Unbeaten". Australian FourFourTwo. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  6. ↑ "Olympic overcome stubborn Wolves to move clear". NSW Premier League. 12 June 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  7. ↑ Ormond, Aiden (7 April 2011). "Miron Signs US Striker Smith". Australian FourFourTwo. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  8. ↑ "Smith gets his first training run". Gold Coast United. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  9. ↑ Rugari, Vince (31 August 2011). "Miron To Axe Alex For Rigters". FourFourTwo Australia. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  10. ↑ "Smith Makes Way For Rigters". FourFourTwo Australia. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  11. ↑ "Alex Smith Returns to Sydney Olympic". NSW Premier League. 2 September 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  12. ↑ "Sydney Olympic crowned Premiers for 2011". NSW Premier League. 4 September 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  13. ↑ Ormond, Aiden (3 October 2011). "Alex Smith: 'My Grand Final Delight'". FourFourTwo Australia. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  14. ↑ Cockerill, Mike (3 October 2011). "The power of passion". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  15. ↑ Worthington, Sam (21 October 2011). "Alex Smith's lucky break with Phoenix". The Domonion Post. The Dominion Post (Wellington). Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  16. ↑ "Wellington eases past Newcastle". SBS The World Game. 16 October 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  17. ↑ "Alex Smith Stays at Wellington Phoenix". FourFourTwoAustralia. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.

External links