Matthew John Jurman (/ˈjɜːrmən/ YUR-mən;[3] Croatian: [jûrman]) is an Australian soccer player who plays as a centre-back for A-League club Macarthur FC.

Matthew Jurman
Jurman training with Sydney FC
Personal information
Full name Matthew John Jurman[1]
Date of birth (1989-12-08) 8 December 1989 (age 34)
Place of birth Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Macarthur FC
Number 5
Youth career
Wollongong Wolves
2005–2006 Parramatta Eagles
2006–2007 AIS
2008–2011 Sydney FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007 AIS 11 (0)
2007–2008 Sydney Olympic 26 (2)
2008–2011 Sydney FC 22 (0)
2011–2013 Brisbane Roar 34 (0)
2013–2017 Sydney FC 74 (2)
2017–2018 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 28 (2)
2018–2019 Al-Ittihad 11 (0)
2019–2020 Western Sydney Wanderers 24 (0)
2020–2021 Xanthi 25 (0)
2021–2023 Newcastle Jets 42 (1)
2023– Macarthur FC 16 (0)
International career
2007–2009 Australia U20 26 (0)
2010–2012 Australia U23 6 (0)
2017– Australia 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 June 2019

Club career

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Youth career

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After graduating from Westfields Sports High School in 2007, Jurman furthered his football development at the AIS before signing for the Sydney FC youth team in 2008. In his first year at the club, Jurman helped Sydney FC to their first youth championship in the competition's inaugural campaign and later earned himself a senior deal at the club under then manager, John Kosmina.

Sydney FC

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Jurman in 2008

Jurman made his senior debut for Sydney FC off the bench on 9 September 2007 against Perth Glory. Throughout his time at Sydney, he went on to make 22 appearances in the league as well as a number of appearances for the club in the 2011 Asian Champions League. He scored his only goal for Sydney in a 2–1 away loss to Kashima Antlers.

Along with a strong finish to the season where he became a first team regular, Jurman is remembered for an incident that occurred during the 2010–11 season after Sydney FC striker Juho Mäkelä scored a crucial goal to put Sydney FC 2–0 ahead over Gold Coast United. Mäkelä jumped the fence to celebrate with the club's fans followed by the rest of the squad. During the jubilant celebrations, the fence collapsed and pinned Jurman's causing fears that he may have broken his leg. Jurman eventually played on and confirmed after the game that there was moderate swelling and bruising but no significant damage sustained.[4]

Brisbane Roar

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On 10 February 2011, it was confirmed Jurman had signed for A-League club Brisbane Roar on a two-year contract. He would be available for the beginning of the 2011–12 season.[5] He won another league championship the first season and left after the second season to re join Sydney FC.

Return to Sydney FC

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On 2 May 2013, Sydney FC announced that Jurman would be returning to the club for a second stint after signing a 1-year deal to join the Sky Blues.[6] Jurman made his first appearance in the 2013–14 season for Sydney away to Melbourne Heart as a 64th-minute substitute for Brett Emerton in a game that Sydney FC won 2–0. On 8 March 2014 Jurman scored his first ever A-League goal with a 59th-minute header to level the Sydney Derby at 1–1 after Shinji Ono's opening goal. Sydney FC would go on to win the game 3–1, their first ever home derby win.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings

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On 3 January 2017, Sydney FC confirmed that Jurman had been released, allowing him to join South Korean side Suwon Samsung Bluewings.[7]

During Jurmans time with the Suwons he received the K-League Newcomer of the Year Award after a fantastic season with the team.[8]

Al-Ittihad

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On 9 July 2018, the Saudi Arabia Professional League team Al-Ittihad Club (Jeddah) announced Jurman would be joining them in Jeddah for the 2018–19 season.[9]

International career

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Jurman was first called up to the Australian squad in August 2017.[10] He made his senior international debut on 5 October 2017 against Syria in a 2018 World Cup qualifier which finished in a 1–1 draw.[11] In May 2018 he was named in Australia's 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.[12]

Career statistics

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As of 29 April 2023[13][14]
Club Season League1 Cup Continental2 Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sydney FC 2007–08 A-League 1 0 1 0
2008–09 6 0 6 0
2009–10 7 0 7 0
2010–11 8 0 6 1 14 1
Total 22 0 6 1 28 1
Brisbane Roar 2011–12 A-League 19 0 3 0 22 0
2012–13 15 0 15 0
Total 34 0 3 0 37 0
Sydney FC 2013–14 A-League 21 1 21 1
2014–15 17 1 2 0 19 1
2015–16 25 0 2 0 7 0 34 0
2016–17 11 0 5 0 16 0
Total 74 2 9 0 7 0 90 2
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2017 K League 1 25 2 0 0 3 0 28 2
2018 4 0 0 0 1 0 5 0
Total 29 2 0 0 4 0 33 2
Al-Ittihad 2018–19 Saudi Pro League 11 0 1 0 6 0 18 0
Western Sydney Wanderers 2019–20 A-League 24 0 0 0 24 0
Xanthi 2020–21 Super League Greece 2 23 0 0 0 2 0 25 0
Newcastle Jets 2021–22 A-League Men 22 0 1 0 23 0
2022–23 20 1 2 0 22 1
Total 42 1 3 0 45 1
Career total 259 5 13 0 26 1 2 0 300 6

1 – includes A-League final series statistics
2AFC Champions League statistics are included in season ending during group stages (i.e. ACL 2007 and A-League season 2006–07 etc.); also includes 2005 OFC Club Championship statistics

Honours

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Sydney FC

Brisbane Roar

Australia

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: Australia" (PDF). FIFA. 15 July 2018. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2019.
  2. ^ "M. Jurman". Soccerway.
  3. ^ Sydney FC (10 May 2016), Matthew Jurman's Triple Awards Night | Player Interviews | Sydney FC, retrieved 17 November 2017
  4. ^ "Jurman okay after fence collapse". Sports News First. Archived from the original on 14 January 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Jurman does sign for Brisbane". Archived from the original on 28 February 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  6. ^ "Sydney FC Signs Defender Matt Jurman". Sydney FC. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  7. ^ "Sydney FC confirm Jurman's exit". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  8. ^ "Jurman claims top K-League award - Australian FourFourTwo". Archived from the original on 14 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Former Hyundai A-League defender Jurman joins new club". 9 July 2018.
  10. ^ Smithies, Tom (15 August 2017). "World Cup qualifier: Defensive uncertainty hands Matt Jurman great chance to play in Japan". News.com.au. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  11. ^ Cohen, Mitch (6 October 2017). "Jurman plays vital role for Socceroos". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  12. ^ "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - Final 23-man lists | Goal.com".
  13. ^ "Matt Jurman Player Summary". worldfootball.net. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  14. ^ "Jurman Analysis by Team". football-lineups.com. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
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