Patrick Yazbek (born 5 April 2002) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a defensive midfielder for Major League Soccer club Nashville SC and the Australia national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Patrick Yazbek[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 5 April 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia[1] | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Nashville SC | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2009 | Austral | ||
| 2010–2011 | Football NSW SAP | ||
| 2012 | Club Marconi | ||
| 2013–2015 | Sydney United | ||
| 2016 | Western Sydney Wanderers | ||
| 2017–2020 | Sydney FC | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2022 | Sydney FC NPL | 23 | (1) |
| 2021–2023 | Sydney FC | 28 | (1) |
| 2023–2024 | Viking | 39 | (2) |
| 2024– | Nashville SC | 7 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021– | Australia U23 | 12 | (0) |
| 2024– | Australia | 2 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 October 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 March 2024 | |||
Early life
editHaving begun playing soccer aged three,[3] Yazbek joined Austral Soccer Club's under-5s.[4] In 2010, he moved Football NSW's "Skill Acquisition Program".[4] Yazbek then played for other youth teams, namely Club Marconi, Sydney United, Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC.[3][5]
Club career
editSydney FC
editAfter making the bench a few times during the 2020–21 A-League season, Yazbek signed a two-year scholarship contract with Sydney FC in July 2021.[6]
He made his senior debut in the 2021 FFA Cup round of 32, in a 4–2 victory over Sydney Olympic.[7] Yazbek's A-League debut came on 12 December 2021, as a substitute in a 2–0 defeat to Central Coast Mariners.[8] On 19 December, he made his starting debut for Sydney FC in a 2–1 win over Wellington Phoenix.[9]
Viking FK
editOn 2 February 2023, Norwegian Eliteserien club Viking announced the signing of Yazbek.[10] On 15 April 2023, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 home win against Lillestrøm.[citation needed]
Nashville SC
editOn 22 July 2024, Yazbek joined Major League Soccer club Nashville SC.[11][12] He made his league debut on 24 August against Austin FC but was removed from the match in the first half. Yazbek was suspended for the following two matches for a violation of the league's anti-discrimination policy.[13] According to Outsports, the suspension was a result of Yazbek's use of a homophobic slur during the match after a foul was called against him.[14]
International career
editYouth
editYazbek was selected for the Australia national under-23 team ahead of their qualifiers for the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup.[15] He played in both of Australia's games against Indonesia in October 2021, helping his side qualify for the final tournament.[1] In the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup, Yazbek played six games;[1] Australia finished in fourth place, losing the third place match against Japan.[16]
Senior
editYazbek was named in the Australia squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Lebanon,[17] the country in which his parents were born in and who he was also eligible to represent.[18] Lebanon manager Miodrag Radulović criticised Yazbek for his decision to represent Australia, saying he "would be better to be one of the leaders in our team than sitting on the bench [for Australia]."[19][20] Yazbek did not feature in the first match at Western Sydney Stadium on 21 March, instead making his debut on 26 March at the Canberra Stadium, managing one assist for John Iredale in a 5–0 victory.[21][22]
Ahead of Australia's 2026 World Cup qualification matches against China and Japan, Socceroos coach Tony Popovic called up Yazbeck as an injury replacement for Massimo Luongo and Connor Metcalfe.[23]
Style of play
editIn 2021, Yazbek described himself as a "hardworking box-to-box midfielder".[24]
Personal life
editBorn in Australia, Yazbek is of Lebanese descent.[25] Growing up a Sydney FC supporter,[3] Yazbek studied at Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School in Carnes Hill,[4] and at Clancy Catholic College in West Hoxton.[3] As of 2021, he was a Construction Management student at the University of New South Wales.[7]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 23 October 2024[26]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sydney FC Youth | 2020 | NPL NSW | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | |||
| 2021 | NPL NSW | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | 12 | 1 | ||||
| 2022 | NPL NSW | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | ||
| Sydney FC | 2020–21 | A-League | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22 | A-League | 14 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 7[b] | 0 | — | 25 | 1 | ||
| 2022–23 | A-League | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| Total | 28 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 1 | ||
| Viking | 2023 | Eliteserien | 26 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 2 | ||
| 2024 | Eliteserien | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 | |||
| Total | 40 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 45 | 2 | ||||
| Nashville SC | 2024 | MLS | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 98 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 118 | 4 | ||
- ^ Includes Australia Cup and Norwegian Cup
- ^ Appearances in AFC Asian Champions League
- ^ Appearance in Sydney Super Cup
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Patrick Yazbek". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ^ Patrick Yazbek at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b c d Lulham, Amanda (19 October 2021). "Olyroos: Sydney FC's Patrick Yazbek in AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifier squad". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ^ a b c Haigh, Paul (31 July 2012). "West Hoxton soccer boy is on the ball". Liverpool City Champion. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ^ Sydney FC [@SydneyFC] (3 August 2021). "One of this season's Sydney FC Academy graduates....take a look at Patrick Yazbek's pathway to the A-League!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Bright Prospect Yazbek Signs As We Say Thanks Luke". Sydney FC. 20 July 2021.
- ^ a b Phelan, Adam (6 December 2021). "The perfect match: UNSW and Sydney FC partnership kicks off new season". University of New South Wales.
Patrick Yazbek, a UNSW Construction Management student, made his first senior appearance last week in the FFA Cup game against Sydney Olympic
- ^ Rugari, Vince (12 December 2021). "Outlook darkens for injury-hit Sky Blues as Mariners pile on misery". WAtoday. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ^ Smith, Pete (19 December 2021). "Sydney FC finally return to winning ways". Northern Beaches Review. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "Nysignering: Patrick Yazbek". Viking FK (in Norwegian). 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ mlssoccer. "Nashville SC sign midfielder Patrick Yazbek | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ "Melbourne's Maclaren off to India; Nashville bag Yazbek". FTBL. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ Shames, Jacob (29 August 2024). "Nashville SC's Patrick Yazbek suspended 2 games for violating MLS anti-discrimination policy". The Tennessean. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ Holmes, Jon (4 September 2024). "Nashville player Patrick Yazbek was banned for using anti-gay F-word during MLS debut, source tells Outsports". Outsports. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Hammond, Caroutas & Scarcella added to Australia U23s for Indonesia fixtures". MyFootball. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ^ "AFC U23 : Japan beat Australia 3–0 secured 3rd place". SNE Sports Co. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "Subway Socceroos squad for Lebanon World Cup Qualifiers revealed". Socceroos. 14 March 2024.
- ^ "Former Sydney FC midfielder Patrick Yazbek set to make his Socceroos debut". news.com.au. 25 March 2024.
- ^ Rayson, Zac (25 March 2024). "Lebanon coach's salty swipe at Aussie rookie as Arnie hints at sweeping changes". Fox Sports. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Monteverde, Marco (25 March 2024). "Former Sydney FC midfielder Patrick Yazbek set to make his Socceroos debut". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Patterson, Emily (26 March 2024). "Arnold lauds young stars in thumping win over Lebanon". Nine News. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Davidson, John (26 March 2024). "Debutants dazzle for Socceroos to add vigour to Arnold's hardened pros". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ sachapisani (6 October 2024). "Macarthur's 'serial winner' drafted into Socceroos squad after Australia Cup success". A-Leagues. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
- ^ "Quick Catch Up: Patrick Yazbek". Sydney FC. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ Werner, Tilly (5 November 2022). "Sydney FC midfielder Patrick Yazbek used the Covid-19 lockdown to turn a footballing hobby into a professional career". CODE Sports. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
As a young Lebanese family in western Sydney, life for the Yazbeks was about work.
- ^ Patrick Yazbek at Soccerway. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
External links
edit- Patrick Yazbek at GameDay