Iain Fyfe

Football player infobox
playername = Iain Fyfe
fullname = Iain Fyfe


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|04|3
cityofbirth = Adelaide
countryofbirth = Australia
height = height|m=1.85
currentclub = Sydney FC
clubnumber = 2
position = Centre Back, Right Back
youthyears =
1999–2000
youthclubs = Salisbury United
SASI
years = 2000–2003
2003–2004
2004–2005
2005–"present"
clubs = Adelaide City Force
Sydney Olympic
Hamilton Academical
Sydney FC
caps(goals) = 046 (3)
023 (0)
015 (0)
101 (4)
nationalyears = 1999–2000
2001
2003
nationalteam = Australia U-17
Australia U-20
Australia U-23
nationalcaps(goals) = 009 (1)
001 (0)
pcupdate = 15 December 2007
ntupdate = 15 December 2007

Iain Fyfe (born April 3, 1982 in Adelaide, Australia) is an Australian football (soccer) player who currently plays as defender for Sydney FC in the Hyundai A-League.

Club career

On completion of his SASI program in 2000, Iain joined hometown NSL club Adelaide City. After just three appearances off the bench in 2000/01, he broke into the Adelaide first team the following season, making 52 appearances in two years before moving to Sydney Olympic in 2003. He also earned a call up to the Australian Under-23 side for a friendly against Spain, but it would be the only one. Domestically, his move was positive, becoming a key figure for Olympic, playing all-but-one matches of the 2003/04 season. Following the collapse of the NSL after that season, Fyfe went overseas and trialled at various clubs, including Scottish Premier League side Hibernian [ cite news|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=393232004|title=Hibs to run rule over Fyfe|date=April 7, 2004] , before signing for Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Second Division. There he played alongside fellow Australians, David Carney as well as childhood friend and former Adelaide City teammate Scott Tunbridge. [cite news|url=http://iclanarkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/football/hamiltonaccies/tm_objectid=14404424&method=full&siteid=50144&headline=big-shock-for-iain-when-his-mate-turned-up-in-hamilton-name_page.html|title=Big shock for Iain when his mate turned up in Hamilton|date=2004-07-08] Fyfe struggled to break into the Hamilton first team, making only fifteen appearances before being released in early 2005.

Partnered next to first Mark Rudan and later Jacob Timpano, Fyfe was in the Sydney first XI for much of the A-League season. However he was dropped to the bench for the penultimate round due to inconsistent form. Several strong performances from Rudan kept him there, making only one start and three appearances off the bench in the club's last five games, although a missed match was through suspension. In the A-League grand final, Fyfe played an important role in defending Sydney's 1-0 lead over the Central Coast Mariners, having replaced injured Mark Rudan with 20 minutes remaining.

In the 2006-07 season, Fyfe was shifted to a wide defensive role by new coach Terry Butcher, who opted to play Mark Milligan in midfield rather than his usual right back position. The impact of the move was immediately apparent with Fyfe, goal-less in the previous season, scoring the winning goal against Central Coast in the opening round and netting again in the 3-2 loss to Melbourne Victory a week later. He went on to play every match of the season up until Sydney's semi-final exit. Strong performances led to another call up to the national team, included in the A-League-based Australian side for the 2007 Asian Cup qualifier against Kuwait on August 16, 2006, but again did not make an appearance.

During the Pan-Pacific Championship Iain played his 100th competitive game against Major League Soccer Glamour team Los Angeles Galaxy. Sydney went on to lose the match 2-1, with Sydney's goal coming from Brendan Renaud. He is Sydney's most capped player, and most consistent, only missing 3 competitive matches, in the 3 years Sydney have played in the A-League. [ [http://www.sydneyfc.com/default.aspx?s=sydfc_news_item&id=21612 Latest News ] ]

International career

Fyfe started his career in 1999, joining a talent identification program at the South Australian Sports Institute, and was soon exposed to the international football stage. He was selected for the Australian U17 side in qualifying matches for the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship and retained his place in the Joeys squad for the final tournament in New Zealand. Australia marched through to the final against Brazil, the match ending scoreless after extra time and proceeding to penalties. Fyfe entered the match as a substitute in extra time to secure the defence, but in the shoot-out he was tasked with Australia's ninth penalty kick. His shot was dramatically saved by goalkeeper Rubinho, allowing Brazil to take the title.

On February 16, 2005, Iain Fyfe returned to Australia became the 16th member of the inaugural Sydney FC squad. [cite news|url=http://www.sydneyfc.com/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=1344&pageid=489|title=Sydney FC Signs Former Youth International Iain Fyfe|date=February 16, 2005] Playing at centre back under coach Pierre Littbarski, Fyfe was instrumental in Sydney's qualification for the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship, being named Player of the Tournament for the 2005 Oceania Club Championship. [cite news|url=http://www.sydneyfc.com/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=1433&pageid=489|title=Iain Fyfe Wins Hyundai Tucson Car As OFC Player Of the Tournament|date=June 23, 2005 ] This prompted his inclusion in a Socceroo training camp with new manager Guus Hiddink, and his inclusion on the bench for the World Cup qualifier against Solomon Islands, although did not take the field. It is highly unlikely that he will represent Australia.

Honours

With Australia:
* FIFA U-17 World Championship: 1999 (Runners-Up)With Sydney FC:
* A-League Championship: 2005-2006
* Oceania Club Championship: 2004-2005Personal Honours:
* Oceania Club Championship Player of the Tournament: 2004-2005

Career statistics

"(correct as of 9 December, 2007)" [ [http://www.ozfootball.net/ OzFootball Archives] ] [ [http://www.sydneyfc.com/default.aspx?s=sydfc_fixtureresults Sydney FC - Fixtures and Results] ]

'International Cup' matches refer to AFC and Club World Cup competitions.

References

External links

* [http://www.sydneyfc.com/default.aspx?s=sydfc_playerprofile_item&pid=760 Sydney FC profile]
* [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/F/FR.html Oz Football profile]