Matthew Špiranović

Matthew Špiranović
Matthew Špiranović
Matthew Spiranovic 2.jpg
Personal information
Full name Matthew Thomas Špiranović
Date of birth 27 June 1988 (1988-06-27) (age 23)
Place of birth Geelong, Australia
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing position Centre Back
Club information
Current club Urawa Red Diamonds
Number 4
Youth career
North Geelong Warriors
Keilor Park
2003 Melbourne Knights
2004–2005 VIS
2006 AIS
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2006–2011 1. FC Nuremberg 24 (0)
2009–2010 1. FC Nuremberg II 11 (2)
2010 → Urawa Red Diamonds (loan) 13 (1)
2011– Urawa Red Diamonds 25 (0)
National team‡
2004–2005 Australia U-17 17 (1)
2006 Australia U-20 14 (0)
2007–2008 Australia U-23 8 (0)
2008– Australia 12 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 October 2011.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 November 2011

Matthew Thomas Špiranović (born 27 June 1988) is an Australian football (soccer) player who currently plays for J. League club Urawa Red Diamonds.[1]

Contents

Career

Špiranović played junior football in Geelong and Melbourne before earning a scholarship with the VIS. He then graduated to the AIS in 2006. He had trialled for Melbourne Victory, having played for them in a World Club Championship qualifier when he was 16, but was not offered a contract by its coach Ernie Merrick who believed that Špiranović was too good to play in the A-League. On 5 October 2006, it had been reported in that Špiranović was signed to 1. FC Nuremberg upon a successful two week trial with the club's first-team.[2][3]

1. FC Nuremberg

2006–07 season

On 30 January 2007 Špiranović debuted for Nuremberg in a game against Borussia Mönchengladbach, he had been substituted on for the last few minutes of the game replacing fellow Australian Michael Beauchamp. On 2 February 2007 Špiranović made his full club debut in the Bundesliga in a win against FC Bayern Munich, although he was replaced at half time due to a corked thigh. Špiranović’s performance had impressed many supporters, especially in such a big game against one of the giants of German football. He played his first two full 90-minute-games in late April and early May against VfL Wolfsburg and FC Schalke 04 acting as a "special enforcer" against the teams' dangerous creative midfielders Marcelinho and Lincoln. His performance in those two games lead a Nuremberg tabloid to give Špiranović the nickname of "Nuremberg's fiercest watchdog". By this time, there were three other Australian's at FC Nuremberg: Josh Kennedy, Michael Beauchamp and Dario Vidosic. Špiranović also took part in the DFB-Pokal 2006–07 where which Nuremberg won 3–2 against Stuttgart in the final. Due to Nuremberg's cup win, they had qualified for the early stages of the 2007–08 UEFA Cup where they would secure a spot in the tournament due to a 2–2 second-leg draw in their favour against Rapid Bucureşti where which Špiranović had taken part in.[4]

2007–08 season

Nuremberg would finish second in their respective group of the 2007–08 UEFA Cup and proceed to the knock-out stages. They were then eliminated by Benfica at the round of sixteen stage as the Portuguese giants would go through due to a 1–0 first leg win (having drawn 2–2 Germany). Špiranović would occasionally be included, having made the bench on various occasions but not being included in the playing squad.[5][6] As the 2007–08 Bundesliga season came to a close, Nuremberg had finished 16th and would be relegated to the German Second Division.

2008–09 season

In November 2008 Špiranović picked up a long-term hamstring injury and ruptured an ankle tendon which restricted him to just eight appearances for the club in the 2008–09 season, despite this, in June 2009, Fulham's boss had targeted Špiranović for a transfer by offering £1million but it was not eventuated.[7][8] Špiranović would then extend his contract for another two seasons.[9] Špiranović would spend some time playing with the Reserve team of Nuremberg while regaining his fitness.[10] He made 8 appearances for the first-team as Nuremberg would finish in third place in the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga re-gaining promotion for the 2009–10 Bundesliga season.[1]

2009–10 season

On 17 November 2009, it had been reported that Špiranović would be loaned to another club by January 2010 in order to gain more game time.[11] It was insisted by Nuremberg sport director Martin Bader that Špiranović should gain some valuable game time as he had missed a large number of games due to injury. It was also due to the fact that by November Špiranović had only made one appearance during the 2009–10 season in a 4–0 loss against Bayer Leverkusen on 3 October.[12][13][14]

Urawa Red Diamonds

2010 season

On 7 January 2010, Špiranović joined Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds on loan until the end of 2010.[15][16] He scored his and Urawa's first goal in a 4–1 victory against Shonan Bellmare on 21 August 2010,[17] by that time having played 11 times for Urawa, he had comfortably cemented his spot in the first-team by starting in 7 consecutive games which earned him a call up for two international friendlies.[18]

2011 season

On 11 December 2010 Špiranović joined Urawa on a permanent basis after the Japanese club bought out his contract after a very impressive first season in J1 despite frequent injuries.[19][20] Due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in March, Špiranović returned to Australia as the J-League had been suspended until April 2011.[21] On 22 June 2011, Špiranović returned from a one-match suspension, due to receiving consecutive yellow cards in two separate games, and played a full game in defence as Urawa Red Diamonds claimed a much-needed 3–0 victory over Avispa Fukuoka. His efforts in defence drew praise from under-pressure Urawa boss Zeljko Petrovic, as Urawa were stuck in mid-table for most of the J-League season.[22] On 15 July, two days after Urawa beat fifth placed side Kawasaki Frontale 2–0 at home, it was published by FourFourTwo Australia that Špiranović was delighted to finally be enjoying regular injury-free first-team action, however, admitted his frustration by the struggles of his club during the J-League season as Urawa had only recorder just three J-League wins at the time.[23] Špiranović continued his fine form playing 90 minute games in defence as Urawa would record three wins in the same week. A 2-0 win to Ventforet Kofu on 23 July, a 2-1 J. League Cup win to Montedio Yamagata on 27 July and a 1-0 away victory to Kawasaki Frontale on 30 July ensured Urawa's winning streak where which the side had been undefeated for nine consecuitive games.[24][25][26][27]

International career

In 2004 Špiranović was selected for the Australia U-17 squad where which he participated in a South American tour under coach Ange Postecoglou, he would then go on to play in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Peru.[28] In a team with Kaz Patafta, Nathan Burns and David Williams, Špiranović started in all three group stage games which saw Australia finish in third place after losing 1–0 to Turkey, 3–0 to Mexico and winning 2–1 against Uruguay.[29][30][31] Prior to his signing with 1. FC Nuremberg in 2006, Špiranović represented the Australia U-20 side in the AFC Youth Championship 2006 held in India. After reaching the quarter-finals Australia would lose 2–1 to Korea Republic as they failed to qualify for the eventual 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup which was to be held in Canada.[32] At that point, despite Australia's unsuccessful qualification campaign, Špiranović's status attracted the attention of the Croatian Football Federation. This was due to his parents' heritage which made him eligible to represent either Australia, England (the birth place of his father) or Croatia. On 4 April 2007, Špiranović publicly announced his intention to play for Australia on SBS's football program The World Game. By 2008 he was selected to represent the Australia U-23 squad at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, playing in all three group matches against Serbia, Argentina and Cote d'Ivoire, team finished third in their respective group. After Spiranovic stated his intention to play for Australia he was called up to the national side for a friendly against Uruguay which was held on 2 June 2007. Špiranović did not play in the defeat against the South Americans and surprisingly missed out on a spot in Australia's 2007 Asian Cup Squad where which only five recognized defenders were selected. Špiranović made his senior international debut for the Socceroos on 23 May 2008, coming on as a substitute against Ghana, followed by a start in the World Cup Qualifier against China on 22 June 2008. Despite the public's faith that Špiranović would make the 2010 FIFA World Cup squad, as well as being transferred to Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds in order to gain more playing time, he ultimately missed out on selection.[33] After a lengthy absence from the national team, Spiranovic played a full 90 minutes in a 0–0 draw against Switzerland on 5 September 2010.[34][35] During this time which had followed Craig Moore's retirement from the national team, Špiranović was labelled as Australia's central defender for the next decade as coach Holger Osieck noticed his potential before selection for the 2011 Asian Cup.[36]

Personal life

Personal and family life

Špiranović was born in Geelong, Victoria. He is the son of Michael Špiranović, an English born former footballer for North Geelong Warriors.[37] Špiranović grew up in Geelong's South-West suburb Wandana Heights. He attended St. Robert's Primary School of Geelong and St Joseph's College from 2001 to 2005. Špiranović has two younger sisters, Amelia, who play for South Melbourne in the Women's Victorian Premier League, and Laura, who plays for Melbourne Victory in the W-League.[38] He shares a strong friendship with former 1. FC Nuremberg teammate Dario Vidošić, the pair having played together for the Australia U-20 squad before signing professional terms with the German club.

National team decision

By 2007 it was clear that Špiranović was to play for Australia when he officially rejected an offer from the Croatian Football Federation. Former Socceroo's coach Graham Arnold was informed of Špiranović's decision by phone and therefore included him in the national side prior to the 2007 Asian Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Arnold stated that the FFA, as well as the Australian national team's staff, were in danger of losing the defender as Špiranović's parents received phone calls from Croatia in the middle of the night which applied much pressure on Špiranović to make his final decision.[39][40][41][42][43]

Career statistics

Club

Statistics accurate as of match played 3 October 2011[44][45]

Club Season League Cup1 League Cup2 Continental3 Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1. FC Nuremberg 2006–07 8 0 2 0 - - 10 0
2007–08 7 0 0 0 - 1 0 8 0
2008–09 8 0 1 0 - - 9 0
2009–10 1 0 0 0 - - 1 0
Total 24 0 3 0 - 1 0 28 0
Urawa Red Diamonds 2010 13 1 0 0 5 0 - 18 1
2011 25 0 1 0 - 26 0
Total 38 1 0 0 6 0 - 44 1
Career total 62 1 3 0 6 0 1 0 72 1

1Includes DFB-Pokal and Emperor's Cup.

2Includes J. League Cup.

3Includes UEFA Europe League.

International

National team Year Apps Goals
Australia
2008 2 0
2009 2 0
2010 1 0
2011 5 0
Total 10 0

Awards and honours

Australia

Club

1. FC Nuremberg
2006–2007

Individual

  • Weinstein Medal Junior Player of the Year: 1
2004

References

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  45. ^ Matthew Špiranović at National-Football-Teams.com

External links

v · d · eUrawa Red Diamonds – current squad

1 Yamagishi · 2 Tsuboi · 3 Ugajin · 4 Špiranović · 5 Takahashi · 6 Nobuhisa Yamada · 7 Umesaki · 8 Kashiwagi · 10 Marcio Richardes · 11 Tanaka · 12 Noda · 13 Suzuki · 14 Hirakawa · 15 Escudero · 16 Takasaki · 17 Nagata · 18 Kato · 20 Horinouchi · 21 Hara · 22 Naoki Yamada · 23 Aoyama · 24 Haraguchi · 25 Otani · 26 Hamada · 27 Kojima · 28 Okamoto · 29 Mazola · 30 Mikami · 31 Despotović · Manager: Hori

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