Adrian Leijer
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| Adrian Leijer | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | March 25, 1986 | |
| Place of birth | Dubbo, NSW, Australia | |
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | |
| Playing position | Centre back | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Fulham | |
| Number | 37 | |
| Youth clubs | ||
2002–2003 |
SASS Strikers, Dubbo Geelong VIS |
|
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 2003–2004 2005–2007 2007– |
Melbourne Knights Melbourne Victory Fulham |
20 (0) 41 (1) 0 (0) |
| National team2 | ||
| 2003 2004–2005 2006– 2008– |
Australia U17 Australia U20 Australia U23 Australia |
11 (0) 10 (1) 18 (1) 1 (0) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Adrian Leijer (born March 25, 1986 in Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia) is an Australian football (soccer) player who currently plays as a centre back for Fulham F.C. in the English Premier League.
Contents |
[edit] Career
[edit] Early years
Leijer was born, and largely grew up in, the New South Wales town of Dubbo to a family of Dutch and English heritage. He played from Under 10 - Under 14 with SASS Strikers Junior Soccer Club in the Dubbo & District Soccer Association. Whilst with SASS, he represented Western New South Wales and New South Wales Country in football.
When Leijer was 15 years old his family moved south to Jan Juc on Victoria's surf coast where he joined the Geelong Soccer team and represented the U-15's Victorian Country team. Ian Greener, then Head of Coaching & Development at the Victorian Soccer Federation, spotted his talent and recommended him to the head coach of the Victorian Institute of Sport Football program, Ernie Merrick.
Leijer spent two years at the Victorian Institute of Sport and then moved on to the Melbourne Knights for the last season of the now defunct National Soccer League, where he made 18 appearances during a season where the club finished second last in the competition.
While still training at the VIS, Leijer and his future team mate Kristian Sarkies were selected to trial with Everton Football Club in the English Premier League for three weeks. However, they both failed to impress and returned home to Australia.
[edit] Melbourne Victory
Upon his return to Australia, he was signed by Melbourne Victory, a team in the new A-League competition. His former VIS coach Ernie Merrick, who had taken the reins at Melbourne Victory, stated; “Adrian is a reliable and uncompromising defender with a football maturity beyond his years. He is already part of the senior leadership group within the club and is the second youngest player in the squad,”
The club's first season was reminiscent of Leijer's time at the Melbourne Knights as Melbourne Victory finished second last overall. Leijer, however, played 20 games for the club, only missing their final game against the New Zealand Knights through suspension. At the end of the season he was awarded the Players' Player of the Year and Clubman of the Year awards.
Melbourne Victory's second season was more successful, starting with seven straight wins and culminating in a 6-0 victory over Adelaide United in the Grand Final. At the A-League's end of season awards, Leijer won Young Player of the Year.
[edit] Fulham
On the 2nd August 2007, Melbourne Victory confirmed that English Premier League team Fulham FC had made a bid for the then 21-year old. Leijer accepted and signed a 3 year contract for an undisclosed fee.[1]
Leijer consistently played for the Fulham FC reserve team throughout the 2007/2008 season and was also included in the squads to face both Liverpool and Reading, but stayed on the bench both times.
[edit] National Team
Adrian Leijer's first taste of the senior international scene was when he was selected by Guus Hiddink to train with the Socceroos before the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. After his short training stint with the senior team he continued being selected for Young Socceroos squads. He is currently a regular member of the Australia national under-23 football team, the Olyroos.
Leijer earned his first cap for the senior Australian national team against Singapore on March 22, 2008.
[edit] Honours
With Melbourne Victory:
Personal Honours:
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Nick Ward |
Hyundai A-League Young Player of the Year Award 2006/07 |
Succeeded by Bruce Djite |
|
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