Matt Simon

This article is about the football (soccer) player. For the American football coach, see Matt Simon (American football).

Matt Simon

Personal information
Full name	Matthew Blake Simon
Date of birth	22 January 1986 (1986-01-22)
Place of birth	Sydney, Australia
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Chunnam Dragons
Number	10
Youth career
	Wyoming
	East Gosford
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2005–2006	Central Coast Lightning	35	(8)
2006–2012	Central Coast Mariners	114	(36)
2012–	Chunnam Dragons	0	(0)
National team‡
2008	Australia U-23	10	(5)
2008–2009	Australia	2	(0)
Honours Competitor for Australia Men's Football 2008 Beijing Central Coast Mariners Winner A-League 2007-2008
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 January 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17:30, 4 November 2010 (UTC)

Matthew Simon (born 22 January 1986 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) is a football (soccer) player. Simon currently plays as a striker for the Korean K-League side Chunnam Dragons.

Club career

He was added to the Mariners' squad in the week leading up to their 2006 Pre-Season Cup play-off against Newcastle Jets. Simon was then brought back to the squad after Nik Mrdja suffered a heel injury before the round 19 clash against Newcastle. He starred for the Central Coast Lightning during their 2006 NSW Winter Super League campaign. Simon had a solid 07-08 season with the Mariners despite not scoring any goals. In the first league game for the 08-09 season Simon immediately broke his duck and scored off a header that would prove to be the start of his wonderful season.

After a successful 08-09 season, in January 2009, He was offered a 2 year contract by Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids but turned it down citing his preference to remain in Australia with the possibility of playing in Europe in the future. Later in the year, he extended his contract with Central Coast Mariners, staying with the club until 2012.

Move to South Korea

On 30 December 2011 it was announced that he had signed a three year contract worth $400,000 per year to play for K-League side Chunnam Dragons. It was latter announced that Chunnam Dragons paid a transfer fee of $170,000 to acquire the player.

International career

Following a brilliant display for the Olyroos in the Intercontinental Cup, including a hat-trick against the Republic of Ireland in the semi-finals, Simon received a call-up to the Australian National Team by manager Pim Verbeek for the World Cup Qualifiers against Iraq.

International appearances

#	Date	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Game time	Match Report
1	29 January 2009	Indonesia	0-0	Draw	2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification	56'	Report
2	5 March 2009	Kuwait	0–1	Loss	2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification	Full game	Report

A-League career statistics

(Correct as of 23 January 2011)

Club	Season	League		Cup		Asia		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Central Coast Mariners
	2006–07	3	0	0	0	-	-	3	0
	2007–08	20	0	3	1	-	-	23	1
	2008–09	21	11	4	1	3	2	25	14
	2009–10	25	7	-	-	-	-	25	7
	2010–11	31	11	-	-	-	-	31	11
	2011–12	14	7	-	-	-	-	14	7
Total		114	36	7	2	3	2	124	40

Honours

With Central Coast Mariners:

• A-League Premiership: 2007-2008

Personal Honours:

• Central Coast Mariners Mariners Medal: 2008-2009

External links

• Central Coast Mariners profile
• FFA - Olyroo profile

Awards
Preceded by Mile Jedinak	Central Coast Mariners Mariners Medal 2008-09	Succeeded by Danny Vukovic