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John Aloisi

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John Aloisi
Personal information
Full name John Aloisi
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Sydney FC
Number 23
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 November 2007

John Aloisi (born February 5, 1976 in Adelaide, Australia) is an Australian football (soccer) striker who most recently plays for A-League club Sydney FC. He is the younger brother of former Wellington Phoenix FC captain Ross Aloisi.

Club career

Aloisi signed for English Premiership side Coventry City in December 1998, following a high scoring start to the season for Division One side Portsmouth F.C.. The fee was a bargain at £600,000 due to Portsmouth's financial troubles at the time.

He made his debut in a 1-1 home draw with Derby, being introduced as substitute a few minutes from the end. In his short time on the pitch he came close to scoring the winning goal causing the home fans to curse their manager for not introducing the debutant earlier. In the next home game against Tottenham Hotspur, Aloisi was again on the bench. This time though he came off the bench to equalise salvaging another 1-1 draw in the process.

Aloisi's next notable performance came in a historic 4-1 win away at Villa Park against Aston Villa. This was Coventry's first ever away victory in the League against their Midlands rivals. Aloisi bagged two goals, playing his part in an excellent team performance. Aloisi started in the next game - a home match against fellow strugglers Charlton Athletic - but ended up being sent off for raising his hands against a Charlton player.

Despite being popular with the fans, Aloisi was not able to claim a regular starting place in the 1999/2000 season or the 2000/01 season due to a spate of injuries. In 1999/2000 he scored in consecutive home defeats against Manchester United and Leeds United but injuries prevented him from taking part for much of the season. In total he made just seven appearances. 2000/01 was a disappointing season for Coventry as they were relegated from the Premiership. Aloisi made 18 appearances, scoring 3 goals - notably a cracking strike in a 2-1 home victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

Following relegation, Aloisi was allowed to leave Highfield Road, and came close to signing for Crystal Palace. This deal fell through and he eventually moved to Pamplona in Spain to play for CA Osasuna.

He signed a 2 year deal with Alaves in the summer of 2005, after a move to Panathinaikos collapsed. He moved on a free transfer from CA Osasuna where he played from 2001. He is the only Australian to have played in the world's three biggest football leagues (England, Spain, Italy).

In 2006 Aloisi was named South Australian of the Year by The Advertiser newspaper.[1]

On May 17, 2007 it was reported that Aloisi, after rejecting an offer from Australian A-League clubs Queensland Roar and Perth Glory, was considering an offer from fellow A-League club Sydney FC. Sydney where looking to sign Aloisi as their marquee player whose salary would be exempt from the league's salary cap. [2] This move never eventuated.

On October 20, 2007 it was announced that Aloisi had signed with the Central Coast Mariners for the remainder of season three. The Central Coast Mariners were able to not include John's wages in the salary cap due to a loop hole relating to injured players. [3] He made his debut in the A-League on the 28 October against Sydney FC in their 3-2 defeat.[4] After their narrow grand final lost the Central Coast Mariners had hoped Aloisi would re-sign and become their Marquee Player and captain for the 2008/09 season.

File:JohnAloisi.jpg
Aloisi signs for Sydney FC

However on March 3, 2008 it was confirmed that Aloisi as suspected had signed a two year deal with Sydney FC. [5] All though the figure has not been disclosed it is reportedly worth $1.4 million a season, making the Socceroos hero the highest-paid player based in Australia in any of the four football codes.

Aloisi appears on the cover of the Australian version of Pro Evolution Soccer 6.

International career

Aloisi taking the now-famous penalty that secured the victory over Uruguay and Australia's place in the World Cup.

Aloisi was the top scorer for his country at the 2005 Confederations Cup in Germany scoring four goals, two against Germany and two against Argentina - earning him the bronze shoe. He also represented Australia at the 2004 Olympics as one out of three overage players - scoring three goals.

On 16 November 2005, Aloisi scored the decisive penalty-kick against Uruguay in a playoff that put Australia into the 2006 FIFA World Cup - the first time Australia had reached the World Cup finals since 1974.

He was selected in Australia's 2006 World Cup squad, and on 12 June 2006, Aloisi came off the bench to score the third goal in Australia's 3-1 victory over Japan. He became only the second Australian in history to score a goal at the World Cup Finals, after his teammate Tim Cahill.

To date John Aloisi has scored 27 goals in 54 appearances for the Australian national team. This makes him the second highest goal scorer ever for Australia, and only two goals behind the record, held by Damian Mori with 29. Aloisi has stated he will continue to play for Australia until after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Recently, Aloisi scored in the Socceroos quarter-final match against Japan in their first ever Asian Cup in the 70th minute to give Australia the lead but the Japanese equalised two minutes later through Naohiro Takahara after a defensive blunder by Sydney FC defender Mark Milligan. Aloisi was substituted later on during the game as Australia lost 4-3 in penalties with Australian midfielder Harry Kewell, defender and captain, (after Mark Viduka was substituted) Lucas Neill missing spot kicks.

Aloisi's penalty strike against Uruguay in 2005, which took the Socceroos to the World Cup finals, was recently voted by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame as one of three greatest moments in Australian sporting history.

Honours

With Australia:

With Central Coast Mariners:

With Adelaide City:

Personal Honours:

References

  1. ^ The Winners Are... AdelaideNow, Retrieved on 23 December 2006
  2. ^ Aloisi Still Linked With Move Home Australian FourFourTwo, Retrieved on 17 May 2006
  3. ^ "Aloisi: Now's the Right Time" Australian FourFourTwo, Retrieved on 20 October 2007
  4. ^ Brosque double sinks Mariners A-League Official Website, Retrieved on 28 October 2007.
  5. ^ Sydney unveil new signings FoxSports, Retrieved on 3 March 2008

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