 Smith with theA-League trophy (Brisbane Roar, 2012) | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthew Terence Smith | ||
| Date of birth | (1982-10-15)15 October 1982 (age 43) | ||
| Place of birth | Chichester, England | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Centre back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Malaysia (assistant) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| UWE Hartpury Uni., Gloucestershire | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2001 | Portsmouth | 0 | (0) |
| 2005 | Chichester City United | 18 | (5) |
| 2006–2007 | Cirencester Town | 0 | (0) |
| 2007 | Gold Coast City | 25 | (2) |
| 2008–2010 | Brisbane Strikers | 24 | (3) |
| 2009–2010 | →North Qld Fury (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 2010–2014 | Brisbane Roar | 112 | (5) |
| 2015–2018 | BG Pathum United | 120 | (7) |
| 2019 | Kitchee | 9 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Gold Coast Knights | 9 | (0) |
| 2020–2022 | Brisbane City | 54 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2012 | Australia | 3[2] | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2020–2022 | Brisbane City | ||
| 2022–2023 | BG Pathum United | ||
| 2023–2025 | Macarthur FC (assistant) | ||
| 2025– | Malaysia (assistant) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 29 October 2022 | |||
Matthew Terence Smith (born 14 October 1982) is asoccer manager and former player, he is the currently assistant coach ofMalaysia.
Born in England, Smith emigrated to Australia where he started his professional soccer career withNorth Queensland Fury during the 2009-10 A-League season and then signed a two-year contract withBrisbane Roar at the start of theA-League 2010–11 season. He has played for theAustralian national team, and coached Brisbane City FC out of NPL Queensland in 2020, as The Azzurri were relegated into the FQPL in 2021.[3] The Azzurri return in NPL Queensland in 2022.[4]
Born inChichester, England, Smith started his career playing University football in England, where he represented several different Universities before being signed byChampionship clubPortsmouth.
Smith moved to Australia for one year in 2004 and returned in 2006, during which time he attended Hartpury College in Gloucestershire and completed his master's degree in Sports Management.[5] He also captained the Hartpury senior side to the BUSA National Championship in 2007.[citation needed]
He moved to Australia and played forPalm Beach before moving toBrisbane Strikers. He was signed on an injury replacement loan atNorth Queensland Fury to replace Scottish defenderScott Wilson.[6]
On 16 April 2010 it was announced that Smith joined the Brisbane Roar on a two-year deal after his contract with North Queensland expired due to ownership changes.[7] On 6 September 2011, the Roar announced that Smith would replace departed midfielderMatt McKay as captain of the club.[8] On 10 September 2012, Smith signed a new 3-year contract at the Roar, extending his stay until the end of the 2015/16 season.[9]
It was announced in December 2014 that Smith would leave the Brisbane Roar and joinBangkok Glass for an undisclosed fee.[10]
On 31 December 2018, Smith moved toHong Kong Premier League clubKitchee.[11]
On 12 February 2019, in the third qualifying match of the2019 Asian Champions League, Kitchee played away toPerak. During the match, Matt Smith was sent off after picking up his second yellow card in the 49th minute. Kitchee lost the match on penalties in the end.[12]
In July 2019,National Premier Leagues Queensland sideGold Coast Knights announced the signing of Smith.[13] After seven months with the club, Smith departed in February 2020.[14]
In February 2020, Smith joinedBrisbane City, taking on a double role as a player and football director.[15] After three years as football director and head coach of the club, in September 2022, Smith was announced as a general manager ofA-League Men clubBrisbane Roar, for which he had played 112 games.[16]
In October 2022, Smith was appointed head coach ofBG Pathum United for whom he had played for and captained.[17][18] In March 2023, after not meeting the team's targets, Smith was dismissed from the head coach role at the club, but was transferred to be a technical coach instead of leaving.[19]
In July 2023, after his stint as head coach overseas, Smith returned to Australia and joinedA-League Men clubMacarthur FC as the assistant coach underMile Sterjovski.[20] In February 2025, he departed the club to pursue an opportunity overseas.[21]
Smith married Aicha Bendjelloul, an English woman on 17 May 2012 in a civil ceremony inBrisbane, Australia. They then celebrated with family and friends by hosting a party on the Thai island ofKoh Samui.[22]
Together, they have 4 children Isla, Ava, Ruby and Owen.[23] Smith is qualified with a BA Degree in Marketing and Leisure Management and a Masters in Sports Management from Hartpury College in Gloucestershire.
| Club | Season | League1 | Cup | International2 | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| North Queensland Fury | 2009–10 | 11 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 11 | 0 |
| Brisbane Roar | 2010–11 | 33 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 33 | 2 |
| 2011–12 | 27 | 0 | – | – | 5 | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
| 2012–13 | 14 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2013–14 | 29 | 3 | – | – | – | – | 29 | 3 | |
| 2014–15 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
| Total | 106 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 112 | 6 | |
| Bangkok Glass | 2015 | 33 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 4 |
| 2016 | 31 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 30 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 26 | 3 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 120 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Career total | 237 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 243 | 12 | |
1 - includesA-League final series statistics
2 - includesFIFA Club World Cup statistics;AFC Champions League statistics are included in season commencing after group stages (i.e. ACL and A-League seasons etc.)
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| BG Pathum United | 29 October 2022 | 19 March 2023 | 20 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 045.00 |
| Total | 20 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 045.00 | ||
1 Results from penalty shoot-outs are counted as draws in this table.