 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Steve Fitzsimmons | ||
| Date of birth | (1976-09-07)7 September 1976 (age 49) | ||
| Place of birth | Liverpool, England | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position | Right-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2002 | Parramatta Power | 18 | (1) |
| 2002–2003 | Marconi | 7 | (0) |
| 2002–2003 | Queensland Lions | 12 | (6) |
| 2003–2004 | Brisbane Strikers | 26 | (2) |
| 2005–2006 | New Zealand Knights | 11 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | Brisbane Roar | 1 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Palm Beach | 25 | (5) |
| 2008–2009 | Beenleigh | 24 | (7) |
| 2009–2011 | Gold Coast United | 34 | (2) |
| 2011–2013 | Burleigh Heads | 65 | (14) |
| Total | 233 | (35) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2011–2012 | Gold Coast United (asst coach) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:47, 12 February 2011 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 17:30, 10 November 2010 (UTC) | |||
Steve Fitzsimmons (born 7 September 1976) is a former Australianfootball (soccer) player and coach.
Steve started hisNSL career withParramatta Power under coach & former SoccerooDavid Mitchell and his assistant coachLawrie McKinna. In what was a breakout year for Fitzsimmons he saw moves toHull City andLeyton Orient break down in 2001 returning to Australia and signing with NSL glamour clubMarconi Stallions.
A frustrating year at the Stallions was ended when Fitzsimmons returned home to Queensland and signed a 2-year contract with theBrisbane Strikers under rookie coachStuart McClaren. The Strikers achieved what many people didn't think they could with a squad of mainly local-based players sprinkled with NSL experience, they made the NSL finals only to lose toAdelaide United on the away goals rule not only to bring down the curtain on their season but also that of theNational Soccer League as we knew it.
Fitzsimmons was signed by the foundationA-League clubNew Zealand Knights for the inaugural year of theA-League in what was a largely unsuccessful year for the club.[1] On 25 January 2006 he agreed to part ways with theNew Zealand Knights allowing him to look for a new club before the close of the January transfer window. Fitzsimmons linked up with his former Queensland state coachMiron Bleiberg touring Korea in pre-season with theQueensland Roar. Steve scored the only goal in the opening game of theTongyeong Cup againstIncheon United. He was subsequently signed to a short-term contract withQueensland Roar making a solitary appearance before being released at the conclusion of the season after Bleiberg was replaced byFrank Farina.[2][3]
This looked to spell the end to Fitzsimmons's national league career as he went on to play forBrisbane Premier League sidePalm Beach SC. The following year he moved toBeenleigh Football Club in theBrisbane Premier League Division 1 where he enjoyed a successful season playing 24 games for the club scoring 7 times including an important goal the club's Grand Final win againstCapalaba Football Club. He was also on top in the Player of the Year award voting forBrisbane Premier League Division as voted by referees but was ruled ineligible due to a sending off againstAlbany Creek Excellsior Soccer Club in Round 21.
Late in 2008, Fitzsimmons was rewarded for his performances while atBeenleigh Football Club by being one of the first signings forGold Coast United.[4]
On 21 August 2009, he scored his first ever A-League goal in a 2–0 win for Gold Coast during the second half of United's game againstAdelaide atHindmarsh Stadium.[5]
Fitzsimmons turned down a move toChinese Super League ClubQingdao Jonoon at the end of the 2009/10 season & he was rewarded for his performances with a new 1-year contract atGold Coast United for the 2010/11 season taking him up to his 34th birthday.
After retiring at the end of the2010–11 A-League season, Fitzsimmons joined the staff at the club becoming Assistant Coach.[6]