Simon Colosimo
Encyclopedia
Simon Colosimo is an Australia
n football (soccer) player who plays as a central defender for Melbourne Heart
. He has represented the Australia national team on over twenty-five occasions.
in 1997 and signed with new National Soccer League
club Carlton
for their inaugural year. Interest had been shown from Bayern Munich and Panathinaikos to sign Colosimo, but a knee injury sustained in a horror tackle by Andrew Cole whilst on Soceroos duty kept him out of the game for most of the 1999/00 season, but made his return on 14 March 2000 to score against South Melbourne
, who would eventually acquire the midfielder after the demise of the Carlton club.
After a year at Souths he sought a move to Europe and joined English side Manchester City
for a season followed by a move to Belgium
with Royal Antwerp. Unable to settle, he returned to Australia
in 2002 to join Perth Glory in the NSL for a season, then moved to Parramatta Power
until the demise of the league in 2004.
Along with a number of Australian players he made a move into Asia in the newly restructured Malaysia Super League at Pahang FA
, helping them win the 2004 championship
.
He was enticed back to Australia with the relaunch of the A-League
returning to Perth Glory signing a three year deal. Colosimo received MVP for Perth Glory for the 2006-07 season.
Colosimo joined Turkish
club Sivasspor
on a four-month loan during the A-League
off-season, and returned to Perth Glory
for the start of the A-League 2007-08
season, and was handed the Perth Glory captaincy.
With his contract at Glory at an end, Colosimo was linked with a move to Sydney FC
in 2008, receiving a hostile reception from Perth supporters who let him know he was no longer welcome and was dropped from the starting side for some final matches. Unable to reach a contract agreement, Perth released him from the club on 22 January 2008.
It was announced by Sydney FC that Colosimo had signed a two year deal, and he joined the club from the start of the 2008-09
season. Colosimo became a standout performer as a centreback, with consistent performances impressing through the new 2009-2010 season. On 31 March 2010 the defender switched clubs to Melbourne Heart
, along with his teammates Clint Bolton
and John Aloisi
. He became the captain of the new club and scored one goal in their debut season, an important equaliser against Adelaide in the final minutes of the game, which Heart triumphed 2-1 in stoppage time.
level in 1997 while at the AIS. This led quickly to a national team debut in 1998 against Fiji
at just 19 years of age. He remained in the national focus, selected as part of the squad at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
.
Later that year he was called up by then Socceroo manager Raul Blanco
to make an appearance in the Socceroos friendly against Manchester United on 18 July at the MCG
. What started as a spirited game finished in horror for Simon, as Andy Cole
lunged into a tackle with his leg raised and studs showing, felling the Australian midfielder in full-flight. Simon was stretchered off in pain by stewards, and was diagnosed with having sustained tears to his anterior cruciate
and medial ligaments
, needing a complete knee reconstruction
. He underwent surgery soon after, which included his anterior cruciate being replaced with a piece of his hamstring tendon. A rehabilitation process began, in which Simon would not kick a ball for six months. There was talk at the time of impending legal action against Cole by Carlton
's General Manager Lou Sticca, though no formal proceedings were ever entered into.
Following his recovery, he was selected for the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney
, and was part of the national team squad for the 2005 Confederations Cup. Colosimo was selected in matches leading up to the Asian Cup 2007, but was not included in the squad for the final tournament although he was named as a standby reserve.
He is first cousin to Australian actor Vince Colosimo
.
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:
With Sydney FC
: A-League Premiership: 2009-2010 A-League Championship: 2009-2010
With Pahang FA
: Malaysia Super League: 2004
With Perth Glory
: NSL Championship: 2002-2003
Personal Honours:
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n football (soccer) player who plays as a central defender for Melbourne Heart
Melbourne Heart FC
Melbourne Heart FC is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 2008, the club has competed in the A-League, the highest division of football in Australia, since its inaugural 2010–2011 season. It is the twelfth club to have played in the league...
. He has represented the Australia national team on over twenty-five occasions.
Club career
Colosimo completed the Australian Institute of Sport football programAustralian Institute of Sport - Football (soccer)
The Australian Institute of Sport Football Program is an association football talent identification and player development program run by the Australian Institute of Sport, in Canberra...
in 1997 and signed with new National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
club Carlton
Carlton S.C.
Carlton Soccer Club is a defunct Australian association football club. It participated in the National Soccer League from the 1997/98 season until round eight of the 2000/2001 season, after which it folded. The club was strongly linked to the Carlton Australian Rules club, and suffered from poor...
for their inaugural year. Interest had been shown from Bayern Munich and Panathinaikos to sign Colosimo, but a knee injury sustained in a horror tackle by Andrew Cole whilst on Soceroos duty kept him out of the game for most of the 1999/00 season, but made his return on 14 March 2000 to score against South Melbourne
South Melbourne FC
South Melbourne FC is a football club based in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Considered the most successful association football club in Australia, they have won four national championships, a string of Victorian State League titles, and represented Oceania in the 2000 FIFA Club World...
, who would eventually acquire the midfielder after the demise of the Carlton club.
After a year at Souths he sought a move to Europe and joined English side Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
for a season followed by a move to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
with Royal Antwerp. Unable to settle, he returned to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 2002 to join Perth Glory in the NSL for a season, then moved to Parramatta Power
Parramatta Power
Parramatta Power were a football team which was based in western Sydney. They played in the National Soccer League from season 1999/2000 until the league folded in 2004. The Power were runners up to Perth Glory in the 2003/04 season of the NSL after Perth made the Grand Final look easy in...
until the demise of the league in 2004.
Along with a number of Australian players he made a move into Asia in the newly restructured Malaysia Super League at Pahang FA
Pahang FA
The Football Association of Pahang enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Pahang. The team is based in Kuantan, Pahang. They play in the top division in Malaysian football, the Malaysian Super League...
, helping them win the 2004 championship
Malaysia Super League 2004
The Malaysia Super League was introduced for the first time in 2004. It replaced the M-League as the top-most tier for professional Malaysian football clubs.The season kicked off on February 14, 2004...
.
He was enticed back to Australia with the relaunch of the A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
returning to Perth Glory signing a three year deal. Colosimo received MVP for Perth Glory for the 2006-07 season.
Colosimo joined Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
club Sivasspor
Sivasspor
Sivasspor is a Turkish sports club based in Sivas, Turkey formed in the year 1967. They play in the Turkish Süper Lig. Their manager is currently Riza Calimbay. They finished 15th in the 2010–11 Süper Lig. Their current captain is Hayrettin Yerlikaya....
on a four-month loan during the A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
off-season, and returned to Perth Glory
Perth Glory FC
Perth Glory Football Club is a professional football club in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, competing in Australia's top football competition the A-League. Perth Glory is one of only three clubs to survive from the now defunct National Soccer League...
for the start of the A-League 2007-08
A-League 2007-08
The A-League 2007-08 season was the third season of the Australian A-League football competition, won by the Newcastle Jets. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the previous two seasons and on the interest generated by and playing in the 2007 AFC Champions League, and...
season, and was handed the Perth Glory captaincy.
With his contract at Glory at an end, Colosimo was linked with a move to Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
in 2008, receiving a hostile reception from Perth supporters who let him know he was no longer welcome and was dropped from the starting side for some final matches. Unable to reach a contract agreement, Perth released him from the club on 22 January 2008.
It was announced by Sydney FC that Colosimo had signed a two year deal, and he joined the club from the start of the 2008-09
A-League 2008-09
The 2008–09 A-League season was the fourth season of the Australasian A-League association football competition. Two new clubs, North Queensland Thunder and Gold Coast Galaxy had received tentative licences from the FFA but these were revoked for the 2008–09 season on 12 March 2008. Expansion...
season. Colosimo became a standout performer as a centreback, with consistent performances impressing through the new 2009-2010 season. On 31 March 2010 the defender switched clubs to Melbourne Heart
Melbourne Heart FC
Melbourne Heart FC is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 2008, the club has competed in the A-League, the highest division of football in Australia, since its inaugural 2010–2011 season. It is the twelfth club to have played in the league...
, along with his teammates Clint Bolton
Clint Bolton
Clint Brian Bolton is an Australian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Melbourne Heart in the Australian A-League. He was one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the history of the National Soccer League, which preceded the A-League...
and John Aloisi
John Aloisi
John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart....
. He became the captain of the new club and scored one goal in their debut season, an important equaliser against Adelaide in the final minutes of the game, which Heart triumphed 2-1 in stoppage time.
International career
Colosimo first entered the Australian national selection framework at Under-20Australia national under-20 football team
The Australia national under-20 association football team, more commonly known as the Young Socceroos, is controlled by Football Federation Australia and represents Australia in international Under 20 or youth football competitions....
level in 1997 while at the AIS. This led quickly to a national team debut in 1998 against Fiji
Fiji national football team
The Fiji national football team is the national team of Fiji and is controlled by the Fiji Football Association. Their best finish in the OFC Nations Cup was third in 1998 and 2008.-World Cup record:*1930 to 1978 - Did not enter...
at just 19 years of age. He remained in the national focus, selected as part of the squad at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Nigeria between April 3 and April 24, 1999. The 1999 championship was the 12th contested.- Qualification :The following 24 teams qualified for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.-Squads:...
.
Later that year he was called up by then Socceroo manager Raul Blanco
Raul Blanco
Raul Blanco is an Argentine-born Australia Association football coach. He is well known for coaching the Socceroos from March 1998 to June 1999. He was also coaching the Olyroos at the same time, and coached them during the 2000 Summer Olympics...
to make an appearance in the Socceroos friendly against Manchester United on 18 July at the MCG
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
. What started as a spirited game finished in horror for Simon, as Andy Cole
Andy Cole
Andrew Alexander Cole is a retired English footballer. He is most well known by the name Andy Cole , but in 2000, he reputedly asked to be known as Andrew Cole...
lunged into a tackle with his leg raised and studs showing, felling the Australian midfielder in full-flight. Simon was stretchered off in pain by stewards, and was diagnosed with having sustained tears to his anterior cruciate
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
and medial ligaments
Medial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament of the knee is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament, or abbreviated as the MCL.- Structure :It is a broad, flat, membranous band,...
, needing a complete knee reconstruction
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is a surgical tissue graft replacement of the anterior cruciate ligament, located in the knee, to restore its function after anterior cruciate ligament injury. The torn ligament is removed from the knee before the graft is inserted through a hole created...
. He underwent surgery soon after, which included his anterior cruciate being replaced with a piece of his hamstring tendon. A rehabilitation process began, in which Simon would not kick a ball for six months. There was talk at the time of impending legal action against Cole by Carlton
Carlton S.C.
Carlton Soccer Club is a defunct Australian association football club. It participated in the National Soccer League from the 1997/98 season until round eight of the 2000/2001 season, after which it folded. The club was strongly linked to the Carlton Australian Rules club, and suffered from poor...
's General Manager Lou Sticca, though no formal proceedings were ever entered into.
Following his recovery, he was selected for the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, and was part of the national team squad for the 2005 Confederations Cup. Colosimo was selected in matches leading up to the Asian Cup 2007, but was not included in the squad for the final tournament although he was named as a standby reserve.
Personal life
Colosimo is of Italian descent, and has a wife named Bianca, with whom he has two children.He is first cousin to Australian actor Vince Colosimo
Vince Colosimo
Vincenzo Colosimo is an Australian AFI Award winning stage, television and screen actor. He has worked in both Australia and the United States.-Personal life:...
.
National team statistics
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Honours
With AustraliaAustralia national football (soccer) team
The Australia national association football team represents Australia in international association football competitions. Its official nickname is the "Socceroos"...
:
- OFC Nations CupOFC Nations CupThe OFC Nations Cup is an international association football tournament held among the Oceania Football Confederation member nations. It was held every two years from 1996 to 2004; before 1996 there were two other tournaments held at irregular intervals, under the name Oceania Nations Cup...
: 20002000 OFC Nations CupSolomon Islands and Vanuatu* qualified for Oceania Nations Cup 2000* Fiji were replaced by Vanuatu .-Polynesia Cup 2000:--------------------------------------------...
, 20042004 OFC Nations CupThe 2004 OFC Nations Cup doubled as the qualification tournament to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, except the two-legged final ....
With Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
: A-League Premiership: 2009-2010 A-League Championship: 2009-2010
With Pahang FA
Pahang FA
The Football Association of Pahang enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Pahang. The team is based in Kuantan, Pahang. They play in the top division in Malaysian football, the Malaysian Super League...
: Malaysia Super League: 2004
With Perth Glory
Perth Glory FC
Perth Glory Football Club is a professional football club in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, competing in Australia's top football competition the A-League. Perth Glory is one of only three clubs to survive from the now defunct National Soccer League...
: NSL Championship: 2002-2003
Personal Honours:
- Joe Marston MedalJoe Marston MedalThe Joe Marston Medal is an A-League award given to the player of the match in the A-League Grand Final each year. Introduced in 1990, previously the award was also given to the best player in the National Soccer League grand final. The medal is named after Joe Marston, who played for Australia...
: 2002-2003 with Perth GloryPerth Glory FCPerth Glory Football Club is a professional football club in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, competing in Australia's top football competition the A-League. Perth Glory is one of only three clubs to survive from the now defunct National Soccer League... - Joe Marston MedalJoe Marston MedalThe Joe Marston Medal is an A-League award given to the player of the match in the A-League Grand Final each year. Introduced in 1990, previously the award was also given to the best player in the National Soccer League grand final. The medal is named after Joe Marston, who played for Australia...
: 2009-2010 with Sydney FCSydney FCSydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League... - Perth GloryPerth Glory FCPerth Glory Football Club is a professional football club in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, competing in Australia's top football competition the A-League. Perth Glory is one of only three clubs to survive from the now defunct National Soccer League...
Most Glorious Player Award: 2006-2007Perth Glory season 2006-07The Perth Glory finished 7th in the 2006-07 A-League competition making them the lowest-ranked Australian team in the A-League. The pre-season expectaions of the club was to achieve a higher ladder finish than their 5th place finish in the first A-League season under Steve McMahon.-Under FFA...