View source for Simon Colosimo

{{Short description|Australian soccer player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name           = Simon Colosimo
| image          = Simon Colosimo.jpg
| image_size     = 155px
| fullname       = Simon Colosimo
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|1979|1|8|df=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]]
| height         = {{convert|6|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
| position       = [[defender (association football)#Centre back|Centre back]]
| currentclub    = 
| clubnumber     = 
| youthyears1    = 1996–1997 |youthclubs1 = [[Australian Institute of Sport|AIS]]
| years1         = 1997–2000 |clubs1 = [[Carlton SC]]                                    |caps1 = 50  |goals1 = 10
| years2         = 2000–2001 |clubs2 = [[South Melbourne FC|South Melbourne]]            |caps2 = 18  |goals2 = 2
| years3         = 2001–2002 |clubs3 = [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]          |caps3 = 6   |goals3 = 0
| years4         = 2002      |clubs4 = [[Royal Antwerp]]                                 |caps4 = 0   |goals4 = 0
| years5         = 2002–2003 |clubs5 = [[Perth Glory FC|Perth Glory]]                                   |caps5 = 14  |goals5 = 0
| years6         = 2003–2004 |clubs6 = [[Parramatta Power]]                              |caps6 = 23  |goals6 = 1
| years7         = 2004      |clubs7 = [[Pahang FA]]                                     |caps7 = 20  |goals7 = 6
| years8         = 2005–2008 |clubs8 = [[Perth Glory FC|Perth Glory]]                                   |caps8 = 50  |goals8 = 2
| years9         = 2007      |clubs9 = → [[Sivasspor]] (loan)                            |caps9 = 14  |goals9 = 1
| years10        = 2008–2010 |clubs10 = [[Sydney FC]]                                    |caps10 = 34 |goals10 = 0
| years11        = 2010–2013 |clubs11 = [[Melbourne City FC|Melbourne Heart]]           |caps11 = 63 |goals11 = 1
| years12        = 2013–2014 |clubs12 = [[Dempo S.C.|Dempo]]                             |caps12 = 19 |goals12 = 0
| years13        = 2014      |clubs13 = [[Goulburn Valley Suns FC|Goulburn Valley Suns]] |caps13 = 11 |goals13 = 1
| years14        = 2015      |clubs14 = [[Werribee City FC|Werribee City]]               |caps14 = 18 |goals14 = 1
| years15        = 2016–2017 |clubs15 = [[Dandenong Thunder SC|Dandenong Thunder]]       |caps15 = 48 |goals15 = 10
| years16        = 2018      |clubs16 = [[Whittlesea Ranges FC|Whittlesea Ranges]]       |caps16 = 14 |goals16 = 2
| years17        = 2018      |clubs17 = [[FC Bulleen Lions|Bulleen Lions]]               |caps17 = 13 |goals17 = 0
| totalcaps = 415 | totalgoals = 37
| nationalyears1 = 1996–1999 |nationalteam1 = [[Australia men's national under-20 soccer team|Australia U-20]]       |nationalcaps1 = 16 |nationalgoals1 = 5
| nationalyears2 = 1997–2000 |nationalteam2 = [[Australia men's national under-23 soccer team|Australia U-23]]       |nationalcaps2 = 14 |nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 1998–2010 |nationalteam3 = [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]]                     |nationalcaps3 = 26 |nationalgoals3 = 3
| pcupdate       = 24 September 2018
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|AUS}}}}
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[OFC Nations Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[2000 OFC Nations Cup|2000 Tahiti]]|}}
{{Medal|W|[[2004 OFC Nations Cup|2004 Australia]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1998 OFC Nations Cup|1998 Australia]]|}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[OFC U-20 Championship]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1997 OFC U-20 Championship|1997 Tahiti]]|}}
{{Medal|W|[[1998 OFC U-20 Championship|1998 Samoa]]|}}
}}

'''Simon Colosimo''' (born 8 January 1979) is an Australian former [[football player|soccer player]] who played as a [[centre back]] and [[defensive midfielder]].

He spent two years playing in [[Europe]] with spells in the [[Premier League]] with [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] and in the [[Belgian First Division]] for [[Royal Antwerp]]. Aside a spells with [[Pahang FA]] in 2004 and [[Sivasspor]] in 2007, the rest of his career was spent in his native [[Australia]] notably in the [[A-League]] with [[South Melbourne FC|South Melbourne]], [[Perth Glory]], [[Parramatta Power]] and [[Sydney FC]]. He also played for [[Carlton SC]], [[Melbourne Heart FC|Melbourne Heart]], [[Dempo S.C.|Dempo]], [[Goulburn Valley Suns FC|Goulburn Valley Suns]], [[Werribee City FC|Werribee City]], [[Dandenong Thunder SC|Dandenong Thunder]], [[Whittlesea Ranges FC|Whittlesea Ranges]], [[FC Bulleen Lions|Bulleen Lions]]. He was capped 26 times by [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]], scoring 3 goals.

==Club career==

===NSL years===
Colosimo completed the [[Australian Institute of Sport - Football (soccer)|Australian Institute of Sport football program]] in 1997 and signed with new [[National Soccer League]] club [[Carlton S.C.|Carlton]] for their inaugural year.  Interest had been shown from [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] and [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] to sign Colosimo, but a knee injury sustained in a horror tackle by [[Andy Cole]] while on [[Australia men's national soccer team|Socceroos]] 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 FC|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 F.C.|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 FC|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 Malaysia Super League|2004 championship]].

===A-League career===
He was enticed back to Australia with the relaunch of the [[A-League]] returning to [[Perth Glory FC|Perth Glory]] signing a three-year deal.  Colosimo received MVP for Perth Glory for the 2006–07 season.

Colosimo joined [[Turkey|Turkish]] club [[Sivasspor]] on a four-month loan during the [[A-League]] off-season, and returned to [[Perth Glory FC|Perth Glory]] for the start of the [[2007–08 A-League]] season,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theworldgame.com.au/home/index.php?pid=st&cid=88974 |title=Colosimo back in Perth |publisher=SBS |work=The World Game |date=24 May 2007 |access-date=19 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912055525/http://www.theworldgame.com.au/home/index.php?pid=st&cid=88974 |archive-date=12 September 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and was handed the Perth Glory captaincy.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theworldgame.com.au/home/index.php?pid=st&cid=93190 |title=Colosimo new Perth skipper |publisher=SBS |work=The World Game |date=8 August 2007 |access-date=19 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914162434/http://www.theworldgame.com.au/home/index.php?pid=st&cid=93190 |archive-date=14 September 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

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<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.theage.com.au/colosimo-not-feeling-the-love-from-perth/20071231-1jm2.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718045320/http://news.theage.com.au/colosimo-not-feeling-the-love-from-perth/20071231-1jm2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 July 2012 |title=Colosimo not feeling the love from Perth |publisher=The Age |date=31 December 2007 |access-date=19 January 2008 }}</ref> who let him know he was no longer welcome and was dropped from the starting side for some final matches.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/a-league/sydney-on-alert-as-colosimo-left-out-of-perth-win/2008/01/14/1200159286478.html |title=Sydney on alert as Colosimo left out of Perth win |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald |date=14 January 2008 |access-date=19 January 2008 |archive-date=16 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116164422/http://www.smh.com.au/news/a-league/sydney-on-alert-as-colosimo-left-out-of-perth-win/2008/01/14/1200159286478.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Unable to reach a contract agreement, Perth released him from the club on 22 January 2008.<ref>{{cite news |title=Colosimo, Bertos freed by Glory |url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/68680,colosimo-bertos-freed-by-glory.aspx |publisher=FourFourTwo Australia |date=22 January 2008 |access-date=24 January 2008 |archive-date=22 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922144137/http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/68680,colosimo-bertos-freed-by-glory.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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 season]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sydneyfc.com/default.aspx?s=sydfc_news_item&id=21258 |title=Sydney FC signs Simon Colosimo to two year deal |publisher=sydneyfc.com |date=27 January 2008 |access-date=28 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718121816/http://www.sydneyfc.com/default.aspx?s=sydfc_news_item&id=21258 |archive-date=18 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Colosimo became a standout performer as a centreback, with consistent performances impressing through the new 2009–10 season. On 31 March 2010, the defender switched clubs to [[Melbourne Heart FC|Melbourne Heart]], along with his teammates [[Clint Bolton]] and [[John Aloisi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j2LaLJzhWZKXVR-bZgPYplQmOgVA|title=Socceroo Colosimo joins Melbourne Heart|access-date=27 May 2023|archive-date=23 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223122510/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j2LaLJzhWZKXVR-bZgPYplQmOgVA|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.

As a result of the Heart finishing second-to-last on the A-League ladder, their worst finish in an A-League season, Colosimo, along with teammates [[Clint Bolton]], [[Matt Thompson (soccer)|Matt Thompson]] and [[Fred (footballer, born 1979)|Fred]], were released by the Heart at the conclusion of the [[2012–13 A-League|2012–13 A-League season]].<ref>[http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/melbourne-heart-axes-four-players-as-club-looks-to-rebound-from-worst-ever-finish/story-fndmchp2-1226615075074 Melbourne Heart Axes Four Players As Club Looks To Rebound From Worst Ever Finish] ''Herald Sun'' {{dead link|date=May 2023}}</ref>

==International career==
Colosimo first entered the Australian national selection framework at [[Australia national under-20 football team|Under-20]] level in 1997 while at the AIS.  This led quickly to a [[Australia men's national soccer team|national team]] debut in 1998 against [[Fiji national football team|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 [[Australia men's national soccer team|Socceroo]] manager [[Raúl Blanco (footballer, born 1941)|Raul Blanco]] to make an appearance in the Socceroo's friendly against [[Manchester United]] on 18 July at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground|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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://robots.cnnsi.com/soccer/world/news/1999/07/19/colosimo_reaction/ |title=Out of action – Carlton club threatens legal action |date=19 July 1999 |access-date=7 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930023627/http://robots.cnnsi.com/soccer/world/news/1999/07/19/colosimo_reaction/ |archive-date=30 September 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Simon was stretchered off in pain by stewards, and was diagnosed with having sustained tears to his [[Anterior cruciate ligament|anterior cruciate]] and [[Medial collateral ligament|medial ligaments]], needing a complete [[Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction|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.C.|Carlton]]'s General Manager Lou Sticca,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/399044.stm|title=Sport: Football – Cole accused of ego problem|access-date=7 August 2007|work=BBC News|date=20 July 1999|archive-date=19 September 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030919065550/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/399044.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 FIFA Confederations Cup]].  Colosimo was selected in matches leading up to the [[2007 AFC Asian Cup]], 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,<ref>{{cite web|title=Colosimo permit probs|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/aussies-abroad/news/910985/Colosimo-permit-probs|work=The World Game|publisher=SBS|access-date=18 December 2010|archive-date=5 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405104615/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/aussies-abroad/news/910985/Colosimo-permit-probs|url-status=live}}</ref> and has a wife named  Bianca, with whom he has two children. Simon attended St Monica’s College in Epping up until year 10 as he then moved to the AIS in Canberra for a scholarship<ref>{{cite web|last=Hassett|first=Sebastian|title=Colosimo lands on his feet at Sydney|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/a-league/colosimo-lands-on-his-feet-at-sydney/2008/07/24/1216492641392.html|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=18 December 2010|date=25 July 2008|archive-date=7 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107111007/http://www.smh.com.au/news/a-league/colosimo-lands-on-his-feet-at-sydney/2008/07/24/1216492641392.html|url-status=live}}</ref> His younger brother Anthony Colosimo played in the youth of [[Melbourne Knights FC]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Kounelis|first=Jordan|title=Talented quartet leave Melbourne Knights|url=http://www.mfootball.com.au/talented-quartet-leave-melbourne-knights/|publisher=M Football|access-date=3 October 2016|date=30 November 2015|archive-date=22 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322163820/http://www.mfootball.com.au/talented-quartet-leave-melbourne-knights/|url-status=live}}</ref> and with [[FC Bulleen Lions|Bulleen Lions]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Kounelis|first=Jordan|title=Buleen Lions Anthony Colosimo, Melbourne Knights|url=http://www.cornerflag.com.au/nplv/2016-npl-pre-season-transfers/|publisher=Cornerflag|access-date=18 December 2010|date=25 July 2008|archive-date=20 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120060143/http://www.cornerflag.com.au/nplv/2016-npl-pre-season-transfers/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==National team statistics==
===Summary===
<ref name=NFT>{{NFT player|id=436|access-date=}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 | [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia national team]]
|-
!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|1998||4||0
|-
|1999||0||0
|-
|2000||5||0
|-
|2001||4||2
|-
|2002||0||0
|-
|2003||0||0
|-
|2004||7||0
|-
|2005||3||1
|-
|2006||0||0
|-
|2007||1||0
|-
|2008||0||0
|-
|2009||0||0
|-
|2010||2||0
|-
!Total||26||3
|}

===International goals===
<ref name=NFT/>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1 || rowspan=2|11 April 2001 || rowspan=2|[[Coffs Harbour International Stadium]], [[Coffs Harbour]], [[Australia]] || rowspan=2|{{fb|American Samoa}} || align="center"|'''18'''–0 || align="center" rowspan="2"|[[Australia 31–0 American Samoa|31–0]] || rowspan=2|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| 2 || align=center|'''27'''–0
|-
| 3 || 9 June 2005 || [[Craven Cottage]], [[London]], [[England]] || {{fb|NZL}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center|1–0 || Friendly
|}

== Honours ==
===Player===
'''Perth Glory'''
* [[List of NSL champions|NSL Championship]]: [[2002–03 National Soccer League|2002–03]]

'''Pahang FA'''
* [[Malaysia Super League]]: [[2004 Super League Malaysia|2004]]

'''Sydney FC'''
* [[List of A-League champions|A-League Premiership]]: [[2009–10 A-League|2009–10]]
* [[List of A-League champions|A-League Championship]]: [[2009–10 A-League|2009–10]]

'''Australia'''
*[[OFC Nations Cup]]: [[2000 OFC Nations Cup|2000]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/00oc.html|title=Oceania Nations Cup 2000|access-date=October 14, 2024}}</ref> [[2004 OFC Nations Cup|2004]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/04oc.html|title=Oceania Nations Cup 2004|access-date=October 14, 2024}}</ref> runner-up [[1998 OFC Nations Cup|1998]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/98oc.html|title=Oceania Nations Cup 1998|access-date=October 14, 2024}}</ref>

'''Australia U-20'''
*[[OFC U-19 Men's Championship]]: [[1997 OFC U-20 Championship|1997]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/U20/1997.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610233225/http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/U20/1997.html|archive-date=June 10, 2023|url-status=dead|title=Young Socceroo Matches for 1997|access-date=March 13, 2025}}</ref>  [[1998 OFC U-20 Championship|1998]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/U20/1998.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508063727/http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/U20/1998.html|archive-date=May 8, 2021|url-status=dead|title=Young Socceroo Matches for 1998|access-date=March 13, 2025}}</ref>

===Individual===
* [[Joe Marston Medal]]: 2003, [[2010 A-League Grand Final|2010]]
* [[Perth Glory FC|Perth Glory]] Most Glorious Player Award: [[2006–07 Perth Glory season|2006–07]]
* [[PFA Footballer of the Year Awards|PFA A-League Team of the Season]]: [[2009–10 A-League|2009–10]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100806030502/http://www.melbourneheartfc.com.au/default.aspx?s=aleague_profile&pid=2271&tid=309 Melbourne Heart profile]
* [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/C/CO.html Oz Football profile]

{{Perth Glory FC Player of the Year}}
{{Joe Marston Medal}}
{{2009–10 A-League Team of the Season}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Australia Squads
|bg = #FFE605
|fg = #005800
|list1 =
{{Australia squad 1998 OFC Nations Cup}}
{{Australia squad 2000 OFC Nations Cup}}
{{Australia men's football squad 2000 Summer Olympics }}
{{Australia squad 2004 OFC Nations Cup}}
{{Australia squad 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Colosimo, Simon}}
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Melbourne]]
[[Category:Australian people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Australian people of Calabrian descent]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Australia men's international soccer players]]
[[Category:Olympic soccer players for Australia]]
[[Category:Carlton SC players]]
[[Category:Manchester City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Parramatta Power SC players]]
[[Category:Perth Glory FC players]]
[[Category:Royal Antwerp F.C. players]]
[[Category:Sivasspor footballers]]
[[Category:South Melbourne FC players]]
[[Category:Sydney FC players]]
[[Category:Melbourne City FC players]]
[[Category:National Soccer League (Australia) players]]
[[Category:Sri Pahang FC players]]
[[Category:Dempo SC players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Süper Lig players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in India]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in India]]
[[Category:1998 OFC Nations Cup players]]
[[Category:2000 OFC Nations Cup players]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:2004 OFC Nations Cup players]]
[[Category:OFC Nations Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:2005 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:Australian Institute of Sport soccer players]]
[[Category:Goulburn Valley Suns FC players]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Australian men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Werribee City FC players]]