Adrian Leijer
Encyclopedia
Adrian Leijer is an Australia
n football (soccer)
player who currently plays as a centre back
for A-League
team Melbourne Victory
and is also the Captain of the side.
When Leijer was 15 years old his family moved south to Jan Juc
on Victoria's surf coast and attended Belmont High School where he joined the Geelong Soccer team and represented the U-15's Victorian Country team. Ian Greener, then Head of Coaching & Development at the Victorian Soccer Federation, spotted his talent and recommended him to the head coach of the Victorian Institute of Sport
Football program, Ernie Merrick
.
Leijer spent two years at the Victorian Institute of Sport
and then moved on to the Melbourne Knights
for the last season of the now defunct National Soccer League
, where he made 18 appearances during a season where the club finished second last in the competition.
While still training at the VIS, Leijer and his future team mate Kristian Sarkies
were selected to trial with Premier League Everton Football Club
for three weeks. However, they both failed to impress and returned home to Australia.
, a team in the new A-League
competition. His former VIS coach Ernie Merrick
, who had taken the reins at Melbourne Victory, stated; "Adrian is a reliable and uncompromising defender with a football maturity beyond his years. He is already part of the senior leadership group within the club and is the second youngest player in the squad,"
The club's first season was reminiscent of Leijer's time at the Melbourne Knights as Melbourne Victory finished second last overall. Leijer, however, played 20 games for the club, only missing their final game against the New Zealand Knights through suspension. At the end of the season he was awarded the Players' Player of the Year and Clubman of the Year awards.
Melbourne Victory's second season was more successful, starting with seven straight wins and culminating in a 6-0 victory over Adelaide United in the Grand Final. At the A-League's end of season awards, Leijer won Young Player of the Year.
had made a bid for the then 21-year old. Leijer accepted and signed a 3 year contract for an undisclosed fee.
Leijer consistently played for the Fulham reserve team throughout the 2007–2008 season
and was also included in the squads to face both Liverpool
and Reading
, but stayed on the bench both times. Following Adrian's return to Fulham after an unsuccessful Olympic campaign with the Australian U/23's team, Leijer returned without having played any games in the Olympic tournament. Whilst tipped by Fulham reserve coach Billy McKinlay to make a greater impact in the first team that season, Adrian missed most of the club's pre-season due to the Olympic tournament and only made the bench once, in a League Cup
defeat to Burnley.
until the end of the 2008–09 season, becoming Norwich City's 40th loan signing since they were relegated in their 2004–2005 season
. This loan spell was mostly unsuccessful for Leijer, since it did not result in him seeing a great deal of first team action.
for three years. Melbourne had suffered shallow defensive stocks with numerous key players unavailable prior to the announcement. After a promising start, slotting straight back in to the side hours after landing, current captain Kevin Muscat
commented on his potential to be a key figure in the club.
to train with the Socceroos before the 2006 FIFA World Cup
in Germany. After his short training stint with the senior team he continued being selected for Young Socceroos squads. He is currently a regular member of the Australia national under-23 football team
, the Olyroos.
Leijer earned his first cap for the senior Australian national team against Singapore
on 22 March 2008.
: A-League
Championship: 2006-2007
A-League
Premiership: 2006-2007
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)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player who currently plays as a centre back
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for 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...
team Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
and is also the Captain of the side.
Early years
Leijer was born, and largely grew up in, the New South Wales town of Dubbo to a family of Dutch and English heritage. He played from Under 10 - Under 14 with SASS Strikers Junior Soccer Club in the Dubbo & District Soccer Association. Whilst with SASS, he represented Western New South Wales and New South Wales Country in football. In 1998, Leijer was a co-captain of Orana Heights Public School in Dubbo.When Leijer was 15 years old his family moved south to Jan Juc
Jan Juc, Victoria
Jan Juc is a coastal town of Victoria, Australia, adjacent to Torquay, Victoria. At the 2006 census, Jan Juc had a population of 3,158.- History :Jan Juc Post Office opened on 25 January 1862, but was renamed Bellbrae in 1923....
on Victoria's surf coast and attended Belmont High School where he joined the Geelong Soccer team and represented the U-15's Victorian Country team. Ian Greener, then Head of Coaching & Development at the Victorian Soccer Federation, spotted his talent and recommended him to the head coach of the Victorian Institute of Sport
Victorian Institute of Sport
The Victorian Institute of Sport is the government-funded sporting institute of the Australian state of Victoria. It runs a number of programs for sports training. The headquarters are located in Melbourne. The inaugural executive director of the institute was Frank Pyke....
Football program, Ernie Merrick
Ernie Merrick
Ernest 'Ernie' Merrick is the Scottish former head coach for the Australian A-League football team, Melbourne Victory.-Melbourne Victory:...
.
Leijer spent two years at the Victorian Institute of Sport
Victorian Institute of Sport
The Victorian Institute of Sport is the government-funded sporting institute of the Australian state of Victoria. It runs a number of programs for sports training. The headquarters are located in Melbourne. The inaugural executive director of the institute was Frank Pyke....
and then moved on to the Melbourne Knights
Melbourne Knights
Melbourne Knights Football Club is a football club representing Melbourne, Australia in the Victorian Premier League . The club is one of the most successful football clubs in Australia, being a two-time championship and four-time premiership winner in the now defunct National Soccer League...
for the last season of the now defunct 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...
, where he made 18 appearances during a season where the club finished second last in the competition.
While still training at the VIS, Leijer and his future team mate Kristian Sarkies
Kristian Sarkies
Kristian Sarkies is an Australian football player who currently plays for Melbourne Heart...
were selected to trial with Premier League Everton Football Club
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
for three weeks. However, they both failed to impress and returned home to Australia.
Melbourne Victory
Upon his return to Australia, he was signed by Melbourne VictoryMelbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
, a team in the new 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...
competition. His former VIS coach Ernie Merrick
Ernie Merrick
Ernest 'Ernie' Merrick is the Scottish former head coach for the Australian A-League football team, Melbourne Victory.-Melbourne Victory:...
, who had taken the reins at Melbourne Victory, stated; "Adrian is a reliable and uncompromising defender with a football maturity beyond his years. He is already part of the senior leadership group within the club and is the second youngest player in the squad,"
The club's first season was reminiscent of Leijer's time at the Melbourne Knights as Melbourne Victory finished second last overall. Leijer, however, played 20 games for the club, only missing their final game against the New Zealand Knights through suspension. At the end of the season he was awarded the Players' Player of the Year and Clubman of the Year awards.
Melbourne Victory's second season was more successful, starting with seven straight wins and culminating in a 6-0 victory over Adelaide United in the Grand Final. At the A-League's end of season awards, Leijer won Young Player of the Year.
Fulham
On 2 August 2007, Melbourne Victory confirmed that English Premier League club FulhamFulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
had made a bid for the then 21-year old. Leijer accepted and signed a 3 year contract for an undisclosed fee.
Leijer consistently played for the Fulham reserve team throughout the 2007–2008 season
Fulham F.C. season 2007-08
The 2007–08 season was Fulham F.C.'s 7th consecutive season in the Premier League. Lawrie Sanchez was in charge of the club for the first few months of the season after taking charge at the end of the previous campaign, but left the club by mutual consent in December 2007 after a string of poor...
and was also included in the squads to face both Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, but stayed on the bench both times. Following Adrian's return to Fulham after an unsuccessful Olympic campaign with the Australian U/23's team, Leijer returned without having played any games in the Olympic tournament. Whilst tipped by Fulham reserve coach Billy McKinlay to make a greater impact in the first team that season, Adrian missed most of the club's pre-season due to the Olympic tournament and only made the bench once, in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
defeat to Burnley.
Norwich
On 2 February 2009, it was announced that Leijer has moved on loan to Norwich CityNorwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
until the end of the 2008–09 season, becoming Norwich City's 40th loan signing since they were relegated in their 2004–2005 season
2004–05 Norwich City F.C. season
-September:-October:-November:-December:-January:-February:-March:-April:-May:-FA Cup:-League Cup:-First team squad:-Out on loan:...
. This loan spell was mostly unsuccessful for Leijer, since it did not result in him seeing a great deal of first team action.
Melbourne Victory
It was announced that Leijer would return again to Australia during their 09-10 season, after being re-signed by his former Melbourne VictoryMelbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
for three years. Melbourne had suffered shallow defensive stocks with numerous key players unavailable prior to the announcement. After a promising start, slotting straight back in to the side hours after landing, current captain Kevin Muscat
Kevin Muscat
Kevin Muscat is an Australian football player who currently plays for Victorian State League Division 1 side Sunshine George Cross and is assistant coach of Melbourne Victory...
commented on his potential to be a key figure in the club.
International career
Adrian Leijer's first taste of the senior international scene was when he was selected by Guus HiddinkGuus Hiddink
Guus Hiddink is a Dutch football manager and former player. He was the most recently manager of the Turkish national football team. He is considered to be one of the best managers of his generation and was the best-paid coach in international football in 2009...
to train with the Socceroos before the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
in Germany. After his short training stint with the senior team he continued being selected for Young Socceroos squads. He is currently a regular member of the Australia national under-23 football team
Australia national under-23 football team
The Australia Olympic football team, more commonly known as the Olyroos, is controlled by Football Federation Australia and represents Australia at association football in the Olympic Games...
, the Olyroos.
Leijer earned his first cap for the senior Australian national team against Singapore
Singapore national football team
The Singapore national football team is the national association football team of Singapore. The team comes under the organization of the Football Association of Singapore...
on 22 March 2008.
Honours
With Melbourne VictoryMelbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
: 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...
Championship: 2006-2007
A-League 2006-07
The 2006–07 A-League season was the second season of the Australian football competition, the A-League. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the first season and on the interest generated by the Socceroos competing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup...
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...
Premiership: 2006-2007
A-League 2006-07
The 2006–07 A-League season was the second season of the Australian football competition, the A-League. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the first season and on the interest generated by the Socceroos competing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup...
Personal Honours:
- A-LeagueA-LeagueThe 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...
Young Player of the Year: 2006-2007A-League 2006-07The 2006–07 A-League season was the second season of the Australian football competition, the A-League. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the first season and on the interest generated by the Socceroos competing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup...