Iain Fyfe

Iain Fyfe

Fyfe playing for Sydney FC in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Iain Stuart Fyfe
Date of birth	(1982-04-03) 3 April 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth	Adelaide, Australia
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) [1]
Position(s)	Centre back
Youth career
	Salisbury United
1999–2000	SASI
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2003	Adelaide City	55	(6)
2003	Enfield City	1	(0)
2003–2004	Sydney Olympic	23	(0)
2004–2005	Hamilton Academical	15	(0)
2005–2009	Sydney FC	88	(4)
2009–2011	Adelaide United	52	(5)
2011–2012	Busan I'Park	8	(1)
2012–2013	Adelaide United	23	(0)
2013–2014	Mes Kerman	14	(0)
2014–2019	Campbelltown City	116	(24)
2016	→ Newcastle Jets (loan)	3	(0)
2022–	Playford City	12	(0)
International career‡
1999	Australia U-17	10	(1)
2001	Australia U-20	2	(0)
2003	Australia U-23	5	(1)
Managerial career
2020–2021	Campbelltown City
2024	Croydon FC (assistant)
2024–	Croydon FC
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 August 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 October 2010

Iain Stuart Fyfe (born 3 April 1982) is a retired ^[2] Australian A-League professional footballer.

Club career

On completion of his SASI program in 2000, Iain joined hometown NSL club Adelaide City. After just three appearances off the bench in 2000–01, he broke into the Adelaide first team the following season, making 52 appearances in two years before moving to Sydney Olympic in 2003. He also earned a call up to the Australian Under-23 side for a friendly against Spain, but it would be the only one. Domestically, his move was positive, becoming a key figure for Olympic, playing all-but-one matches of the 2003–04 season.

Scotland

Following the collapse of the NSL after that season, Fyfe went overseas and trialled at various clubs, including Scottish Premier League side Hibernian, ^[3] before signing for Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Second Division. There he played alongside fellow Australians, David Carney as well as childhood friend and former Adelaide City teammate Scott Tunbridge. ^[4] Fyfe struggled to break into the Hamilton first team, making only fifteen appearances before being released in early 2005.

Sydney FC

Partnered next to first Mark Rudan and later Jacob Timpano, Fyfe was in the Sydney first XI for much of the A-League season. However, he was dropped to the bench for the penultimate round due to inconsistent form. Several strong performances from Rudan kept him there, making only one start and three appearances off the bench in the club's last five games, although a missed match was through suspension. In the A-League grand final, Fyfe played an important role in defending Sydney's 1–0 lead over the Central Coast Mariners, having replaced injured Mark Rudan with 20 minutes remaining.

In the 2006–07 season, Fyfe was shifted to a wide defensive role by new coach Terry Butcher, who opted to play Mark Milligan in midfield rather than his usual right back position. The impact of the move was immediately apparent with Fyfe, goal-less in the previous season, scoring the winning goal against Central Coast in the opening round and netting again in the 3–2 loss to Melbourne Victory a week later. He went on to play every match of the season up until Sydney's semi-final exit. Strong performances led to another call up to the national team, included in the A-League-based Australian side for the 2007 Asian Cup qualifier against Kuwait on 16 August 2006, but again did not make an appearance.

During the Pan-Pacific Championship Iain played his 100th competitive game against Major League Soccer Glamour team Los Angeles Galaxy. Sydney went on to lose the match 2–1, with Sydney's goal coming from Brendan Renaud. He was Sydney's most capped player, and most consistent, only missing 3 competitive matches, in the 3 years Sydney have played in the A-League. ^[5]

Adelaide United

On 24 November 2008, it was announced in November that Iain had signed a contract with Adelaide United commencing April 2009; this brings Fyfe back to Adelaide where he began his career after 5 years playing in Sydney and Scotland. ^{[6] [7]} Starting all the games in the opening of his first season back at Adelaide, Fyfe's first goal allowed his club to equalise against Wellington Phoenix in round five. ^[8]

He scored his second goal for Adelaide in a 1–1 draw against Central Coast Mariners in Round 2 of the 2010–11 season. ^[9] On 14 January 2011, it was announced that Iain would be joining K-league club Busan I'Park FC. His farewell game for Adelaide was meant to be on 29 January 2011 against Central Coast Mariners at Hindmarsh Stadium, but due to a hamstring injury his last game was on 21 January 2011 against North Queensland Fury when they won 8–1. ^[10]

Busan I'Park

In January 2011, Fyfe joined South Korean club Busan I'Park. ^[11] Fyfe made his first start and debut for Busan I'Park in their 2–1 away loss to Jeju United in the first week of the 2011 K-League season.

Return to Adelaide United

On 29 February 2012, it was announced that Fyfe had signed a one-year undisclosed contract with club Adelaide United after his contract with South Korea K-League club Busan I'Park. ^[12]

Mes Kerman

He was linked to a move to the Iran Pro League in summer 2013. On 2 August 2013, Mes Kerman announced that Fyfe will be joined to the team after passing medical test. He officially joined to the team on 10 August and signed a two years contract. ^[13] He made his debut in a 1–0 loss to Saipa.

Newcastle Jets

In November 2016, Fyfe signed a short-term deal to return to the A-League with Newcastle Jets as an injury replacement for Daniel Mullen, joining from South Australian club Campbelltown City. ^[14]

International career

Fyfe started his career in 1999, joining a talent identification program at the South Australian Sports Institute, and was soon exposed to the international football stage. He was selected for the Australian U17 side in qualifying matches for the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship and retained his place in the Joeys squad for the final tournament in New Zealand. Australia marched through to the final against Brazil, the match ending scoreless after extra time and proceeding to penalties. Fyfe entered the match as a substitute in extra time to secure the defence, but in the shoot-out he was tasked with Australia's ninth penalty kick. His shot was dramatically saved by goalkeeper Rubinho, allowing Brazil to take the title.

On 16 February 2005, Iain Fyfe returned to Australia became the 16th member of the inaugural Sydney FC squad. ^[15] Playing at centre back under coach Pierre Littbarski, Fyfe was instrumental in Sydney's qualification for the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship, being named Player of the Tournament for the 2005 Oceania Club Championship. ^[16] This prompted his inclusion in a Socceroo training camp with new manager Guus Hiddink, and his inclusion on the substitutes bench for the World Cup qualifier against Solomon Islands.

Honours

Club

Sydney FC

• A-League Championship: 2005–06
• Oceania Club Championship: 2005

Campbelltown City

• National Premier Leagues South Australia: 2016 ^[17]

Country

Australia

• OFC U-17 Championship: 1999

Individual

• Oceania Club Championship Player of the Tournament: 2005

Career statistics

(correct as of 4 February 2014) ^{[18] [19]}

Club	League	Season	League		Playoffs		Cup		Int'l Cup		Total
			Apps	Gls	Apps	Gls	Apps	Gls	Apps	Gls	Apps	Gls
Adelaide City	NSL	2000–01	3	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	0
		2001–02	23	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	23	0
		2002–03	20	3	9	2	-	-	-	-	29	5
Sydney Olympic FC	NSL	2003–04	23	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	23	0
Hamilton Academical F.C.	SFL	2004–05	15	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	15	0
Sydney FC	A-League	2005–06	21	0	2	0	4	0	2	0	29	0
		2006–07	21	2	2	0	6	0	6	0	35	2
		2007–08	15	0	-	-	3	0	-	-	18	0
Adelaide United	A-League	2009–10	26	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	26	1
		2010–11	26	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	26	4
Busan I'Park	K-League	2011	8	1	-	-	7	0	-	-	15	1
Mes Kerman	Pro League	2013–14	11	0	-	-	3	1	-	-	14	1
Career totals											255	14

'International Cup' matches refer to AFC and Club World Cup competitions.

References

1. "FIFA Club World Championship Japan 2005 – Official Rosters". FIFA. 4 December 2005. Archived from the original on 19 December 2005.
2. "Men's National Premier League 2020 Preview, presented by Metro Homes SA". Football SA. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
3. "Hibs to run rule over Fyfe". 7 April 2004.
4. "Big shock for Iain when his mate turned up in Hamilton". 8 July 2004.
5. Latest News Archived 18 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
6. Adelaide United signs Fyfe from Sydney FC Archived 14 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine
7. Fyfe joins Adelaide United Archived 5 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine
8. "Phoenix draw at home". Sportal. 5 September 2009. Archived from the original on 4 August 2011.
9. "Mariners tie with Adelaide". A-League. 15 August 2010. Archived from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2010.
10. Fyfe's played last game Archived 23 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
11. "Fyfe to join Busan". FIFA. 15 January 2011. Archived from the original on 28 January 2011.
12. Fyfe signs with Adelaide United. adelaidenow.com.au. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
13. بازیکن استرالیایی در راه مس کرمان
14. "Jets sign A-League champ". FourFourTwo . 18 November 2016. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
15. "Sydney FC Signs Former Youth International Iain Fyfe". 16 February 2005. Archived from the original on 24 August 2006.
16. "Iain Fyfe Wins Hyundai Tucson Car As OFC Player of the Tournament". 23 June 2005. Archived from the original on 24 August 2006.
17. Greenwood, Rob (11 September 2016). "Campbelltown City beats Adelaide City 1-0 in SA Premier League grand final". The Advertiser . Retrieved 18 November 2016.
18. "OzFootball Archives". Archived from the original on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
19. Sydney FC – Fixtures and Results Archived 14 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine

External links

• Adelaide United profile
• Sydney FC profile
• Iain Fyfe at Aussie Footballers
• Iain Fyfe – K League stats at kleague.com (in Korean)