Matt Perrella

Last updated

Matt Perrella
Personal information
Full name Matthew Perrella
Date of birth (1991-10-06) October 6, 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth North Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Ocean City Nor'easters (head coach)
Saint Joseph's Hawks (assistant coach)
Youth career
New Jersey Copa
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
Rider Broncs
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
Durham City
2013 Jacksonville Armada 0 (0)
2014 Carolina Railhawks 0 (0)
2015 New Jersey Copa 8 (0)
2015 Syracuse Silver Knights (indoor) 1 (0)
2016 Bethlehem Steel 4 (0)
2017 Jacksonville Armada 0 (0)
2017 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 8 (0)
2018 Atlantic City FC 8 (0)
2018–2019 Harrisburg Heat (indoor) 12 (0)
2019–2020 Utica City (indoor) 1 (0)
2020–2021 Rochester Lancers (indoor) 0 (0)
2021–2022 Milwaukee Wave (indoor) 13 (0)
2022–2023 Florida Tropics (indoor) 0 (0)
International career
2025– Marshall Islands 2 (0)
Managerial career
2018 Matabeleland (assistant)
2019 Drexel Dragons Women (assistant)
2019–2022 Ocean City Nor'easters (assistant)
2020 Camden County Cougars (assistant)
2021–2022 Camden County Cougars
2023– Ocean City Nor'easters
2023– Saint Joseph's Hawks (assistant)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of January 10, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals as of August 16, 2025

Matthew "Matt" Perrella (born October 6, 1991) is an American professional soccer coach and player who plays as a goalkeeper for the Marshall Islands national team. He is currently head coach of USL League Two team Ocean City Nor'easters and assistant coach of the Saint Joseph's Hawks men's team in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Contents

Club career

After playing four years of collegiate soccer at Division I Rider University, Perrella went on to get his Master's from Durham University in England. While playing for non-league side Durham City, he was scouted by Newcastle United when Durham played the Newcastle United Reserves and won 2–0 with Perrella keeping a clean sheet in an outstanding performance. This led to trials with Newcastle United in England, Udinese in Italy, LB Châteauroux in France, Daugava Rīga in Latvia and APOEL in Cyprus. In the United States, Perrella spent time with the Carolina Railhawks (now North Carolina FC) and Sporting Kansas City. Perrella's European tour came to an end when he was denied of dual citizenship (US/France) and returned to the US.

In 2013, Perrella signed with Jacksonville Armada FC at the start of the clubs franchise. After making zero appearances in four months, Perrella left for Sporting Kansas City.

In 2016, Perrella signed with Bethlehem Steel FC. [1] Perrella also had previous stints with Carolina Railhawks of the NASL and New Jersey Copa SC of the NPSL On May 1, 2017, Steel FC announced that they and Perrella had mutually parted ways, with Perrella not making an appearance during the 2017 season.

On May 14, 2017, Perella signed with Jacksonville Armada FC on a one match loan to provide goalkeeping cover.

On August 10, 2017, Perella signed with Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL on a contract for the remainder of the season. He was intended as a replacement for Keasel Broome, who had to undergo season-ending wrist surgery. [2] Perrella's contract expired at the end of the season and was not renewed by the Riverhounds. [3] He made eight appearances during his short spell with the club.

In 2018 Perella played with NPSL side Atlantic City FC and was the Keystone Conference goalkeeper of the year.

Perella was signed by Utica City FC of the MASL on May 30, 2019. [4]

After appearing in just one game for Utica in the 2019–20 season, Perrella signed with the Rochester Lancers in October 2020. [5]

International career

Perrella was not initially included in the Marshall Islands national team squad announcement for the 2025 Outrigger Challenge Cup, however was included in the later released squad list. While the Marshall Islands squad was selected to follow FIFA rules on eligibility as closely as possible, Perrella has no public connection to the Marshall Islands other than being the national team's goalkeeper coach. [6]

Perrella played in the 4–0 loss against the United States Virgin Islands on August 14, 2025, conceding a penalty. [7]

Coaching career

Perella joined the Drexel Dragons women's team coaching staff on April 12, 2019. [8] He also joined the staff of USL League Two team Ocean City Nor'easters in the summer of 2019. [9]

Perrella was named head coach of the Camden County Cougars men's team in July 2021. [10]

In July 2023, Perrella was promoted to head coach for the Ocean City Nor'easters. [11]

Perrella also joined the staff of the Saint Joseph's Hawks men's team in 2023. [12]

Career statistics

International

As of match played August 16, 2025
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Marshall Islands 202520
Total20

References

  1. "ELITE Owner Matthew Perrella Signs for Bethlehem Steel FC". elitegoalkeeperacademy.org.
  2. "RIVERHOUNDS SIGN MATT PERRELLA". Riverhounds.com. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  3. "HOUNDS ANNOUNCE INITIAL OFFSEASON ROSTER PLANS". Riverhounds.com. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  4. "UTICA CITY SIGNS MOISES GONZALEZ, DIEGO ZUÑIGA, AND MATT PERRELLA". UticaCityFC.com. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  5. Fanta, Frankie P. "VETERAN GOALKEEPER MATT PERRELLA JOINS THE LANCERS". RochesterLancers.com. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  6. MISF. "2025 Outrigger Challenge Cup Squad". Marshall Soccer Federation. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  7. "Last country on Earth to play an international match make debut". The Times. August 14, 2025. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  8. "Perrella Named Women's Soccer Assistant Coach". DrexelDragons.com. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  9. "Nor'easters head coach Kevin Nuss announces coaching staff for 2019 season". OceanCityFC.com. May 22, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  10. "Perrella To Take Charge of Cougars Men's Soccer Fall 2021". CamdenCCAthletics.com. Camden County College. July 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  11. Gargan, Guy (January 21, 2023). "Matt Perrella to coach Ocean City Nor'easters in 2023". PressOfAtlanticCity.com. The Press of Atlantic City . Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  12. "Matt Perrella - Assistant Coach". SJUHawks.com. Saint Joseph's Hawks . Retrieved January 10, 2024.