Con Boutsianis
Encyclopedia
Con Boutsianis is an Australian Football (soccer) player and former International, noted for his ability in dead ball situations. Con is known affectionately by fans as 'Boutsi'.
Boutsianis began his career with South Melbourne
in the National Soccer League
in 1989, and soon established himself as a goalscoring midfielder. He left South at the end of the 1994/95 season to join Heidelberg United
for the 1996 Victorian Premier League
season, before joining Collingwood Warriors for their one and only season in the NSL.
Following the club's demise at the end of the 1996/97 season, he had a short stint in the VPL with Bentleigh Greens, before rejoining South Melbourne for the 1997/98 NSL season. He played a crucial role in the grand final against Carlton
, scoring the controversial winning goal after coming on as a substitute. Paul Trimboli
sent a long ball forward, finding Boutsianis in pursuit behind Carlton defender Sean Douglas
. Boutsianis seemed to push Douglas to the ground before collecting the ball and proceeding to beat Carlton goalkeeper Dean Anastasiadis
.
The controversy was added to further as unbeknownst to most in the crowd, Boutsianis had been implicated in the robbery of Melbourne's Shark Fin restaurant as the getaway driver, in the lead up to the game. In 2001 the case reached its conclusion with no conviction being recorded against Boutsianis, though he was placed on 2 years probation and lost his place with Bolton Wanderers
of England as a result.
Despite being the hero of the grand final, Boutsianis went over to Perth Glory
for the next two seasons, arguably reaching his peak as a player, scoring 25 goals in 49 appearances. A short unsuccessful stint with Bolton Wanderers followed, and he returned to play with South Melbourne in the 2000/01 side which finished runner-up to Wollongong
, continuing his career best form scoring 14 goals in 30 games.
Boutsianis would leave South for a 3rd time the next season, along with South coach Mike Petersen and South teammate Andy Vlahos
to join the Football Kingz. Boutsianis ended up playing no games for the club, and sought a return to South during the season. The Kingz eventually relented, on condition that he not play in the fixture between the two sides, at that time holding down the bottom two spots on the table. Boutsianis ended up taking the field and scoring the winner late in the game, and all up scored 8 goals in 15 games to take South from bottom of the table to fifth spot and into the finals.
The season though would be the beginning of the end for Boutsianis as a formidable player, as for the next 2 seasons he struggled to reach the potency he was known for, and he ended up playing for several clubs in the VPL, and eventually signing with Oakleigh Cannons
for the remainder of what was thought would be his last season. Oakleigh's exit from the 2006 VPL finals brought an end to Boutsianis' career, but he donned the boots again for the Cannons in the 2007 season.
In 2009 Boutsianis signed for Essendon United, who play in the Victorian Provisional North/West 1 league. He scored on his home debut with a trademark left foot strike against Whittlesea United at Aberfeldie Park.
Boutsianis has four international caps
for Australia. His first cap came during the 2002 World Cup qualification
match against Tonga
, which Australia won 22–0, breaking the world record for the largest win in international match. Boutsianis came on as a substitute and scored a goal in that match. On the next match, against American Samoa, he was named as starter and scored three goals as Australia went on to break their own record by winning 31–0. The first goal was scored direct from a corner kick, where Boutsianis cross curled and ended up behind the goal line. He then made two more appearances for Australia, the last one came on August 2001 in a match against Japan
. He quit the national team with a record of 4 goals from 4 appearances.
Prior to the 2008 Olympics, Boutsianis was hired to work with the US Women's Olympic soccer team as a specialist coach for free-kick specialist Carli Lloyd
. Lloyd later scored the goal that earned Team USA Gold in Beijing. Lloyd said, "The way he communicated the mechanics of striking the ball was definitely world class."
Boutsianis now lives on the Gold Coast and runs his own football coaching business, Football First. He is also a specialist coach at Gold Coast United in the A-League
.
On 11 August 2010, Con released the Learn Football app via iTunes. He is currently working on his autobiography.
Boutsianis began his career with 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...
in the 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...
in 1989, and soon established himself as a goalscoring midfielder. He left South at the end of the 1994/95 season to join Heidelberg United
Heidelberg United
Heidelberg United Football Club is a football club based in the northern Melbourne suburb of Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia...
for the 1996 Victorian Premier League
Victorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
season, before joining Collingwood Warriors for their one and only season in the NSL.
Following the club's demise at the end of the 1996/97 season, he had a short stint in the VPL with Bentleigh Greens, before rejoining South Melbourne for the 1997/98 NSL season. He played a crucial role in the grand final against 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...
, scoring the controversial winning goal after coming on as a substitute. Paul Trimboli
Paul Trimboli
Paolo "Paul" Vincenzo Trimboli is a former Australian international football player of Italian ancestry. He attended Xavier College and was a member of the First XI, and was captained by his brother.-Club career:...
sent a long ball forward, finding Boutsianis in pursuit behind Carlton defender Sean Douglas
Sean Douglas
Sean Douglas is a New Zealand retired association football player, who is currently Technical Director of Football Federation Victoria.- Club career :...
. Boutsianis seemed to push Douglas to the ground before collecting the ball and proceeding to beat Carlton goalkeeper Dean Anastasiadis
Dean Anastasiadis
Dean Anastasiadis is a Greek Australian football player. A goalkeeper, he played for many years at a variety of clubs in the National Soccer League. This included being part of the 2000–01 championship side at Wollongong Wolves, and the 1997–98 Grand Final runner up Carlton SC side,...
.
The controversy was added to further as unbeknownst to most in the crowd, Boutsianis had been implicated in the robbery of Melbourne's Shark Fin restaurant as the getaway driver, in the lead up to the game. In 2001 the case reached its conclusion with no conviction being recorded against Boutsianis, though he was placed on 2 years probation and lost his place with Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
of England as a result.
Despite being the hero of the grand final, Boutsianis went over 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 next two seasons, arguably reaching his peak as a player, scoring 25 goals in 49 appearances. A short unsuccessful stint with Bolton Wanderers followed, and he returned to play with South Melbourne in the 2000/01 side which finished runner-up to Wollongong
Wollongong Wolves
The South Coast Wolves Football Club is an Australian Association football club based in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia currently playing in the NSW Premier League.The club was formed in 2009 as a not for profit organisation, run and owned by the community since the financial...
, continuing his career best form scoring 14 goals in 30 games.
Boutsianis would leave South for a 3rd time the next season, along with South coach Mike Petersen and South teammate Andy Vlahos
Andy Vlahos
Andrew Vlahos is an Australian-Greek football , who currently plays and coaches for Hume City in the Victorian Premier League....
to join the Football Kingz. Boutsianis ended up playing no games for the club, and sought a return to South during the season. The Kingz eventually relented, on condition that he not play in the fixture between the two sides, at that time holding down the bottom two spots on the table. Boutsianis ended up taking the field and scoring the winner late in the game, and all up scored 8 goals in 15 games to take South from bottom of the table to fifth spot and into the finals.
The season though would be the beginning of the end for Boutsianis as a formidable player, as for the next 2 seasons he struggled to reach the potency he was known for, and he ended up playing for several clubs in the VPL, and eventually signing with Oakleigh Cannons
Oakleigh Cannons
Oakleigh Cannons Football Club is a football club based in the south-east Melbourne suburb of Oakleigh, Victoria, Australia. The club was formed in 1972 as the South Oakleigh Soccer Club by members of Oakleigh's Greek Australian community...
for the remainder of what was thought would be his last season. Oakleigh's exit from the 2006 VPL finals brought an end to Boutsianis' career, but he donned the boots again for the Cannons in the 2007 season.
In 2009 Boutsianis signed for Essendon United, who play in the Victorian Provisional North/West 1 league. He scored on his home debut with a trademark left foot strike against Whittlesea United at Aberfeldie Park.
Boutsianis has four international caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Australia. His first cap came during the 2002 World Cup qualification
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the Oceanian zone . For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification....
match against Tonga
Tonga national football team
The Tonga national football team is the national team of Tonga and is controlled by the Tonga Football Association.-Football in Tonga:Tonga's greatest football triumph to date was their triumph in the first ever Polynesian Cup held in 1993 over Samoa and the Cook Islands...
, which Australia won 22–0, breaking the world record for the largest win in international match. Boutsianis came on as a substitute and scored a goal in that match. On the next match, against American Samoa, he was named as starter and scored three goals as Australia went on to break their own record by winning 31–0. The first goal was scored direct from a corner kick, where Boutsianis cross curled and ended up behind the goal line. He then made two more appearances for Australia, the last one came on August 2001 in a match against Japan
Japan national football team
The Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...
. He quit the national team with a record of 4 goals from 4 appearances.
Prior to the 2008 Olympics, Boutsianis was hired to work with the US Women's Olympic soccer team as a specialist coach for free-kick specialist Carli Lloyd
Carli Lloyd
Carli Anne Lloyd is an American soccer midfielder currently playing for the Atlanta Beat of Women's Professional Soccer and is a member of the United States women's national soccer team.-Early life:...
. Lloyd later scored the goal that earned Team USA Gold in Beijing. Lloyd said, "The way he communicated the mechanics of striking the ball was definitely world class."
Boutsianis now lives on the Gold Coast and runs his own football coaching business, Football First. He is also a specialist coach at Gold Coast United in 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...
.
On 11 August 2010, Con released the Learn Football app via iTunes. He is currently working on his autobiography.