Robbie Middleby
Encyclopedia
Robert Middleby is a former Australian football (soccer)
player who is the CEO for the Newcastle Jets in the A-League
.
journeyman came to Sydney FC
after earlier stints at Newcastle United Jets
, Wollongong Wolves
(twice), Carlton
, Football Kingz and the Newcastle Breakers. He won an NSL
title with the Wolves and also spent time overseas with German
outfit KFC Uerdingen 05
in his first season at the club, playing only 212 minutes in 16 appearances despite scoring in Sydney FC's 3-1 victory against New Zealand Knights early in the campaign. He gained favour, though, under Littbarski's replacement Terry Butcher
and was a regular starter in the 06/07 season
. Despite missing part of the season with a broken collarbone after a controversial off-the-ball incident involving Melbourne Victory
defender Adrian Leijer
, Middleby was voted Sydney FC Players' Player of the Year for the season.
Middleby is famous for accidentally breaking David Beckham
's rib, when Sydney FC
played the Los Angeles Galaxy
at ANZ Stadium in November 2007. Sydney ended up winning 5-3. Middleby also scored in the match.
. He has been used in his more preferred role of right back, as well as being used in central midfield under coach Ian Ferguson. On 11 February 2010 announced his retirement from professional football at the end of the 2009/2010 season Middleby played his last game against Gold Coast United, which North Queensland won 2-1.
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: A-League Championship: 2005-2006
With Wollongong Wolves
: NSL Championship: 2000-2001
Personal Honours:
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 is the CEO for the Newcastle Jets 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...
.
Club career
The former NSLNational 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...
journeyman came to Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
after earlier stints at Newcastle United Jets
Newcastle United Jets
Newcastle United Jets Football Club is a professional football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. The club competes in the A-League and plays its home games at Ausgrid Stadium . The Jets have won one A-League championship, defeating arch rivals the 1–0 in the 2007–08 Grand Final...
, Wollongong Wolves
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...
(twice), Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
, Football Kingz and the Newcastle Breakers. He won an NSL
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...
title with the Wolves and also spent time overseas with German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
outfit KFC Uerdingen 05
KFC Uerdingen 05
KFC Uerdingen 05 is a German association football club in the Uerdingen district of the city of Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. The one time Bundesliga side enjoyed its greatest successes in the 1980s, but most recently has been part of fifth and sixth tier competition.-History:The club was...
Sydney FC
Middleby saw little game time under coach Pierre LittbarskiPierre Littbarski
Pierre Michael Littbarski is a German football manager and former player. He was mainly a winger or attacking midfielder and is best known for his brilliant dribbling abilities. He was a FIFA World Cup winner with West Germany in 1990. He was also runner–up twice in 1982 and 1986 with West Germany...
in his first season at the club, playing only 212 minutes in 16 appearances despite scoring in Sydney FC's 3-1 victory against New Zealand Knights early in the campaign. He gained favour, though, under Littbarski's replacement Terry Butcher
Terry Butcher
Terence Ian "Terry" Butcher is an English football manager and former player. He was a highly successful football player and made his name as an uncompromising defender with Ipswich Town and Rangers in the 1980s. He was also a captain of England and won 77 caps in a ten-year international career...
and was a regular starter in the 06/07 season
Sydney FC Season 2006-07
The 2006–07 season is Sydney FCs second season of football in Australia. Sydney FC contested in the 2006–07 A-League, and after winning the inaugural A-League Championship in 2005–06, competed in the 2007 AFC Champions League as one of Australia's two representatives.-Pre-Season:After winning the...
. Despite missing part of the season with a broken collarbone after a controversial off-the-ball incident involving Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
defender Adrian Leijer
Adrian Leijer
Adrian Leijer is an Australian football player who currently plays as a centre back for A-League team Melbourne Victory and is also the Captain of the side.-Early years:...
, Middleby was voted Sydney FC Players' Player of the Year for the season.
Middleby is famous for accidentally breaking David Beckham
David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
's rib, when Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
played the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
at ANZ Stadium in November 2007. Sydney ended up winning 5-3. Middleby also scored in the match.
North Queensland Fury
In November 2008, Middleby signed a contract with North Queensland FuryNorth Queensland Fury FC
North Queensland Fury FC were a professional football club based in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, which competed in the A-League. North Queensland played its home fixtures at Dairy Farmers Stadium. The club was closed on 1 March 2011, due to financial instability.-History:A Townsville bid was...
. He has been used in his more preferred role of right back, as well as being used in central midfield under coach Ian Ferguson. On 11 February 2010 announced his retirement from professional football at the end of the 2009/2010 season Middleby played his last game against Gold Coast United, which North Queensland won 2-1.
National team statistics
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Honours
With Sydney FCSydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
: A-League Championship: 2005-2006
A-League 2005-06
The 2005-06 season was the first season of the A-League, a domestic club competition for football in Australia. After over 12 months without a national professional club competition, the first match in the A-League was played on 26 August 2005...
- Oceania Club Championship: 2004-2005Oceania Club Championship 2004-05The 2004–05 Oceania Club Championship was held in from April to June, 2005. The tournament was designed to decide the Oceania Football Confederation's entrant into the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship.-Participants:-Preliminary round:...
With Wollongong Wolves
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...
: NSL Championship: 2000-2001
- Oceania Club Championship: 2000-2001Oceania Club Championship 2000-01The 2000-01 Oceania Club Championships was held in January 2001. The tournament was designed to decide the Oceania Football Confederation's entrant into the 2001 FIFA Club World Championship, however that Club World Championship tournament was cancelled by FIFA. The competition was held in Port...
Personal Honours:
- Sydney FCSydney FCSydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
Player of the Year: 2006-2007Sydney FC Season 2006-07The 2006–07 season is Sydney FCs second season of football in Australia. Sydney FC contested in the 2006–07 A-League, and after winning the inaugural A-League Championship in 2005–06, competed in the 2007 AFC Champions League as one of Australia's two representatives.-Pre-Season:After winning the...