Scott Higgins
Encyclopedia
Scott Higgins is a former Australia
n association football player who is currently a goalkeeping coach for Gold Coast United in the A-League
. His career has seen has seen him play in three different continents, first in Australia
, then Europe
and the Middle East
.
with his parents Ross and Shirley and his older brother Andrew. He attended Ferny Hills State Primary School and later Kelvin Grove State High School.
He started his professional footballing career in the NSL
with Canberra Cosmos
and later returning to Queensland
with Brisbane Strikers
.
In the relaunched A-League
, he secured a deal with Queensland Roar
in 2005, before moving to Europe in June 2006 to join Scottish Premier League
club Falkirk
. His career was set to take of with some fantastic displays for Falkirk but unfortunately a difference of opinion with Falkirk boss John Hughes ended his stay in Scotland, the "Bairns" in a good position at sixth in the SPL and through to the semi finals of the League Cup. He departed on 24 January 2007 to join Israel
i side Maccabi Herzliya.
n in Israeli football
. With some stellar performances he led his club to the Toto Cup
final, a first ever for the club, where they defeated Hapoel Kfar Saba 2–1 at the National Stadium in Ramat Gan.
Unfortunately, despite helping Herzliya to lift the Toto Cup and avoid relegation from the Israeli Premier League, Higgins left the club in late May 2007 as the club moved to secure the Macedonian national team keeper, Jane Nikolovski
, as a replacement in a deal that ultimately fell through.
for the start of the 2007–08 season
.
In December 2008, Higgins signed a four game contract with the Wellington Phoenix as cover for Mark Paston
. He has not yet made an appearance for the Phoenix. He was released half way through his contract, as Paston
became match-fit earlier than expected. He never got any game time with the Phoenix.
Miron Bleiberg
, football director of new A-League
club Gold Coast United has announced that Higgins will be signed by the club for the 2009–10 season. On 30 September 2008 he was announced along with goalkeeper Jess Vanstrattan
as Gold Coast United's inaugural signings.
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 association football player who is currently a goalkeeping coach for 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...
. His career has seen has seen him play in three different continents, first in Australia
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...
, then Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Club career
Higgins grew up in BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
with his parents Ross and Shirley and his older brother Andrew. He attended Ferny Hills State Primary School and later Kelvin Grove State High School.
He started his professional footballing career in the 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...
with Canberra Cosmos
Canberra Cosmos
Canberra Cosmos FC is a defunct Australian association football club based in Canberra in the ACT. It participated in the National Soccer League from the 1995/96 season until the end of the 2000/01 season, after which it folded, primarily due to financial difficulties...
and later returning to Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
with Brisbane Strikers
Brisbane Strikers
The Brisbane Strikers are an Australian football club from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia who play in the Queensland State League.-National Soccer League:...
.
In the relaunched 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...
, he secured a deal with Queensland Roar
Queensland Roar FC
Brisbane Roar Football Club is a professional football club from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia competing in the Hyundai A-League national competition, playing their home games at Suncorp Stadium...
in 2005, before moving to Europe in June 2006 to join Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
. His career was set to take of with some fantastic displays for Falkirk but unfortunately a difference of opinion with Falkirk boss John Hughes ended his stay in Scotland, the "Bairns" in a good position at sixth in the SPL and through to the semi finals of the League Cup. He departed on 24 January 2007 to join Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i side Maccabi Herzliya.
Herzliya
When Higgins joined Herzliya, he became the first AustraliaAustralia
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 in Israeli football
Football in Israel
Football is the most popular sport in Israel. Football as an organised sport first developed in the United Kingdom who controlled Israel during the days of the British Mandate. Israel will be hosting the UEFA U-21 Championship in 2013....
. With some stellar performances he led his club to the Toto Cup
Toto Cup Al 2006-07
The 2006–07 Toto Cup Al was the third edition under the current Toto Cup format. The final was played at Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan, on April 17, 2007....
final, a first ever for the club, where they defeated Hapoel Kfar Saba 2–1 at the National Stadium in Ramat Gan.
Unfortunately, despite helping Herzliya to lift the Toto Cup and avoid relegation from the Israeli Premier League, Higgins left the club in late May 2007 as the club moved to secure the Macedonian national team keeper, Jane Nikolovski
Jane Nikolovski
Jane Nikolovski is a Macedonian football goalkeeper. He last played for AEP Paphos in Cyprus.-Career:Nikolovski returned from Bulgaria for FK Sloga Jugomagnat in July 2003. In 2005, he left for Iranian club Persepolis F.C.. In January 2006, he was signed by Croatian club NK Slaven Belupo...
, as a replacement in a deal that ultimately fell through.
A-League
On returning to Australia, he was signed by Adelaide United on a short term contract as cover for injured goalkeeper Daniel BeltrameDaniel Beltrame
Daniel Beltrame is a former Australian football goalkeeper who last played for Adelaide United in the A-League.-Club career:...
for the start of the 2007–08 season
A-League 2007-08
The A-League 2007-08 season was the third season of the Australian A-League football competition, won by the Newcastle Jets. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the previous two seasons and on the interest generated by and playing in the 2007 AFC Champions League, and...
.
In December 2008, Higgins signed a four game contract with the Wellington Phoenix as cover for Mark Paston
Mark Paston
Mark Nelson Paston is a New Zealand football goalkeeper who plays for the Wellington Phoenix in the A-League.-Early career:...
. He has not yet made an appearance for the Phoenix. He was released half way through his contract, as Paston
Mark Paston
Mark Nelson Paston is a New Zealand football goalkeeper who plays for the Wellington Phoenix in the A-League.-Early career:...
became match-fit earlier than expected. He never got any game time with the Phoenix.
Miron Bleiberg
Miron Bleiberg
Miron Bleiberg is an Israeli-Australian football manager, currently the head coach and director of football operations at A-League club Gold Coast United.-Biography:...
, football director of 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...
club Gold Coast United has announced that Higgins will be signed by the club for the 2009–10 season. On 30 September 2008 he was announced along with goalkeeper Jess Vanstrattan
Jess Vanstrattan
Jess Kedwell Vanstrattan is an Australian football goalkeeper currently without a club.-Club career:Born in Gosford, New South Wales, Vanstrattan started his career for Northern Spirit in Sydney, NSW.-Verona:...
as Gold Coast United's inaugural signings.