Introduction
Matthew Jurman is an Australian football (soccer) player of Croatian heritage who currently plays for Suwon Bluewings in the K League as a centre back, or occasionally as a left back.
Club career
Youth career
After graduating from Westfields Sports High School in 2007, Jurman furthered his football development at the AIS before signing for the Sydney FC youth team in 2008. In his first year at the club, Jurman helped Sydney FC to their first youth championship in the competition's inaugural campaign and later earned himself a senior deal at the club under then manager, John Kosmina.
Sydney FC
Jurman made his senior debut for Sydney FC off the bench on 9 September 2007 against Perth Glory. Throughout his time at Sydney, he went on to make 22 appearances in the league as well as a number of appearances for the club in the 2011 Asian Champions League. He scored his only goal for Sydney in a 2–1 away loss to Kashima Antlers.
Along with a strong finish to the season where he became a first team regular, Jurman is remembered for an incident that occurred during the 2010/11 season after Sydney FC striker Juho Mäkelä scored a crucial goal to put Sydney FC 2–0 ahead over Gold Coast United. Mäkelä jumped the fence to celebrate with the clubs fans followed by the rest of the squad. During the jubilant celebrations, the fence collapsed and pinned Jurman's causing fears that he may have broken his leg. Jurman eventually played on and confirmed after the game that there was moderate swelling and bruising but no significant damage sustained.
Brisbane Roar
On 10 February 2011, it was confirmed Jurman had signed for A-League club Brisbane Roar on a two-year contract. He would be available for the beginning of the 2011–12 season. He was released by the club at the end of the 2012–13 A-league season along with Stef Nijland and James Meyer.
Return to Sydney FC
On 2 May 2013, Sydney FC announced that Jurman would be returning to the club for a second stint after signing a 1-year deal to join the Sky Blues. Jurman made his first appearance in the 2013–14 season for Sydney away to Melbourne Heart as a 64th-minute substitute for Brett Emerton in a game that Sydney FC won 2–0. On 8 March 2014 Jurman scored his first ever A-League goal with a 59th-minute header to level the Sydney Derby at 1–1 after Shinji Ono's opening goal. Sydney FC would go on to win the game 3–1, their first ever home derby win.
South Korea
On 3 January 2017, Sydney FC confirmed that Jurman had been released, allowing him to join an Asian club. It was later confirmed that Jurman would be joining South Korean side Suwon Bluewings
Career statistics
- As of 7 September 2015
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sydney FC | 2007–08 | A-League | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09 | A-League | 6 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||
| 2009–10 | A-League | 7 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| 2010–11 | A-League | 8 | 0 | — | 6 | 1 | 14 | 1 | ||
| Total | 22 | 0 | — | 6 | 1 | 28 | 1 | |||
| Brisbane Roar | 2011–12 | A-League | 19 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| 2012–13 | A-League | 15 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| Total | 34 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 37 | 0 | |||
| Sydney FC | 2013–14 | A-League | 21 | 1 | — | — | 21 | 1 | ||
| 2014–15 | A-League | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 19 | 1 | ||
| 2015–16 | A-League | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| Total | 63 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 2 | ||
| Sydney FC Total | 85 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 95 | 3 | ||
| Career Total | 119 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 132 | 3 | ||
Honours
With Australia:
- International Cor Groenewegen Tournament (U-20): 2009
- AFF U19 Youth Championship: 2008
- Weifang Cup (U-18): 2007
With Sydney FC:
A-League Premiership: 2009–2010- A-League Championship: 2009–2010
- National Youth League Championship: 2008–2009
