Matthew Thomas Spiranovic was born on 27 June 1988 and is a former Australian soccer player who played as a defender.
36 Facts About Matthew Spiranovic
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Matthew Spiranovic struggled in his new climate with both injuries and form, making just 28 first team appearances over four seasons with the German club, playing more frequently for the club's second side.
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In search of more consistent playing time, Matthew Spiranovic then joined Urawa Red Diamonds making 13 league appearances and scoring 1 goal during the 2010 J-League season.
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Matthew Spiranovic has made appearances for Australia during the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
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In 2006, Matthew Spiranovic then graduated to the Australian Institute of Sport where he joined future Socceroo teammates Dario Vidosic, Bruce Djite, Nikita Rukavytsya and Nathan Burns.
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On 5 October 2006, it had been reported in that Matthew Spiranovic was signed to 1.
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Matthew Spiranovic was substituted off of the field for Michael Beauchamp in the 46th minute due to a corked thigh.
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Matthew Spiranovic made three appearances for the reserve-team before concluding the season.
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Matthew Spiranovic had made eight league appearances in the Regionalliga Sud, starting in each game consecutively.
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On 17 November 2009, it had been reported that Matthew Spiranovic would be loaned out to another club by January 2010 in a bid to gain more game time.
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On 7 January 2010, Matthew Spiranovic joined Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds on loan until the end of 2010.
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Matthew Spiranovic scored from a header after receiving the ball from a Tomoya Ugajin cross.
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Matthew Spiranovic had finished the season making 13 league appearances, starting in 7 consecutive games which earned him a call up from Australia's coach, Holger Osieck, for two international friendlies.
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On 11 December 2010, Matthew Spiranovic joined Urawa on a permanent basis after the Japanese club bought out his contract after a very impressive first season in J1 despite frequent injuries.
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Matthew Spiranovic continued his fine form playing 90 minute games in defence as Urawa would record three wins in the same week.
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In July 2012, Matthew Spiranovic left Japanese outfit for Al-Arabi Sports Club in the Qatar Stars League.
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Matthew Spiranovic received offers to go back to Europe, most notably in Wales from Brendan Rodgers at Swansea City and then Liverpool he opted for Al Arabi following the lead of Australians Sasa Ognenovski and Mark Bresciano in signing for a Qatari club.
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On 16 July 2015, Matthew Spiranovic transferred to Chinese Super League side Hangzhou Greentown.
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On 22 June 2018, Matthew Spiranovic signed a one-year contract with Perth Glory, returning to Australia and re-uniting with Tony Popovic who coached him at Western Sydney Wanderers.
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In July 2021, following two years without playing professional football, Matthew Spiranovic returned to Australia joining Melbourne Victory on a one-year contract.
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Matthew Spiranovic announced his retirement from football, halfway through the A-League season.
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Matthew Spiranovic suffered from an ongoing foot injury that required surgery, limiting his playing time to just four games out of fourteen played up to the point he retired.
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On 5 April 2007, Matthew Spiranovic publicly announced his intention to play for Australia on SBS's football program, The World Game.
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Matthew Spiranovic was called up to the national side for a friendly against Uruguay, which was held on 2 June 2007.
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Matthew Spiranovic did not play in the defeat against the South Americans and surprisingly missed out on a spot in Australia's 2007 Asian Cup Squad, for which only five recognized defenders were selected.
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Matthew Spiranovic made his senior international debut for the Socceroos on 23 May 2008, coming on as a substitute against Ghana, followed by a start in the World Cup Qualifier against China on 22 June 2008.
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Matthew Spiranovic did not make the 2010 FIFA World Cup squad and was transferred to Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds to gain more playing time.
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In 2015 Matthew Spiranovic was selected for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, which was hosted in Australia.
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Matthew Spiranovic played in the final against South Korea, which the Australian side won.
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Matthew Spiranovic was selected in the 20-man squad for the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship along with teammates Kaz Patafta, Nathan Burns, Robbie Kruse, Scott Jamieson and Leigh Broxham.
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Matthew Spiranovic received a call up to a 20-man Australia U20 team for a five-match tour of South America in August 2006.
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Matthew Spiranovic was selected to play at the 2006 AFC Youth Championship held in India.
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Matthew Spiranovic is the son of Michael Spiranovic, an English born former footballer for North Geelong Warriors.
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Matthew Spiranovic attended St Robert's Primary School of Geelong and St Joseph's College from 2001 to 2005.
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Matthew Spiranovic has two younger sisters, Amelia, who play for South Melbourne in the Women's Victorian Premier League, and Laura, who plays for ZNK Split in the Croatian Women's First Football League.
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Arnold stated that Football Federation Australia, as well as the Australian national team's staff, were in danger of losing the defender as Matthew Spiranovic's parents received phone calls from Croatia in the middle of the night which applied much pressure on Matthew Spiranovic to make his final decision.