17 Facts About Paul Okon

Paul Michael Okon was born on 5 April 1972 and is a former Australian soccer player who played as a defender or midfielder.

Paul Okon previously captained the Australia national team and has represented Australia Olympic Football Team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Paul Okon then went on to play at many European clubs including Lazio and Fiorentina in Italy's Serie A, Vicenza in Serie B, Middlesbrough and Leeds United in the English Premiership, Club Brugge, Oostende in Belgium's Jupiler League and APOEL in the Cypriot First Division.

Paul Okon was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2009, for his services to football in Australia.

Paul Okon represented his high school, Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield during his time as a teenage schoolboy and featured prominently in all teams including the A Grade squad.

Paul Okon set the record for high jump at the college's annual athletics carnival in the under 16s age group which was not broken until 2004.

Paul Okon left Marconi Stallions in 1991 for Club Brugge, and due to a series of excellent performances at sweeper won the Belgian Golden Shoe, the Belgian Jupiler league and two Belgian Cups.

Paul Okon played for amateur team West Ryde Rovers' over-35 Division 1 team in the GHFA.

On 24 June 2008, along with Alex Tobin, Alistair Edwards and Nicola Williams, Paul Okon was a recipient of an inaugural three-year scholarship under the Elite Coaching Development Program led by the FFA.

On 2 September 2008, Paul Okon was appointed assistant coach to Miron Bleiberg at Gold Coast United for their inaugural season.

On 30 October 2008, Paul Okon was appointed to lead the Australian U-18 side at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in the month of January, aimed as part of a long-term view towards establishing the team for the 2012 Olympic Games.

On 23 February 2010, Paul Okon did not renew his contract with Gold Coast United, following the team's loss in the first round of the A-league finals.

On 29 August 2016, Paul Okon was appointed the new manager of the Central Coast Mariners, signing a two-year contract.

Paul Okon replaced Tony Walmsley who was sacked following Central Coast's FFA Cup elimination at the hands of National Premier Leagues Victoria team Green Gully.

On 20 March 2018, with the Mariners being at the bottom of the A-League, it was announced that Paul Okon had resigned from his position as manager of the Central Coast Mariners.

On 30 September 2024, Football Australia announced that Paul Okon would replace Rene Meulensteen as the assistant manager of the Socceroos.

Okon's son, Paul Junior, is a footballer, and currently plays in the academy of Portuguese side Benfica.