Vince Lia

Vince Lia (born 18 March 1985) is an Australian professional football (soccer) player who plays for Essendon Royals in the National Premier Leagues Victoria 3.

Vince Lia

Lia playing for Wellington Phoenix in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Vince Lia
Date of birth	(1985-03-18) 18 March 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth	Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Central midfielder / Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Altona Magic
Youth career
	Tatura
	South Melbourne
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2004	South Melbourne	51	(0)
2005	Fawkner-Whittlesea Blues	3	(0)
2005–2007	Melbourne Victory	24	(0)
2007–2017	Wellington Phoenix	197	(4)
2017–2020	Adelaide United	34	(3)
2020	Perth Glory	4	(0)
2021–2022	Altona Magic	38	(3)
2023–	Essendon Royals	9	(0)
International career‡
2002–2003	Australia U-17	12	(1)
2002–2005	Australia U-20	21	(5)
2006–2007	Australia U-23	4	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Australia OFC U-20 Championship Winner 2005
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:05, 15 May 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 January 2012

Born in Shepparton, Lia played youth football in Victoria before making his senior debut with South Melbourne in the National Soccer League. He spent one season with Fawkner-Whittlesea Blues in 2005 before joining Melbourne Victory in 2005 to play in the newly formed A-League. Lia next spent a decade at Wellington Phoenix, making over 200 appearances for the club in all competitions. He returned to Australia in 2017, signing with Adelaide United. He had a brief spell at Perth Glory in 2020.

Lia represented Australia numerous times at youth level, including at the 2003 FIFA U-20 World Cup and 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Club career

Melbourne Victory

Lia spent the early stages of his professional career in the NSL at South Melbourne. He then moved on to Melbourne Victory where he spent two years as a fringe player, albeit winning a championship.

Wellington Phoenix

Lia moved to the Wellington Phoenix in 2007. Lia scored his first ever A-League goal in a 1–1 draw against his former club, Melbourne Victory, in the 58th minute on 24 November 2007.^[1] Lia missed the entire 2008–09 A-League Season due to a knee injury suffered in pre-season, requiring a full reconstruction. On 20 October 2009, Lia extended his contract with the Wellington Phoenix until the end of 2012.^[2]

Adelaide United

After a successful trial, Lia was given a one-year deal with Adelaide United for the 2017–18 season.^[3] He made his A-League debut for the club on 13 October 2017 in a 2–1 win over Brisbane Roar.^[4] A week later, Lia scored both goals for Adelaide in a 2–2 draw against Melbourne Victory, his former club.^[5]

Perth Glory

Following a number of injuries to Perth Glory's defence, the club signed Lia for the remainder of the 2019–20 A-League season.^[6] Lia was released by Perth Glory at the end of the 2019–20 A-League.^[7]

Altona Magic

In February 2021, Lia joined Altona Magic.^[8]

International career

Lia captained the Australian U-20's at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship.

Career statistics

As of 15 May 2023

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
South Melbourne	2001–02	National Soccer League	13	0	0	0	0	0	13	0
	2002–03		21	0	0	0	0	0	21	0
	2003–04		17	0	0	0	0	0	17	0
	South Melbourne total		51	0	0	0	0	0	51	0
Fawkner-Whittlesea Blues	2005	Victorian Premier League	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Melbourne Victory	2005–06	A-League	17	0	2	0	0	0	19	0
	2006–07		7	0	4	0	0	0	11	0
	Melbourne Victory total		24	0	6	0	0	0	30	0
Wellington Phoenix	2007–08	A-League	13	1	1	0	0	0	14	1
	2008–09		0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
	2009–10		26	0	0	0	0	0	26	0
	2010–11		24	1	0	0	0	0	24	1
	2011–12		21	0	0	0	0	0	21	0
	2012–13		23	0	0	0	0	0	23	0
	2013–14		27	0	0	0	0	0	27	0
	2014–15		21	0	0	0	0	0	21	0
	2015–16		16	1	2	0	0	0	18	1
	2016–17		26	1	1	0	0	0	27	1
	Wellington total		197	4	5	0	0	0	202	4
Adelaide United	2017–18	A-League	9	2	2	0	0	0	11	2
	2018–19		23	1	4	0	0	0	27	1
	2019–20		2	0	3	0	0	0	5	0
	Adelaide total		34	3	9	0	0	0	43	3
Perth Glory	2019–20	A-League	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
Altona Magic	2021	National Premier Leagues Victoria	17	2	0	0	0	0	17	2
	2022		21	1	1	0	0	0	22	1
	Total		18	3	1	0	0	0	39	3
Essendon Royals	2023	National Premier Leagues Victoria 3	9	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
Career total			353	10	17	0	0	0	370	10

Honours

Club

Melbourne Victory

• A-League Championship: 2006–07
• A-League Premiership: 2006–07

Adelaide United

• FFA Cup: 2018, 2019

International

Australia

• OFC U-20 Championship: 2002, 2005^[9]

References

1. MELBOURNE V WELLINGTON – 24 NOVEMBER 2007 Archived 18 July 2012 at archive.today
2. "Vince Lia extends contract with Phoenix". WellingtonPhoenix.com. Archived from the original on 1 March 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
3. "Vince Lia signs with Adelaide United". FourFourTwo. 3 August 2017.
4. Migliaccio, Val (14 October 2017). "Adelaide United complete thrilling stoppage-time comeback to rock Brisbane Roar". News.com.au. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
5. "Adelaide United held to a 2–2 draw by winless Melbourne Victory at Adelaide Oval". Australia: ABC News. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
6. Chadwick, Justin (21 January 2020). "GLORY SIGN VINCE LIA AS DJULBIC PUT ON ICE". FTBL. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
7. Morgan, Gareth (1 September 2020). "Squad Latest". Perth Glory FC. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
8. "Vince Lia". Altona Magic. 2 February 2021.
9. "Australia win OFC U20 Qualifiers". Oceania Football Confederation. 31 January 2005. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012.

External links

• Aussie Footballers Lawrie to Lia
• Vince Lia at Soccerway