Former Roar skipper Matt Smith leaves Gold Coast Knights to join Brisbane City
Former Brisbane Roar captain Matt Smith has left Gold Coast Knights to join NPL Queensland rivals Brisbane City.
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Former Brisbane Roar A-League championship-winning captain Matt Smith has joined Brisbane City.
Smith, 37, cut ties with NPL Queensland champions Gold Coast Knights to link with City, where he will not only play but also be employed as the club’s football director and under-18 coach.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to join this great club with its long history of success since 1952,” said defender Smith, who won three A-League titles with the Roar between 2011 and 2014.
“The club’s focus and success in player and coach development is unmatched currently and my aim is to continue to drive this philosophy as football director through all age groups and tiers of the club.”
Smith returned to Queensland last year after four and a half seasons in Thailand and Hong Kong, and subsequently helped the ambitious Knights win the NPL Queensland championship.
However, Smith’s relationship with the Knights soured in recent weeks, with the club saying he departed for “personal reasons”.
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Smith is excited about former National Soccer League club City’s future plans.
“Working with the club, our coaches and our sponsors to progress our aspirations in the NPL, and also back into the upper tiers of Australian football, represents an inspiring challenge,” he said.
“Looking in from the outside this past five years, it’s wonderful to have seen tangible and continued investment into the facilities here and expansion of green space to facilitate the club’s aspirations.”
City president Robert Rossi said Smith was a “perfect
addition” to the club’s leadership team.
“Brisbane City remains committed to looking at the opportunities the A-League, W-League, and the national second division may bring, to create a true pathway for young male and female players in Queensland,” Rossi said.
“With his great professional playing career, sports management qualifications and (him) currently completing his FFA A Licence accreditation, he (Smith) ticks all the boxes.
“More importantly, he is a quality human being with values and ambitions which perfectly align with our club.”
Smith will be unavailable for City’s clash against Peninsula Power at Newmarket venue CTM Stadium on Saturday night because he will still be in Sydney for his A Licence coaching course.
Originally published as Former Roar skipper Matt Smith leaves Gold Coast Knights to join Brisbane City