Mitch Nichols
Mitchell Ian "Mitch" Nichols (born 1 May 1989) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Gold Coast Knights in the National Premier Leagues Queensland.[2]
 Nichols playing for the Australian Under 23 team | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mitchell Ian Nichols | ||
| Date of birth | 1 May 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Southport, Queensland, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)[1] | ||
| Playing position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Gold Coast Knights | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–2006 | Palm Beach | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007 | Palm Beach | 8 | (9) |
| 2007–2013 | Brisbane Roar | 125 | (24) |
| 2013–2014 | Melbourne Victory | 14 | (3) |
| 2014–2015 | Cerezo Osaka | 6 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | → Perth Glory (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 2015–2017 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 53 | (11) |
| 2017–2018 | Perth Glory | 13 | (1) |
| 2018–2019 | Wellington Phoenix | 7 | (0) |
| 2018 | Wellington Phoenix Reserves | 1 | (1) |
| 2019– | Gold Coast Knights | 22 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2007–2009 | Australia U-20 | 22 | (11) |
| 2010–2012 | Australia U-23 | 5 | (2) |
| 2009– | Australia | 5 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 September 2019 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18 November 2014 | |||
Club career
Brisbane Roar
He signed a two-year deal on 11 May 2007 with the Roar after impressing in the opening rounds of the Gold Coast Premier League with Palm Beach Sharks, leading the goal scoring charts from midfield after 7 matches. Roar manager Frank Farina stated that Nichols was "one for the future" the official press conference following his signing.
Nichols made a solid start to his career in the A-League with a number of substitute appearances. He also received his first call-up to the Australian Under 20 squad for a training camp on 7 October 2007. He scored his first goal for the Roar in his side's 4–1 victory over Perth Glory midway through the 2008–09 season. In the 2011–12 season, the midfielder exceeded expectations pre-season, scoring 10 goals, mostly from long range. He also made the A-league Team of the Season, alongside teammates Thomas Broich and Besart Berisha.
Melbourne Victory
Before he joined Melbourne Victory he went on trial at Danish club Randers. On 13 May 2013, it was announced by Melbourne Victory that Nichols had signed a two-year deal with the club, reuniting him with his former Roar manager Ange Postecoglou.[3] He became Postecoglou’s first new signing ahead of the 2013/14 Hyundai A-League season.
Cerezo Osaka
Japanese J1 League Club Cerezo Osaka made multiple bids for Nichols during the January 2014 transfer window, the highest of which reaching $400,000. Melbourne Victory stood firm despite Nichols' interest in the offer, however look set to complete the deal in the hope of acquiring young Australian midfielder, Tom Rogic.[4][5][6]
In the end following Nichols' interest in moving and Tom Rogic joining Melbourne Victory, Nichols joined Cerezo Osaka.[7][8] Nichols made his debut for Cerezo on 11 March 2014, coming off the bench in an AFC Champions League match against Shandong Luneng Taishan, which Cerezo lost 1–3.
Loan to Perth Glory
On 23 June 2014, Nichols joined Perth Glory on a one-year loan.[9]
Western Sydney Wanderers
On 3 July 2015, Nichols signed a two-year deal with A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers. Nichols made his Wanderers debut against Brisbane Roar on 8 October 2015, scoring his debut goal for the club in the 13th minute of Wanderers' 3-1 defeat.[10] On 11 May 2017, it was announced that Wanderers would not be renewing Nichols' contract.[11]
Despite Nichols admitting to drug possession, on 13 June 2017, Perth Glory signed him on a two-year deal.[12] On 20 February 2018, Nichols and Perth Glory mutually terminated his contract due to family reasons.[13]
Wellington Phoenix
On 23 July 2018, it was announced that Nichols had signed a two year deal with Wellington Phoenix to stay in the A-league.[14]
On 15 January 2019, it was announced that Nichols and the Phoenix had parted ways.[15]
Gold Coast Knights
On 15 March 2019, Nichols signed for National Premier Leagues Queensland side Gold Coast Knights.[2]
International career
Nichols represented the Australia U-20 team during the AFC U-19 Championship in Saudi Arabia. He scored two goals in the Quarter Final match against North Korea including a spectacular overhead kick in extra time. Nichols represented the Australia U-23 team receiving his first cap in 2010. Nichols made his first senior international debut for the Socceroos on 4 March 2009 in an AFC Asian Cup qualifying match versus Kuwait.
Club statistics
- As of 15 January 2019
| Club | Season | Division | League1 | Cup | Asia2 | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Palm Beach | 2007 | Queensland Premier League | 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 9 |
| Brisbane Roar | 2007–08 | A-League | 10 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 2008–09 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 6 | ||
| 2009–10 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | ||
| 2010–11 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 6 | ||
| 2011–12 | 24 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 29 | 11 | ||
| 2012–13 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 2 | ||
| Total | 125 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 138 | 25 | ||
| Melbourne Victory | 2013–14 | A-League | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 |
| Cerezo Osaka | 2014 | J1 League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Perth Glory | 2014–15 | A-League | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Western Sydney Wanderers | 2015–16 | 29 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 10 | |
| 2016–17 | 24 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 31 | 3 | ||
| Total | 53 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 63 | 13 | ||
| Perth Glory | 2017–18 | A-League | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Wellington Phoenix | 2018–19 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| Career total | 240 | 48 | 17 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 271 | 51 | ||
1 – includes A-League final series statistics
2 – includes FIFA Club World Cup statistics; AFC Champions League statistics are included in season commencing after group stages (i.e. ACL and A-League seasons etc.)
Honours
Club
Brisbane Roar:
Gold Coast Knights
Country
Australia:
- AFF U19 Youth Championship: 2008
Individual
- PFA Team of the Season: 2011–12, 2015–16
References
- "Mitch Nichols". wswanderersfc.com.au. Western Sydney Wanderers. Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- "A-League news: Mitch Nichols signs for Gold Coast Knights | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
- "Mitch Nichols headed for Victory". footballaustralia.com.au/. Archived from the original on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- Garb, Daniel (23 December 2013). "Melbourne Victory receive bid from J-League club for midfielder Mitch Nichols". Fox Sports.
- "Mitch Nichols subject of fresh bid from J-League's Cerezo Osaka". The Guardian. 6 January 2014.
- "Cerezo Osaka bid again for Victory's Mitch Nichols". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 January 2014.
- "Mitch Nichols headed for Japan". Football Federation Australia. 20 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014.
- Orr, Michael (20 January 2014). "Mitch Nichols leaves Melbourne Victory for Cerezo Osaka". SB Nation.
- "Perth Glory sign Mitch Nichols on one-year loan from Cerezo Osaka". The Guardian. 23 June 2014.
- "Western Sydney Wanderers FC vs Brisbane Roar FC, Hyundai A-League, Round 1, 8th Oct 2015". Hyundai A-League.
- "Wanderers axe Dimas, Nichols in annual purge | The World Game". Theworldgame.sbs.com.au. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
- "Nichols gets A-League lifeline from Perth". The World Game. SBS. 23 June 2017.
- "Duo exit Perth Glory". FourFourTwo. 20 February 2018.
- "Wellington Phoenix double down on experienced A-League campaigners". Stuff.co.nz. 23 July 2018.
- "Wellington Phoenix release Mitch Nichols and Reuben Way". Stuff.co.nz. 15 January 2019.
External links
- Mitch Nichols at Soccerway
- Mitch Nichols – FIFA competition record
- Mitch Nichols at National-Football-Teams.com
- Mitch Nichols at J.League (in Japanese)
