Mark Birighitti

Mark Romano Birighitti (born 17 April 1991) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for A-League side Central Coast Mariners.

Mark Birighitti
Birighitti playing for Adelaide United Youth in 2009
Personal information
Full name Mark Romano Birighitti[1]
Date of birth (1991-04-17) 17 April 1991
Place of birth Perth, Western Australia
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Central Coast Mariners
Number 1
Youth career
ECU Joondalup
Perth
2006–2007 WA NTC
2007–2008 AIS
2008–2009 Adelaide United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008 AIS 18 (0)
2008–2012 Adelaide United 8 (0)
2012–2016 Newcastle Jets 77 (0)
2015 → Varese (loan) 7 (0)
2016–2017 Swansea City 0 (0)
2017–2018 NAC Breda 24 (0)
2018–2019 Melbourne City 0 (0)
2019– Central Coast Mariners 26 (0)
National team‡
2007 Australia U17 3 (0)
2008–2011 Australia U20 33 (0)
2012 Australia U23 2 (0)
2013– Australia 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 August 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 November 2017

Born in Perth, Birighitti played youth football at the Australian Institute of Sport before making his professional debut for Adelaide United. In 2012, he moved to Newcastle Jets and spent time on loan to Italian club Varese in 2015.

Birighitti has played once for the Australian national team, in 2013. He has also represented Australia's youth teams on many occasions, including at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup and winning the 2010 AFF U-19 Youth Championship.

Club career

Adelaide United

Birighitti started his career at the AIS before moving to Adelaide United in 2008. He made his first team debut against Queensland Roar on 17 October 2008 helping Adelaide to a 1–0 win.[2] Aurelio Vidmar praised the young goalkeeper after the match saying "I think Birighitti played well he's got a really good future, he had big shoes to fill and I think he did an outstanding job tonight."[3]

His second successive A-League start came against Perth Glory at Hindmarsh Stadium after Adelaide's number one goalkeeper, 28-year-old Eugene Galekovic, was injured during the Asian Champions League match against FC Bunyodkor.[4] Despite conceding the match's first goal at the near post, Birighitti played his part in the 2–1 win taking Adelaide to the top of the league table.[5]

With Galekovic again ruled out with injury Birighitti started the second leg of the 2008 AFC Champions League Final against Gamba Osaka on 12 November 2008; Adelaide lost the match 2–0.[6] He injured his ankle after falling awkwardly in a training session on 17 December 2008 ruling him out of the remaining A-League 2008-09 season.[7]

Newcastle Jets

On 17 January 2012 it was announced he had signed a two-year contract with A-League club Newcastle Jets starting post the 2012 AFC Champions League group stage.[8] He quickly became the first choice goalkeeper for the Newcastle Jets, edging out Ben Kennedy and Jack Duncan. In late 2013 he signed a contract extension with the Jets until the end of the 2015–16 season.[9]

On 24 March 2014, Birighitti flew to Germany to discuss a possible transfer to Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.[10][11] After failing to secure a contract with Bayer Leverkusen he then came back to the Jets for the 2014–15 season.

In October 2015, Birighitti was involved in an on-field collision with Sydney FC striker Shane Smeltz. Birightitti suffered multiple broken teeth and required facial surgery after the incident.[12] He returned to action within weeks, missing only one A-League game.[13]

Loan to Varese

On 27 January 2015, Birighitti joined Serie B club Varese on a six-month loan deal.[14] He made his league debut for Varese in a 1–0 away loss to Vicenza on 25 April 2015.[15]

Swansea City

On 18 July 2016, Birighitti joined Premier League side Swansea City on a two-year deal.[16] After the 2016–17 season, Birighitti went on trial at Dutch side Willem II, following a lack of opportunities at Swansea.[17]

NAC Breda

On 1 September 2017, Birighitti joined Eredivisie side NAC Breda on a two-year deal.[18]

Melbourne City

On 11 September 2018, Birighitti joined Australian A-League side Melbourne City on a three-year deal.[19] After a year in which he didn't play at all, Birighitti negotiated a mutual release from the remainder of his contract.[20]

Central Coast Mariners

In August 2019, Birighitti joined Central Coast Mariners on a one-year contract.[21]

International career

Birighitti was selected to represent the Australian under-20 squad at the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship.

He made his debut for the senior Australian side in their final match of the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup against China, a 4–3 loss.[22]

Career statistics
As of 1 January 2021[23]
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
AIS 2008[24] Victorian Premier League 1800000180
Adelaide United 2007–08[25] A-League 00001010
2008–09[26] 30000030
2009–10 00000000
2010–11[26] 30000030
2011–12[26] 20000020
Total 80001090
Newcastle Jets 2012–13[26] A-League 2200000220
2013–14[26] 2300000230
2014–15[26] 60000060
2015–16[26] 2601000270
Total 7701000780
Varese (loan) 2014–15[27] Serie B 40000040
Swansea City 2016–17 Premier League 00000000
NAC Breda 2017–18 Eredivisie 1501000160
2018–19 10000010
Total1601000170
Melbourne City 2018–19 A-League 00000000
Central Coast Mariners 2019–20 2603000290
2020–21 10000010
Total2703000300
Career total 150050101560

Honours

Country

Australia U19[28]

Individual

References
  1. "Adelaide United FC (AUS) 3–0 Kuruvchi/Bunyodkor (UZB)" (PDF). 8 October 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  2. Forsaith, Rob (17 October 2008). "One goal enough for United". A-League. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  3. "Cornthwaite heads Adelaide to victory over Roar". Adelaide United. 17 October 2008. Archived from the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  4. "Reds aiming to take ACL success into Glory match". Adelaide United. 24 October 2008. Archived from the original on 4 April 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  5. Barrett, Steve (26 October 2008). "United go top". A-League. Archived from the original on 6 March 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  6. "Gamba Osaka too good for Adelaide in ACL Final". Adelaide United. 11 December 2008. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  7. "Injured Reds keeper to be sidelined for 6 weeks". Adelaide United. 18 December 2008. Archived from the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  8. "FourFourTwo". Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  9. GARDINER, JAMES (4 October 2013). "Mark Birighitti to stay with Jets". Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  10. "Jets keeper heads to Germany".
  11. "Jets keeper heads to Germany". 23 March 2014.
  12. Somerford, Ben (17 October 2015). "Birighitti positive after nasty facial injury". FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  13. Somerford, Ben (13 November 2015). "Birighitti: I've suffered worse". FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  14. "Italian offer comes at right time for Mark Birighitti". The Herald. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  15. Devey, Neil (29 April 2015). "WA keeper Birighitti impresses in Italy". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  16. "Australian international bolsters Swans' keeper options". Swansea City A.F.C. 18 July 2016.
  17. Somerford, Ben (28 April 2017). "Birighitti heads out on Dutch trial". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  18. "Aussies abroad: Birighitti leaves EPL club". Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  19. "Birighitti answers City goalkeeper call and returns to A-League". Fairfax Media. 11 September 2018.
  20. Lewis, Dave (30 July 2019). "Birighitti bound for Mariners after splitting with City". The World Game. SBS.
  21. "Mariners pick up top keeper talent". FTBL. 1 August 2019.
  22. Lynch, Michael (30 July 2013). "Socceroos down but young keeper grabs his chance". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  23. Mark Birighitti at Soccerway
  24. "2008 Victorian Premier League Results". Ozfootball. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  25. "Mark Birighitti " Club matches". worldfootball.net.
  26. "Mark Birighitti (Newcastle Jets)". Ultimate A-League.
  27. "Australia – M. Birighitti". Soccerway.
  28. "AFF Under 19 YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP – AFF – The Official Website Of The Asean Football Federation AFF – The Official Website Of The Asean Football Federation". aseanfootball.org.
  29. "Glory star Castro wins Johnny Warren medal". Football Federation Australia. 26 April 2016.
  30. "A-League All Stars vs. Juventus 2 – 3". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
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