Shaun Murphy

Personal Details Date of Birth: 5 November 1970 Place of Birth: Sydney, New South Wales Height: 185cm (6' 1") Position: Centre Back Club Summary Club Games Goals Sorrento (junior-1988) ? ? Australian Institute of Sport (1988) - - Perth Italia (1989-1992) ? ? Blacktown City (1989/90, on loan) 10 1 Heidelberg United (1991/92, on loan) 9 0 Notts County (1992-1997) 135 7 West Bromwich Albion (1996-1999) 78 7 Sheffield United (1999-2003) 182 11 Crystal Palace (2002, on loan) 11 0 Perth Glory (2003/04) 28 4 Total International Summary Games Goals Australia 'A' (2000-2001) 18 3 Australia 'B' (1992) 2 0 Australia Under-23 (1991-1992) 20 2 Australia Under-20 (1989) ? ?

Career Brief

Murphy is one of Western Australia's most successful football exports. The classy defender played over 450 games of club football in England and Australia, represented Australia at the Barcelona Olympic Games, in World Cup qualifiers and at the 2001 Confederations Cup. Murphy made 18 'A' appearances for the Socceroos, scoring three times, in addition to donning State team colours on eight occasions.

Having progressed from junior to first team football with Sorrento, Murphy jumped at the opportunity to hone his skills when offered an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship in 1988. The following year he joined Perth Italia and shortly after wore the green and gold of Australia in Under-20 World Cup qualifiers. Late in May Murphy made his senior State debut against English club Millwall, and by December had stepped up to the National Soccer League with Blacktown City.

On the local scene Murphy dazzled, collecting Premier League (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992), Top Four play-off (1990, 1991), Cup (1990) and Night Series (1990, 1992) winners medals during his four seasons with Perth. In May and November 1991 he again donned Australia colours in Oceania Olympic Game qualifiers, while a second national league loan took him to Heidelberg United for the 1991/92 summer.

During May Murphy both legs of qualifiers against South Korea and the Netherlands, helping Australia book their participation in the 1992 Olympic Games. In Barcelona he started all six games, scoring the deciding goal in Australia's 2-1 quarter-final defeat of Sweden. Murphy's first appearances for the Socceroos were 'B' internationals during a week-long European training camp during the November that followed.

Murphy's commanding presence throughout Olympic Games campaign was rewarded with a professional contract at English club Notts County in September 1992. Having made only scattered first team appearances during his first two seasons in England, Murphy established himself as a first team regular during 1994/95 when he won the club Player of the Year award, a trophy he collected again twelve months later.

In December 1996 Murphy stepped up to England's second tier by signing for West Bromwich Albion. A promising start to his time with the Baggies was curtailed by on-going hernia problems that required two operations and kept the big defender sidelined for five months. Back to full fitness, Murphy underlined his value by playing 40 games in his final season with the West Midlands club.

Murphy signed on the dotted line with Sheffield United in July 1999, debuting the following month against Portsmouth. Strong performances at club level earned 29-year old Murphy his senior international debut against Chile in Feburary 2000. Before the year was out he'd don national team colours against Slovakia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Paraguay, the Cook Islands, Vanuatu, New Zealand and Scotland.

2000/01 was a busy season for Murphy who turned out a staggering 52 times for Sheffield United before being voted the Supporters Player of the Year. Murphy had the honour of being Australia's highest goal scorer at the 2001 Confederations Cup, his tally including the solitary goal in a 1-0 defeat of Brazil that clinched the Socceroos third place. In June he was featured in World Cup qualifiers with New Zealand, and five months later turned out in a friendly with the World Cup holders France.

Murphy's dream of playing at the World Cup came to an end in November 2001 when the Socceroos succumbed over two legs to Uruguay, the second game - a 3-0 loss in Montevideo - his 18th and final appearance. Out of favour on returning to club duty, he spent the early months of 2002 on loan to Crystal Palace. By the time 2002/03 rolled around Murphy was back to his brilliant best, the defender putting in another 53 games for the Blades.

With a year left on his Sheffield United contract, Murphy was released by mutual consent in July 2003 to return to Perth with his ill wife and children. A two-year deal with Perth Glory was finalised soon after with Murphy captaining the club to Grand Final victory over Parramatta Power in the last NSL Grand Final. The dissolution of the NSL saw Glory terminate Murphy's contract, leading one of Western Australia's greats to bring his career to a premature close.

Socceroos Game by Game

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This page was last updated on the 1st June 2010.