Jump to content

Dean Heffernan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dean Heffernan
Heffernan warming up for the Western Sydney Wanderers in 2013
Personal information
Full name Dean James Heffernan
Date of birth (1980-05-19) 19 May 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Left back
Youth career
Sutherland Sharks
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2003 Wollongong Wolves 20 (1)
2003–2004 Sydney United 18 (1)
2004–2005 Sutherland Sharks 12 (5)
2005–2010 Central Coast Mariners 65 (10)
2006–20071. FC Nürnberg (loan) 0 (0)
2010 Huddersfield Town 15 (0)
2010–2011 Melbourne Heart 13 (0)
2011 Liaoning Whowin 24 (0)
2011–2013 Perth Glory 34 (1)
2013–2014 Western Sydney Wanderers 9 (0)
2015 Bankstown City 19 (4)
2016 Maitland FC 15 (2)
2018 Central Coast United 5 (0)
Total 249 (25)
International career
2009–2010 Australia 2 (1)
Managerial career
2019–2021 Western Sydney Wanderers (W-League)
2023– Central Coast United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Dean James Heffernan (born 19 May 1980) is a former professional football (soccer) player.

Club career

[edit]

With the Central Coast Mariners he scored 8 goals from left back in 24 games and was subsequently named in FourFourTwo's A-League dream team. In March 2006, he and teammate Michael Beauchamp had a ten-day trial with German Bundesliga club Nürnberg. On 1 July 2006, both players transferred to Nürnberg on season-long loans. Heffernan struggled to get senior games only appearing on the bench for the first team, although he played eight games in the reserves scoring five goals.

Heffernan suffered a broken leg during the Mariners 4–5 loss to Sydney FC on 22 December 2007, due to a tackle by Ufuk Talay. As a result, he was unable to play in the rest of the 2007–08 A-League season. Since returning from fracturing his tibia, he was selected twice for the Socceroos and was a stand out for his club the Mariners in their 2010 Asian Champions League campaign.

With the Central Coast Mariners in the 2009–10 he had another stand out season, where he was named in the PFA team of the year and Four Four Two team of the year. He also scored his first international goal for Australia against Kuwait. On 26 November 2009, Heffernan joined new A-league side, Melbourne Heart on a multi-year deal.[1]

Huddersfield Town

[edit]

Prior to joining Melbourne Heart, Heffernan joined English side Huddersfield Town in Football League One to help prepare for a World Cup call up for the Socceroos. He completed the deal on 28 January 2010 after receiving his international clearance. On 30 January 2010, he made his debut for the Terriers in their 1–0 win against Yeovil Town at Huish Park. His first home game for Huddersfield was in their 1–1 draw with Carlisle United. Heffernan's last game for the Terriers was in their 4–3 win over Walsall. After Town lost in the play-offs, Heffernan returned to Australia to join his new teammates at Melbourne Heart after making 15 appearances for the Terriers.

Melbourne Heart

[edit]

At Heart, he played most games in the first half of the season, but after getting sent off, his position was covered by Aziz Behich and he was not included in the starting lineup for many games afterwards.

Perth Glory

[edit]

On 25 February 2011, Heffernan moved to A-League side Perth Glory for the 2011–12 season. He planned to join Perth Glory for pre-season training in August after he had completed a short-term loan deal with Chinese Super League club Liaoning Whowin.[2]

Liaoning Whowin

[edit]

On 30 August 2011, it was announced Perth Glory had agreed to release Heffernan after the player decided he would like to remain with Liaoning Whowin after the end of his loan deal.[3]

Return to Perth Glory

[edit]

On 3 January 2012 it was announced that he had returned to A-League club Perth Glory.[4]

Western Sydney Wanderers

[edit]

On 28 June 2013, it was announced that Heffernan had signed a one-year contract to play for Western Sydney Wanderers, following a short stint with Illawarra Premier League club Dapto Dandaloo Fury.[5]

Managerial career

[edit]

On 24 April 2019 Heffernan was appointed the manager of the Western Sydney Wanderers in the W-league. On 12 April 2023 Heffernan was appointed the manager of the Central Coast United FC in the NSW League One.

Career statistics

[edit]
Club Season A-League Finals Asia Other1 Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Central Coast Mariners 2005–06 19 7 4 1 - - 5 0 28 8
Club Season Bundesliga DFB-Pokal Europe Other Total
1. FC Nürnberg (loan) 2006–07 0 0 - - - - - - 0 0
Club Season A-League Finals Asia Other1 Total
Central Coast Mariners 2007–08 16 1 - - - - 3 0 19 1
2008–09 6 0 1 0 6 0 1 0 14 0
2009–10 20 1 - - - - - - 20 1
Club subtotal 61 9 5 1 6 0 9 0 81 10
Club Season League One FA Cup Europe Other Total
Huddersfield Town 2009–10 15 0 - - - - - - 15 0
Club Season A-League Finals Asia Other Total
Melbourne Heart 2010–11 13 0 - - - - - - 13 0
Club Season Chinese Super League Chinese FA Cup Asia Other Total
Liaoning Whowin (loan) 2011 22 0 - - - - - - 22 0
Club Season A-League Finals Asia Other Total
Perth Glory 2011–12 14 1 - - - - - - 14 1
Total 128 10 5 1 6 0 9 0 145 11

1Includes A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup.

International career

[edit]

Heffernan was selected to be part of the Socceroos in the Australia versus Argentina game on 11 September 2007. He got his first senior international cap on 28 January 2009 in an AFC Asian Cup qualifying match versus Indonesia at the Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. He was then again selected for the Socceroos in January 2010 in an AFC Asian Cup qualifying match versus Kuwait. Heffernan scored in the fifth minute to open his international scoring account and help his side to a 2–2 draw.

International goals
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 6 January 2010 Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Al Kuwayt, Kuwait  Kuwait 2–0 2–2 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
International appearances
# Date Opponent Score Result Competition Game time Match Report
1 29 January 2009  Indonesia 0–0 Draw 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification downward-facing red arrow 76' Report
2 6 January 2010  Kuwait 2–2 Draw 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification Full game Report

Honours

[edit]
Central Coast Mariners

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Heffernan Joins Melbourne Heart FC". Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  2. ^ Heffernan joins Glory[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Heffernan Exits Glory for China". Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  4. ^ "Heffernan happy to be back - Football - Sportal Australia". Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  5. ^ Veteran Dean Heffernan Has Signed A One Year Deal With A-League Club Western Sydney Wanderers
[edit]