Macarthur FC have signed former Socceroos defender Matthew Jurman on a one-season deal.
Jurman, 33, arrives at the club after co-captaining Newcastle Jets through the 2022-23 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign, ending a two-season stint in the Hunter. The former Western Sydney Wanderers, Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar centre-back has 196 A-League Men appearances to his name, and has played close to 300 games of club football across Australia, South Korea, Greece and Saudi Arabia.
Capped eight times for the Socceroos, Jurman was a member of the 2018 FIFA Men’s World Cup squad. Former Socceroo and Macarthur head coach Mile Sterjovski says he’s delighted to bring a player of his experience to the club.
“Matty is a strong defender, a natural leader and adds a lot of experience to our squad,” Sterjovski said. “Having worked with him in the Socceroos, I believe he’ll be a great addition to our backline and is a natural fit for our club.”
The 2023-24 season is an important one for a Macarthur side that slipped down the A-League Men table last season, finishing last after seventh and sixth-placed finishes in the club’s first two seasons in existence.
Winning the 2022 Australia Cup qualified Macarthur for the AFC Cup, and Jurman has expressed his excitement at the prospect of helping his new club excel both domestically and abroad.
“I am really excited to join the Bulls and work under Mile (Sterjovski),” he said. “I had experience working with Mile in the Socceroos where he was a mentor for a lot of the players and that was a big motivation for me to want to join the Bulls.
“I believe in what the club is trying to build this season and I want bring my experience to help the Bulls challenge in the Australia and in Asia.”
