Miguel Di Pizio (born 4 January 2006) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for A-League Men club Central Coast Mariners.

Miguel Di Pizio
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-01-04) 4 January 2006 (age 18)[1]
Place of birth Sydney, Australia
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7+12 in)[2]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
Central Coast Mariners
Number 23
Youth career
AC United FC
2019–2022 Western Sydney Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022 Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 8 (1)
2023– Central Coast Mariners NPL 14 (3)
2023– Central Coast Mariners 22 (2)
International career
2023– Australia U17 10 (5)
2024– Australia U20 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 September 2024

Early life

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Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Di Pizio started playing football at the age of four.[3] He attended Mamre Anglican School, located in Kemps Creek, and Westfields Sports High School, representing in both schools' football teams.[3] He has an older brother, Gianni Di Pizio, who also played at Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast Mariners.[3] In addition to being Australian, Di Pizio is of Italian and Mauritius descent.[3][4][5]

Club career

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Central Coast Mariners

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A youth academy player of Western Sydney Wanderers,[6] Di Pizio signed a scholarship contract (his first professional contract) with Central Coast Mariners under head coach Nick Montgomery on 12 April 2023.[7] Di Pizio made his professional debut as an 85th-minute substitute on 22 April 2023 in a 3–1 league win against F3 rivals Newcastle Jets.[1][8] He was added to the Mariners' 2023 A-League Grand Final squad,[9][10] but was not named on the match squad on the day.[11]

On 29 November 2023, Di Pizio scored his first professional goal in the 2023–24 AFC Cup in a 1–1 home draw to Terengganu.[12] Di Pizio made his starting debut for the Mariners on 8 December 2023 in a 4–0 victory over Western United at Central Coast Stadium.[1][3] Di Pizio was part of the Mariners' treble winning season, achieving the both league titles, and the AFC Cup.[13][14][15] In the 2024 A-League Grand Final, Di Pizio became the youngest ever goalscorer in an A-League Grand Final after scoring in a 3–1 victory over Melbourne Victory at Central Coast Stadium.[16] He extended with the Mariners on a two-year contract in July 2024.[17]

International career

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In July 2022, Di Pizio received his first international call-up to represent the Australian under-17 team ahead of the 2022 AFF U-16 Youth Championship,[18] and was renamed in a 23-man squad for the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers.[19][20] He helped Australia to automatic qualification for the U-17 Asian Cup, scoring the third goal in a 3–1 win over China to top the group.[21] During the tournament, Di Pizio also managed to score a brace in a 23–0 victory against Northern Mariana Islands,[22] and a goal in a 10–0 win over Cambodia.[23]

In May 2023, Di Pizio was renamed in the 23-man squad for the U-17 Asian Cup that was staged in Bangkok and Chonburi.[24][25] Di Pizio featured in all three group matches as Australia qualified to the knockout rounds.[1][26] He was also awarded player of the match in a 2–0 win against Tajikistan in the Joey's last group match.[27] Di Pizio also featured in Australia's 3–1 quarter-final loss to Japan at BG Stadium.[28]

Honours

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Central Coast Mariners

Western Sydney Wanderers U20

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "M. Di Pizio: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Miguel Di Pizio Stats and Ratings". Sofascore. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e Campo, Jose (9 December 2023). "Meet the 17-year-old Mariners prodigy who could be the next Garang Kuol". The Roar. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  4. ^ Marziani, Marcella (June 2023). "Miguel Di Pizio: una grande passione per il calcio". Il Globo (in Italian). Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  5. ^ Lewis, Dave (11 March 2024). "Mauritius target Mariners young gun in Aussie talent raid". FTBL. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  6. ^ Pisani, Sacha (22 June 2023). "Modelling Dybala, following Kuol and co: 'Sky's the limit' for Joeys' attacking weapon". A-League. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Miguel Di Pizio signs Mariners scholarship deal". Central Coast Mariners. 12 April 2023. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  8. ^ Pisani, Sacha (15 May 2023). "The Mariners have a 17-year-old whose coach says he's 'ready' to go overseas after 9 NPL games". A-League. Archived from the original on 6 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  9. ^ "In-form Miguel Di Pizio gearing up for Grand Final and U17 Asian Cup". Socceroos. 23 May 2023. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Match Preview: A-League Men's Grand Final". Central Coast Mariners. 2 June 2023. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Melbourne City 1 vs Central Coast Mariners 6". KEEPUP. 3 June 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  12. ^ Comito, Matt (29 November 2023). "Hype for Joeys star goes up a notch as emotional scenes follow exciting career milestone". keepup.com. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Central Coast Mariners secure A-league Men's premier's plate with win over Adelaide United". ABC News (Australia). 2 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Central Coast Mariners become first Australian club to win AFC Cup". ABC News (Australia). 6 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Mariners defeat Victory in inspirational Grand Final showdown". Coast Community News. 27 May 2024.
  16. ^ Comito, Matt (25 May 2024). "'You'll remember his name': Special interview after Australia's next 'superstar' emerges". A-Leagues. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  17. ^ "18-year-old Mariners star Miguel Di Pizio signs new two-year deal". Central Coast Mariners. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Four Wanderers named in Australian squad for AFF U16 Youth Championship 2022". Western Sydney Wanderers. 29 July 2022. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  19. ^ "Subway Joeys' Squad Named For AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers". Football Victoria. 3 October 2022. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  20. ^ Webb, Daniel (3 October 2022). "Australia locks in squad for Shepparton qualifiers". Shepparton News. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  21. ^ "China finishes 2nd in Group G at U17 Asian Cup qualifiers". www.news.cn. 9 October 2022. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  22. ^ Webb, Daniel (6 October 2022). "Joeys start qualifiers with spring in their step". Shepparton News. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  23. ^ Webb, Daniel (8 October 2022). "Qualification destiny in Australia's hands after Cambodia victory". Shepparton News. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Joeys extended squad named for 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup". Football Australia. 16 May 2023. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Subway Joeys' squad named for AFC-17 Asian Cup Thailand 2023". Network Ten. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  26. ^ "Joeys advance to AFC U-17 Asian Cup knockout stages". Central Coast Mariners. 23 June 2023. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  27. ^ "Tactical patience key to Australia's progress, says Di Pizio". Asian Football Confederation. 14 June 2023. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  28. ^ "WATCH: Australia's AFC U17 Asian Cup campaign ends in defeat to Japan". Socceroos. 26 June 2023. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
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