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.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 4 January 2006[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Sydney, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 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
editBorn 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
editCentral Coast Mariners
editA 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
editIn 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
editCentral Coast Mariners
- A-League Men Championship: 2023–24
- A-League Men Premiership: 2023-24
- AFC Cup: 2023–24
Western Sydney Wanderers U20
- National Premier Leagues NSW Under-20 Champions: 2022
References
edit- ^ a b c d "M. Di Pizio: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Miguel Di Pizio Stats and Ratings". Sofascore. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Lewis, Dave (11 March 2024). "Mauritius target Mariners young gun in Aussie talent raid". FTBL. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Melbourne City 1 vs Central Coast Mariners 6". KEEPUP. 3 June 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Central Coast Mariners secure A-league Men's premier's plate with win over Adelaide United". ABC News (Australia). 2 February 2024.
- ^ "Central Coast Mariners become first Australian club to win AFC Cup". ABC News (Australia). 6 May 2024.
- ^ "Mariners defeat Victory in inspirational Grand Final showdown". Coast Community News. 27 May 2024.
- ^ Comito, Matt (25 May 2024). "'You'll remember his name': Special interview after Australia's next 'superstar' emerges". A-Leagues. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "18-year-old Mariners star Miguel Di Pizio signs new two-year deal". Central Coast Mariners. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Subway Joeys' squad named for AFC-17 Asian Cup Thailand 2023". Network Ten. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
External links
edit- Miguel Di Pizio at Soccerway