Adam Jake Taggart (born 2 June 1993) is an Australian soccer player who plays as a striker for Melbourne Victory in the A-League competition. Taggart has also represented the under-20, under-23 and senior national teams.

Adam Taggart
Taggart with the Young Socceroos in 2013
Personal information
Full name Adam Jake Taggart[1]
Date of birth (1993-06-02) 2 June 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Melbourne Victory
Number 22
Youth career
0000–2007 ECU Joondalup
2007–2008 WA NTC
2008–2009 Perth Glory
2009–2010 AIS
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Perth Glory 10 (1)
2012–2014 Newcastle Jets 44 (18)
2014–2016 Fulham 0 (0)
2015–2016Dundee United (loan) 7 (0)
2016–2018 Perth Glory 38 (20)
2018–2019 Brisbane Roar 18 (11)
2019–2020 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 56 (29)
2020–2022 Cerezo Osaka 32 (6)
2022– Perth Glory 38 (25)
International career
2011–2013 Australia U20 14 (7)
2011–2014 Australia U23 13 (2)
2012– Australia 19 (7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 August 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 June 2024

Taggart has won two golden boot awards in his playing career which is the A-League Golden Boot award, scoring 16 goals in 25 appearances for Newcastle Jets during the 2013–14 A-League season and K League Golden Boot award, scoring 20 goals in 33 appearances for Suwon Samsung Bluewings during the 2019 K League 1 season.[3]

Club career

edit

Perth Glory

edit

Taggart made his senior debut in a 1–1 draw with Melbourne Heart in January 2011.[4] He scored his first goal in a loss to Gold Coast United, 75 minutes into the game.[5]

Newcastle Jets

edit

On 2 March 2012, Taggart signed a two-year contract with A-League club Newcastle Jets.[6] In November 2013, Taggart scored his first professional career hat-trick against Melbourne Heart with all three goals scored from outside the 18 yard box. Newcastle would go on and win the match 3–1.[7] After a strong start to the season, Adam had a dry patch with a lack of goals around Christmas, before scoring a brace against the Wanderers to salvage a 2–2 draw.[8] He became a focal point of the Newcastle Jets attack, heading the lineup alongside Emile Heskey, Joel Griffiths and Michael Bridges.[9] In 2014, Taggart became the second Newcastle player to receive the golden boot of the A-League with 16 goals, after Joel Griffiths in 2008. He was also awarded the A-League Young Player of the Season Award at the same ceremony.[10]

Fulham

edit

On 24 June 2014, Fulham signed Taggart from Newcastle Jets for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract[11] but injury delayed his involvement with the first team by a number of months.

Loan to Dundee United

edit

On 1 September 2015, Taggart signed for Scottish Premiership club Dundee United on a loan deal until January 2016.[12]

Return to Perth Glory

edit

On 26 January 2016, Taggart returned to Perth Glory again on a permanent deal.[13] However, he was ineligible to play for Perth in the 2015–16 A-League under FIFA regulations preventing players from registering for more than two clubs in a single season.[14] In the first game of the 2016–17 season, Taggart started in the number 11 role, scoring twice in the first half. After leading at half time 3–0, the Glory squandered the lead and the final result was a 3–3 draw.[15]

Brisbane Roar

edit

On 1 May 2018, Brisbane Roar announced the signing of Taggart as his contract at Perth Glory ended. He signed a contract with Brisbane contracting his services to them for the next two years.[16] On 14 February 2019, Brisbane Roar announced Taggart had come to terms with an Asian club for his transfer.[17]

Suwon Samsung Bluewings

edit

On 18 February 2019, Taggart was sold to Korean giants, Suwon Samsung Bluewings for $150,000.[18] Taggart made his debut on 1 March 2019 in a 2–1 defeat against Ulsan Hyundai where he came on as a substitute at half time scoring in the 63' minute. On 14 August 2019, he was named K League Player of the Month for July. Taggart was almost unplayable in July, scoring seven goals in just six league appearances to shoot to the top of the K-League scoring charts. On 17 August 2019, he scored his first K-League hat-trick against Gangwon FC. Taggart would finish the 2019 K-League 1 season as the league top goal scorer in his debut season and also winning the 2019 Korean FA Cup with the club.

On 26 August 2020, Taggart scored his second hat-trick for the club against FC Seoul in 3–1 win.

Cerezo Osaka

edit

On 20 December 2020, Taggart was transferred to J1 League club Cerezo Osaka.[19]

Third spell at Perth Glory

edit

On 15 December 2022, Perth Glory announced that Taggart would be returning to the club on a three-and-a-half-year deal.[20]

On 11 October 2023, Taggart was named as co-captain along with Mark Beevers ahead of the 2023–24 A-League season.[21] His fine form throughout the season earned him a returned to the national team after a two years hiatus.

At the conclusion of the 2023–24 A-League season, Taggart became the first player in the A-League to win the golden boot whilst playing for a team who finished last.[22]

International career

edit
 
Taggart playing for Australia in 2013.

Taggart represented Australia at U-20 level at the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship in United Arab Emirates[23] and at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey.[24]

Senior

edit

Taggart made his debut for Australia in late 2012, in the second preliminary round of the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup against Hong Kong, coming off the bench in a narrow win.[25] He scored his first two international goals days later in a win over Chinese Taipei.[26]

In 2013, Taggart played in the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup, scoring a goal in a loss to China.[27]

Taggart was a part of the Socceroos squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and played in matches against Netherlands and Spain.[11]

In March 2024, Taggart returned to the national team after two years earning the called up with his stunning form for Perth Glory scoring 15 goals in 19 appearances in the 2023–24 A-League season.

Career statistics

edit

Club

edit
As of 17 May 2024[28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Perth Glory 2010–11 A-League 6 1 0 0 6 1
2011–12 4 0 0 0 4 0
Total 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 1
Newcastle Jets 2012–13 A-League 19 2 0 0 19 2
2013–14 25 16 0 0 25 16
Total 44 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 44 18
Fulham 2014–15 Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015–16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dundee United (loan) 2015–16 Scottish Premiership 7 0 0 0 2 0 9 0
Perth Glory 2016–17 A-League 24 12 1 0 25 12
2017–18 14 8 1 0 15 8
Total 38 20 2 0 0 0 0 0 40 20
Brisbane Roar 2018–19 A-League 18 11 1 0 19 11
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2019 K League 1 33 20 7 1 40 21
2020 23 9 1 1 2 0 26 10
Total 56 29 8 2 0 0 2 0 66 31
Cerezo Osaka 2021 J1 League 12 1 3 1 0 0 4 1 19 3
2022 20 5 2 1 3 1 23 7
Total 30 6 5 2 3 1 4 1 42 10
Perth Glory 2022–23 A-League 13 5 0 0 13 5
2023–24 25 20 1 0 26 20
Total 38 25 1 0 0 0 0 0 39 25
Career total 241 110 17 4 5 1 6 1 282 116

International

edit
As of 11 June 2024[28]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Australia 2012 3 2
2013 1 1
2014 3 0
2019 4 3
2021 5 0
2022 1 0
2024 2 1
Total 19 7
Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first.[28]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 9 December 2012 Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong   Chinese Taipei 3–0 8–0 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup qualification
2. 4–0
3. 28 July 2013 Olympic Stadium, Songpa-gu, South Korea   China 2–4 3–4 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup
4. 15 October 2019 National Stadium, Kaohsiung, Taiwan   Chinese Taipei 1–0 7–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
5. 2–0
6. 14 November 2019 King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman, Jordan   Jordan 1–0 1–0
7. 11 June 2024 Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth, Australia   Palestine 2–0 5–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

edit

Suwon Samsung Bluewings

Individual

References

edit
  1. ^ "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of Players: Australia" (PDF). FIFA. 14 July 2014. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Adam Taggart". Perth Glory FC. Archived from the original on 21 February 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  3. ^ "Taggart collects double at awards". Football Australia. 29 April 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Alex Terra stunner gives Melbourne Heart draw with Perth Glory". Yahoo! Sports. 16 January 2011. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  5. ^ "Gold Coast dispenses of Glory". ABC. 6 February 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  6. ^ Cook, Jonathan (2 March 2012). "Glory lose Taggart to the Jets". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  7. ^ Dillon, Robert (24 November 2013). "Taggart hat-trick as Jets sink Heart 3–1". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  8. ^ "Newcastle hold Wanderers to 2–2 draw". The Australian. 1 February 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  9. ^ "Taggart relishing partnership with Heskey and Griffiths". Football Federation Australia. 8 March 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  10. ^ a b c Gardiner, James (28 April 2014). "Adam Taggart wins 2014 Young Player of the Year, Golden Boot award: photos". The Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  11. ^ a b "Adam Taggart: Fulham sign Australia international striker". BBC Sport. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  12. ^ "Australia internationalist Adam Taggart joins Dundee United on loan". STV Sport. 1 September 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  13. ^ "Fulham FC".
  14. ^ "Glory recruit Adam Taggart wants to become the new Bobby Despotovski of Perth". Fox Sports. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  15. ^ http://www.perthglory.com.au/article/taggart-stars-as-mariners-steal-point/6oc70uyyxaw6123zuaxsapx08} Archived 5 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ Monteverde, Marco (30 April 2018). "Brisbane Roar sign former A-League Golden Boot winner Adam Taggart". The Courier-Mail.
  17. ^ "Taggart departs BRFC". Brisbane Roar FC. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  18. ^ "Adam Taggart leaves Brisbane Roar, joins Suwon Bluewings, transfer fee". Fox Sports. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  19. ^ "[단독]수원 타가트, 세레소 이적 확정…'짧지만 강렬했던 2년'(Taggart of Suwon, confirmed transfer to Cerezo Osaka)". Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 20 December 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  20. ^ garethmorgan (15 December 2022). "Glory swoop to bring Socceroo Taggart home". Perth Glory. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  21. ^ Morgan, Gareth (11 October 2023). "Glory captains confirmed at glittering Season Launch". Perth Glory. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  22. ^ a b "History made as Perth Glory's Taggart claims the Isuzu UTE A-League Golden Boot". A-Leagues. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  23. ^ NSW, Football (23 October 2012). "Paul Okon names Qantas Young Socceroos squad for AFC U-19 Championship". Football NSW. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  24. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013: Australia". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Tough slog for victorious Socceroos". SBS. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  26. ^ "EAFF East Asian Cup 2013 Preliminary Competition (Round 2) Australia 8:0 Chinese Taipei". HKFA. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  27. ^ Strachan, Iain (28 July 2013). "China deny Socceroos in goal fest". Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  28. ^ a b c Adam Taggart at Soccerway
  29. ^ "Suwon crowned 2019 FA Cup winners". AFC. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  30. ^ "Schwarzer Honoured with Tobin Medal". FIFPro. 27 May 2014. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  31. ^ D'Urbano, Nicholas (16 May 2024). "PFA reveals player-voted 2023-24 A-League Men Team of the Season". The PFA. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  32. ^ "수원 타가트, 2019시즌 K리그1 득점왕…도움왕은 문선민" (in Korean). mydaily. 1 December 2019.
  33. ^ "[K리그 대상] 김보경-문선민-조현우-타가트, 2019 K리그1 베스트 11 확정" (in Korean). sportal korea. 2 December 2019.
  34. ^ a b c Morgan, Gareth (6 May 2024). "Taggart and Lowry claim top honours at glittering MGP Awards event". Perth Glory. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  35. ^ "Lowry & Kerr claim top Glory gongs". FTBL. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  36. ^ Morgan, Gareth (20 May 2023). "Beevers and Hintzen named 2023 MGP winners!". Perth Glory. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  37. ^ "A-League All Stars Men lock in final 21-player squad to take on Newcastle United this Friday". A-Leagues. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
edit