Marshall Soper, born 12 May 1960, is a former

football (soccer) Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...

and Australia International. A bustling but skilful centre-forward with a reputation for hot-headedness, he was originally from the Hunter region, 2 hours north of Sydney. In 1981 he was signed by

APIA Leichhardt APIA Leichhardt Football Club, also known simply as APIA (Associazione Poli-sportiva Italo Australiana), is a semi-professional soccer club based in the suburb of Leichhardt, New South Wales, Leichhardt in Sydney, Australia. The club was formed ...

, helping them win the 1982 NSL Cup. In 1983 he was signed by their local rivals Sydney Olympic where he would spend the next 7 seasons and where he would make his name as a player, he scored 60 goals in 151 appearances in all competitions for the club between 1983 and 1989, in the process becoming a household name and star for the Socceroos. After finishing up with Olympic, Soper also played an important role during a successful period at

Parramatta FC Parramatta Football Club, commonly known as Parramatta Melita Eagles or just Melita, are a semi-professional Australian soccer club based in South Granville, New South Wales. The club was established by Maltese migrants in 1956 and played sever ...

, helping the club win the 1991 NSL Cup. At a national level, Soper played 29 times for the

Socceroos The Australia men's national soccer team represents Australia in international men's soccer. Officially nicknamed the Socceroos, the team is controlled by the governing body for soccer in Australia, Football Australia, which is affiliated wit ...

, scoring four goals, mostly in "XI" matches against club teams. In 1991, he top scored (11 goals) for

Penang FA Penang Football Club (or simply known as Penang FC) is a Malaysian professional football club based in George Town, Penang, that competes in the Malaysia Super League. Unofficially founded in 1920, officially as Football Association of Pena ...

in the

Malaysian Premier League The Malaysia Premier League ( ms, Liga Premier) was the second-tier professional football league in Malaysia. The league replaced the former second-tier league, Liga Perdana 2 in the Malaysian football league system. The Malaysia Premier Leag ...

. Soper trialled with Arsenal FC. In later years he coached the

Fairfield Bulls Fairfield Bulls Football Club is an Australian amateur (formerly semi-professional until 2012) football club based in Fairfield, New South Wales. The club is currently playing in the Southern Districts Football Association. Fairfield Bulls have ...

and Illawarra Lions. In late 2010 it was announced that he would become a coach for Newcastle United Jets. Soper then moved to a team in the Illawarra Premier League the Coniston Lions FC to become their club coaching director before accepting the post at his former club

Perak FA Perak Football Club or Perak F.C. is a professional football club based in Ipoh. Founded in 1921, the club's home ground since then has been Perak Stadium in Ipoh, Perak. The club represents the state of Perak in Malaysian football competitions ...

as their academy head coach in April 2013.

References

External links

OzFootball profile
1960 births Living people Australian soccer players Australian expatriate soccer players Australia international soccer players National Soccer League (Australia) players APIA Leichhardt FC players Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC players Marconi Stallions FC players Parramatta FC players Sydney Olympic FC players Wollongong Wolves FC players Perak F.C. players Penang F.C. players Expatriate footballers in Malaysia Expatriate footballers in England Association football forwards {{Australia-footy-forward-stub