Adam Jake Taggart (born 2 June 1993) is an Australian soccer player who plays as a striker (association football), striker for Perth Glory FC, Perth Glory in the A-League Men, A-League competition. Taggart has also represented the Australia national under-20 soccer team, under-20, Australia men's national under-23 soccer team, under-23 and Australia men's national soccer team, senior national teams. 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 FC, 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.

Club career

Perth Glory

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

Newcastle Jets

On 2 March 2012, Taggart signed a two-year contract with A-League club Newcastle Jets FC, Newcastle Jets. 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. 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. He became a focal point of the Newcastle Jets attack, heading the lineup alongside Emile Heskey, Joel Griffiths and Michael Bridges. 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.

Fulham

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

Loan to Dundee United

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

Return to Perth Glory

On 26 January 2016, Taggart returned to Perth Glory FC, Perth Glory again on a permanent deal. 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. In the first game of the 2016–17 Perth Glory FC season, 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.

Brisbane Roar

On 1 May 2018, Brisbane Roar FC, 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. On 14 February 2019, Brisbane Roar announced Taggart had come to terms with an Asian club for his transfer.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings

On 18 February 2019, Taggart was sold to Korean giants, Suwon Samsung Bluewings for $150,000. 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, 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

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

Third spell at Perth Glory

On 15 December 2022, Perth Glory announced that Taggart would be returning to the club on a three-and-a-half-year deal. On 11 October 2023, Taggart was named as co-captain along with Mark Beevers ahead of the 2023–24 A-League Men, 2023–24 A-League season. 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 Men, 2023–24 A-League season, Taggart became the first player in the A-League to win the Golden Boot Awards, golden boot whilst playing for a team who finished last.

International career

Taggart represented Australia at Australia national under-20 association football team, U-20 level at the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship in United Arab Emirates and at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey.

Senior

Taggart made his debut for Australia men's national soccer team, Australia in late 2012, in the second preliminary round of the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup against Hong Kong national football team, Hong Kong, coming off the bench in a narrow win. He scored his first two international goals days later in a win over Chinese Taipei national football team, Chinese Taipei. In 2013, Taggart played in the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup, scoring a goal in a loss to China national football team, China. Taggart was a part of the Socceroos squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and played in matches against Netherlands national football team, Netherlands and Spain national football team, Spain. 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 Men, 2023–24 A-League season.

Career statistics

Club

International

:''Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first.''

Honours

Suwon Samsung Bluewings * Korean FA Cup: 2019 Korean FA Cup, 2019 Individual *List of A-League honours#Individual honours, A-League Golden Boot: 2013–14 A-League, 2013–14, 2023–24 A-League Men, 2023–24 *List of A-League honours#Individual honours, A-League Young Player of the Year: 2013–14 A-League, 2013–14 *PFA Footballer of the Year Awards#A-League Team of the Season, PFA A-League Team of the Season: 2013–14 A-League, 2013–14, 2023–24 A-League Men, 2023–24 *K League Top Scorer Award, K League 1 Golden Boot: 2019 K League 1, 2019 *K League Best XI, K League 1 Best XI: 2019 K League 1, 2019 *List of Perth Glory FC end-of-season awards, Perth Glory A-League Men's Most Glorious Player: 2023–24 A-League Men, 2023–24, 2024–25 A-League Men, 2024–25 *Perth Glory A-League Men's Players' Player of the Season: 2023–24 A-League Men, 2023–24 *Perth Glory A-League Men's Members' Player of the Season: 2023–24 A-League Men, 2023–24, 2024–25 A-League Men, 2024–25 *Perth Glory A-League Men's Goal of the Year: 2017–18 Perth Glory FC season, 2017–18, 2022–23 Perth Glory FC season, 2022–23 *A-Leagues All Stars Game, A-Leagues All Star: 2024 A-Leagues All Stars Men game, 2024

References

External links

Aussie Footballers
Tabain to Tathem * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Taggart, Adam 1993 births Living people Soccer players from Perth, Western Australia Australian men's soccer players Australia men's youth international soccer players Australia men's under-20 international soccer players Australia men's international soccer players Australian expatriate sportspeople in England Australian expatriate sportspeople in Scotland Newcastle Jets FC players A-League Men players A-League Men All-Stars Perth Glory FC players Brisbane Roar FC players Fulham F.C. players Dundee United F.C. players Suwon Samsung Bluewings players Cerezo Osaka players Australian Institute of Sport soccer players 2014 FIFA World Cup players Scottish Professional Football League players Australian expatriate men's soccer players Expatriate men's footballers in England Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland Expatriate men's footballers in Japan Expatriate men's footballers in South Korea Men's association football forwards 21st-century Australian sportsmen