Max Mata

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Max Mata
Personal information
Full name Max Andrew Mata[1]
Date of birth (2000-07-10) 10 July 2000 (age 21)
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Sligo Rovers
Number 27
Youth career
–2018 Onehunga Sports
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Wellington Phoenix Reserves 16 (8)
2017–2018 Eastern Suburbs 18 (3)
2019–2020 Grasshopper II 10 (5)
2019 → Nõmme Kalju (loan) 14 (9)
2021 Real Monarchs 19 (2)
2022– Sligo Rovers 2 (0)
National team‡
2017 New Zealand U-17 7 (5)
2018–2019 New Zealand U-20 6 (5)
2019– New Zealand 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 February 2022
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17 November 2019

Max Andrew Mata (born 10 July 2000) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a forward for League Of Ireland club Sligo Rovers and the New Zealand national team.

Club career[]

New Zealand[]

After shining in New Zealand as the youngest goalscorer in the country's top-flight at 15, Mata would travel to Switzerland to train with Swiss giants, Grasshoppers. After an impressive trial period, he signed for the club.

Grasshoppers[]

After scoring four goals in his first seven games for the reserves, he was loaned to Estonian side, Nõmme Kalju, in 2019 to further his development in a first-team environment. Mata never established himself with Zurich's first-team.

Nõmme Kalju[]

After joining on loan, Mata made his professional debut for Nõmme Kalju in their 5–0 loss to Celtic in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round on 24 July 2019.[2] Mata would make 20 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 12 times.

Real Monarchs[]

With no future for Mata in Switzerland, he left the club on a free transfer in December 2020 and signed for American second-tier side, Real Monarchs.[3]

Sligo Rovers[]

On 15 February 2022, it was announced that Mata had signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers.[4]

International career[]

U-20[]

Mata was named in the New Zealand U-20 side for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He was picked for the tournament even though he would be unavailable for the first two games of the tournament due to a red card that he picked up in the final of the OFC U-19 Championship qualifiers. [5][6] Mata ended up making two appearances for the U-20s, first in the last group game against Uruguay, where he captained the team, and in the round of 16 penalty shootout loss to Colombia.[7][8]

National team[]

Mata made his international debut on 15 November 2019, coming on as a substitute for New Zealand in their 0–1 loss to Lithuania.[9]

Personal life[]

Mata is of Māori and Cook Island Māori descent.[10]

Honours[]

International[]

Individual[]

References[]

  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: New Zealand" (PDF). FIFA. 13 June 2019. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Celtic 5-0 Nomme Kalju: Griffiths scores first goal since November in rout". BBC Sport. 24 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Real Monarchs Add New Zealand Forward Max Mata". www.rsl.com. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Max Mata signs for Sligo Rovers – Sligo Rovers".
  5. ^ Voerman, Andrew (14 May 2019). "Ban no barrier to Kiwi striker Max Mata making Fifa Under-20 World Cup squad". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Talented New Zealand team heading into Fifa Under-20 World Cup full of confidence". Stuff.co.nz. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Uruguay end group stage with perfect record". FIFA. Archived from the original on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Cafeteros outlast Kiwis in dramatic shoot-out". FIFA. Archived from the original on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  9. ^ Voerman, Andrew. "Second-string All Whites fail to seize opportunities in loss to Lithuania". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  10. ^ "Young Kiwi signs professional football contract in Europe - 'proud of my family name and where I have come from'" – via TVNZ.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""