Connor Metcalfe: Who is the St. Pauli and Australia midfielder?
Connor Metcalfe has already won two A-League titles with Melbourne City. Now he's pushing for promotion to the Bundesliga and dreaming of 2023 Asian Cup glory. bundesliga.com has the lowdown on the St. Pauli and Australia international midfielder...
Stats correct as of 31 December 2023
Age: 24 (born 5 November 1999)
Club: St. Pauli
Position: Attacking/ central midfielder
Country: Australia (11 caps)
Key stats
Metcalfe moved to St. Pauli in summer 2022, after winning back-to-back A-League titles across a five-year stint at Melbourne City totalling 73 appearances. The former Victoria youngster has become a first-team mainstay in Hamburg, lining up alongside countryman Jackson Irvine. He played in 30 Bundesliga 2 games in 2022/23, scoring on only his third outing, and featured in all 17 2023/24 fixtures prior to the 2023 Asian Cup.
The 11-time Australia international - who stands at 6'0" tall - has already produced two goals and two assists, putting him on course to surpass his five-goal contribution from the previous campaign for a Pauli outfit firmly in the hunt for promotion. He won the September Goal of the Month award for his stunning strike against Holstein Kiel, adding to the Harry Kewell Medal, given to Australia's best young player, he claimed for the 2020/21 campaign.
Watch: Connor Metcalfe hit a 35-yard screamer on Matchday 6 of 2023/24
Plays a bit like: Julian Brandt
Metcalfe's ability to turn on a sixpence and kick-start attacks is reminiscent of Julian Brandt. The Australian also shares his Borussia Dortmund and Germany counterpart's eye for a pass and willingness to go for goal from all angles, as well as a versatile streak that enables him to deliver in central midfield, further forward or even out wide.
Did you know?
Like many young football fans around the world, Metcalfe grew up idolizing Argentina's Lionel Messi. In June 2023, he played against the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner for the first time, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2-0 friendly loss to the reigning world champions in Beijing, China.
"It was pretty special," Metcalfe told KEEPUP’s Sacha Pisani. "There was maybe 50,000 fans, but there was not one other Argentina shirt other than No.10 Messi. Just to see him and shake his hand. Sometimes I feel like we take that stuff for granted. I grew up watching YouTube videos on this bloke, and then I'm playing against him. It was surreal."
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What they're saying
"Connor's definitely thriving, he's bringing his usual determination and quality to the team. He's definitely a huge part of what we're doing now and you know, he's a huge character in the dressing room as well. He's grown into a really important player for us." - Irvine
"Connor's at his best when playing between the lines. He has this reputation for spinning away from opposition players in just one or two steps. That's invaluable in the transition. He's also effective and has a real determination in front of goal, and can shoot with either foot." - Pauli head coach Fabian Hürzeler
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