Vince Lia (born 18 March 1985) is an Australian professional football (soccer) player who plays for Altona Magic in the National Premier Leagues Victoria.
![]() Lia playing for Wellington Phoenix in 2009 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Vince Lia | ||
Date of birth | (1985-03-18) 18 March 1985 (age 37) | ||
Place of birth | Shepparton, Victoria, Australia | ||
Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in) | ||
Position(s) | Central midfielder / Defensive midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Altona Magic | ||
Youth career | |||
Tatura | |||
South Melbourne | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2001–2004 | South Melbourne | 51 | (0) |
2005 | Fawkner-Whittlesea Blues | 3 | (0) |
2005–2007 | Melbourne Victory | 24 | (0) |
2007–2017 | Wellington Phoenix | 197 | (4) |
2017–2020 | Adelaide United | 34 | (3) |
2020 | Perth Glory | 4 | (0) |
2021– | Altona Magic | 17 | (2) |
National team‡ | |||
2002–2003 | Australia U-17 | 12 | (1) |
2002–2005 | Australia U-20 | 21 | (5) |
2006–2007 | Australia U-23 | 4 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 September 2021 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 January 2012 |
Born in Shepparton, Lia played youth football in Victoria before making his senior debut with South Melbourne in the National Soccer League. He spent one season with Fawkner-Whittlesea Blues in 2005 before joining Melbourne Victory in 2005 to play in the newly-formed A-League. Lia next spent a decade at Wellington Phoenix, making over 200 appearances for the club in all competitions. He returned to Australia in 2017, signing with Adelaide United. He had a brief spell at Perth Glory in 2020.
Lia represented Australia numerous times at youth level, including at the 2003 FIFA U-20 World Cup and 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Lia spent the early stages of his professional career in the NSL at South Melbourne. He then moved on to Melbourne Victory where he spent two years as a fringe player, albeit winning a championship.
Lia moved to the Wellington Phoenix in 2007. Lia scored his first ever A-League goal in a 1–1 draw against his former club, Melbourne Victory, in the 58th minute on 24 November 2007.[1] Lia missed the entire 2008–09 A-League Season due to a knee injury suffered in pre-season, requiring a full reconstruction. On 20 October 2009, Lia extended his contract with the Wellington Phoenix until the end of 2012.[2]
After a successful trial, Lia was given a one year deal with Adelaide United for the 2017–18 season.[3] He made his A-League debut for the club on 13 October 2017 in a 2–1 win over Brisbane Roar.[4] A week later, Lia scored both goals for Adelaide in a 2–2 draw against Melbourne Victory, his former club.[5]
Following a number of injuries to Perth Glory's defence, the club signed Lia for the remainder of the 2019–20 A-League season.[6] Lia was released by Perth Glory at the end of the 2019–20 A-League.[7]
In February 2021, Lia joined Altona Magic.[8]
Lia captained the Australian U-20's at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship.
Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
South Melbourne | 2001–02 | National Soccer League | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
2002–03 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
2003–04 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||
South Melbourne total | 51 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 0 | ||
Fawkner-Whittlesea Blues | 2005 | Victorian Premier League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Melbourne Victory | 2005–06 | A-League | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
2006–07 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
Melbourne Victory total | 24 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||
Wellington Phoenix | 2007–08 | A-League | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
2008–09 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
2009–10 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | ||
2010–11 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 | ||
2011–12 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
2012–13 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | ||
2013–14 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | ||
2014–15 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
2015–16 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 | ||
2016–17 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 1 | ||
Wellington total | 197 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 202 | 4 | ||
Adelaide United | 2017–18 | A-League | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 |
2018–19 | 23 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 1 | ||
2019–20 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
Adelaide total | 34 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 3 | ||
Perth Glory | 2019–20 | A-League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Altona Magic | 2021 | National Premier Leagues Victoria | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 |
Career total | 323 | 9 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 339 | 9 |