Joshua Brillante (born 25 March 1993) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Australian A-league club Melbourne Victory. He was named captain of the Melbourne Victory ahead of the 2021/22 season. Although captain of the Melbourne victory and a current squad member of the Socceroos. Brillante holds dual citizenship due to his Italian heritage.
![]() Brillante with the Young Socceroos in 2013 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Joshua Brillante | ||
Date of birth | (1993-03-25) 25 March 1993 (age 29) | ||
Place of birth | Bundaberg, Australia | ||
Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Defensive Midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Melbourne Victory | ||
Number | 8 | ||
Youth career | |||
Bundaberg Waves | |||
2006 | Bundaberg Spirit | ||
2007–2009 | QAS | ||
2009–2011 | Gold Coast United | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2010–2012 | Gold Coast United | 14 | (0) |
2012–2014 | Newcastle Jets | 46 | (0) |
2014–2016 | Fiorentina | 2 | (0) |
2015 | → Empoli (loan) | 1 | (0) |
2015–2016 | → Como (loan) | 21 | (0) |
2016–2019 | Sydney FC | 79 | (3) |
2019–2020 | Melbourne City | 28 | (1) |
2020–2021 | Xanthi | 18 | (1) |
2021– | Melbourne Victory | 27 | (3) |
National team‡ | |||
2011–2013 | Australia U20 | 18 | (2) |
2014–2016 | Australia U23 | 10 | (1) |
2013– | Australia | 5 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 October 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 December 2017 |
Brillante made his A-League debut for Gold Coast on 3 December in a 1–0 loss to the North Queensland Fury.[2]
On 12 May 2012 it was announced he had signed for A-League club the Newcastle Jets.[3]
On 15 July 2014, it was announced that Brillante decided to join Italian Serie A club Fiorentina.[4] He made his debut for La Viola against Roma in their 2014–15 Serie A opener at the Stadio Olimpico. He was subbed after 35 minutes.
Joshua Brillante went on loan to Empoli whom are also in the Serie A during the January 2015 mid season transfer period.[5]
Initially starting the 2015–16 season on loan from Fiorentina to Empoli, Joshua Brillante signed a new loan deal on 28 August 2015 with Como of the Serie B for the remainder of the season.[6]
Joshua Brillante made his debut for Como on 12 September 2015 away to Livorno.
On 12 July 2016 Brillante returned to the A-League, joining Sydney FC on a three-year deal.[7][8] He scored his first domestic league goal against the Brisbane Roar on 19 November that year. He scored his second goal of the season against Perth Glory in the semi final.
At the end of his contract with Sydney FC, Brillante was in talks to extend, but in the end was signed by Melbourne City, reportedly on a multi-year season contract.[9]
In September 2020, Brillante left Melbourne City to join Greek club Xanthi under the coaching of Tony Popovic.[10][11]
In July 2021, Brillante returned to his home country to play for the Melbourne Victory also under coach Tony Popovic.[12] He was named captain ahead of the 2021/22 season despite not having played a competitive game for the team.[13]
In May 2018 he was named in Australia’s preliminary 26 man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.[14]
Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Gold Coast United | 2010–11 | A-League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
2011–12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||
Total | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
Newcastle Jets | 2012–13 | A-League | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
2013–14 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | ||
Total | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 0 | ||
Fiorentina | 2014–15 | Serie A | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Empoli (loan) | 2014–15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Como (loan) | 2015–16 | Serie B | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
Sydney FC | 2016–17 | A-League | 26 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 2 |
2017–18 | 26 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 37 | 1 | ||
2018–19 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 31 | 0 | ||
Total | 79 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 99 | 3 | ||
Melbourne City | 2019–20 | A-League | 28 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 |
Xanthi | 2020–21 | Super League Greece 2 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
Melbourne Victory | 2021–22 | A-League Men | 12 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 3 |
Career total | 221 | 6 | 18 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 250 | 8 |
Australia national team | ||
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Year | Apps | Goals |
2013 | 1 | 0 |
2014 | 4 | 0 |
Total | 5 | 0 |
Gold Coast United
Sydney FC
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory FC – current squad | |
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Awards | |||||||||
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