Nathaniel Atkinson

Nathaniel Atkinson (born 13 June 1999) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a right back for A-League side Melbourne City.

Nathaniel Atkinson
Atkinson with Melbourne City
Personal information
Full name Nathaniel Caleb Atkinson
Date of birth (1999-06-13) 13 June 1999
Place of birth Launceston, Australia
Position(s) Right back
Club information
Current team
 Melbourne City
Number 13
Youth career
Riverside Olympic
FFT NTC
2016–2017 Melbourne City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Melbourne City NPL 23 (5)
2017–2020 Melbourne City 57 (1)
2020 Perth Glory 0 (0)
2020– Melbourne City 0 (0)
National team‡
2018 Australia U-20 3 (1)
2019– Australia U-23 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 August 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 27 March 2019

Club career

Early career

Born in Launceston, Tasmania, Atkinson was part of the youth side of Riverside Olympic before joining the NTC program of the Football Federation Tasmania.[1] In 2016, Atkinson joined the academy side Melbourne City after a trial with the club.[2] He played with the Melbourne City Reserves in the NPL Victoria during the 2016–17 season.[2] Towards the end of the 2016–17 season, Atkinson began training with the Melbourne City first team.[3]

Melbourne City

Going into the 2017–18 season, Atkinson was given the 37 shirt.[4] He made his competitive debut for the first team in a FFA Cup match against Peninsula Power at Dolphin Oval on 1 August 2017. He came on as a late stoppage time substitute for Bruno Fornaroli as Melbourne City won the match 2–0.[5] On 10 December 2017, due to the suspension of Melbourne City's regular right-back Manny Muscat, Atkinson made his A-League debut for the club against the Central Coast Mariners. Despite being named as a right back before the match, Atkinson played the match as a right winger as Melbourne City managed to win 1–0.[6] After the match, Melbourne City head coach Warren Joyce praised Atkinson, saying "I thought he took his opportunity well. He’s one that caught my eye as soon as I came to the club."[6]

On 12 January 2018, after a promising start, Atkinson signed a two-year senior contract with Melbourne City.[7]

In September 2020, Atkinson signed a two-year contract with Perth Glory.[8] However, three weeks later, his contract was terminated due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation,[9] allowing him to sign another two-year contract with Melbourne City.[10]

International career

In January 2017, Atkinson was selected to train with the Australia U20 side.[11]

In November 2019 he was one of four players suspended by the Australia U23 due to "unprofessional conduct".[12]

Career statistics
As of 12 January 2018[13]
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Melbourne City 2017–18 A-League17011——181
Career total 1701100181

Notes

    References
    1. "Former Launceston Player to Trial for Melbourne City". NTJSA. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
    2. "Talented teenager motivated by soccer-mad family". Examiner. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
    3. Cooling, Andrew (16 March 2017). "Atkinson Trains With Melbourne City First Team". Slice of Cheese. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
    4. "Melbourne City Squad 2017–18". worldfootball.net.
    5. "Peninsula Power 0–2 Melbourne City". Soccerway.
    6. Windley, Matt (10 December 2017). "Young gun Nathaniel Atkinson praised by coach Warren Joyce after starring in Melbourne City win". Herald Sun. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
    7. Lynch, Michael (12 January 2018). "Nathaniel Atkinson gets two-year deal with Melbourne City". The Sydney Morning Herald.
    8. "Glory sign Nabbout on two-year deal". The World Game. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
    9. Morgan, Gareth (23 September 2020). "Squad Update". Perth Glory.
    10. "Melbourne City re-signs Atkinson, Berenguer and Griffiths". Melbourne City. 23 September 2020.
    11. Shaw, Rob (31 January 2017). "Riverside Olympic's Nathaniel Atkinson called up by Young Socceroos". Examiner. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
    12. "Four Australia Under-23 players banned after complaint from woman". 19 November 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
    13. Nathaniel Atkinson at Soccerway
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