Robert Cornthwaite (soccer)
Robert Richard Cornthwaite (born 24 October 1985), nicknamed "Cornflakes", is an Australian former soccer player. Alongside Eli Babalj and Sasa Ognenovski, Cornthwaite, at 1.95 m is the joint third tallest player to have represented the Australia national association football team, behind Zeljko Kalac (2.02 m) and Harry Souttar (1.98 m).[3]
 Cornthwaite playing for Western Sydney Wanderers in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Richard Cornthwaite[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 24 October 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Blackburn, England | ||
| Height | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2003 | Adelaide City | ||
| 2004 | Enfield City | ||
| 2005 | White City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003 | Adelaide City | 21 | (0) |
| 2004 | Enfield City | 19 | (1) |
| 2005 | White City | 3 | (2) |
| 2005–2011 | Adelaide United | 103 | (4) |
| 2006 | → Adelaide Olympic (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2011–2014 | Jeonnam Dragons | 90 | (7) |
| 2015–2016 | Selangor | 23 | (4) |
| 2016–2018 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 30 | (2) |
| 2018 | Perak | 11 | (1) |
| Total | 308 | (21) | |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2007 | Australia U-23 | 6 | (1) |
| 2009–2013 | Australia | 7 | (3) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 February 2018 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 May 2016 | |||
Club career
Adelaide United
Cornthwaite signed for United for the inaugural A-League season and spent the majority of his first two seasons starting on the bench. In the 2007–08 he started all of his 19 league appearances; he scored the opening goal in just the third minute against Pohang Steelers in Adelaide United's opening game of the 2008 Asian Champion League.[4]
As of half time of Adelaide United's away game against J League 5-time champions Kashima Antlers in the quarter finals of the 2008 AFC Champions League, Robert scored an accidental own goal to put Kashima level with Adelaide 1–1 after a spectacular goal from Adelaide captain Travis Dodd which came after a cross from vice-captain Lucas Pantelis in the 38th minute. The match being the first leg of the 2 teams Quarter finals match dated on Wednesday 17 September in Japan. He redeemed himself though in the second leg where he scored the winner in the 73rd minute with the game locked at 0–0. Adelaide went on to win 2–1 on aggregate and advance to the semi-finals.[5]
Robert Cornthwaite made his 50th A-League appearance in the 1–0 win over Perth Glory on 27 December 2008.[6][7] Cornthwaite signed a new three-year contract with Adelaide United in October 2009.[8]
Jeonnam Dragons
On 8 March 2011, Cornthwaite announced that he had signed for Jeonnam Dragons in the Korean K-League on a 2-year contract.[9][10]
Selangor
Robert joined the Malaysian Super League outfit Selangor in early 2015 and scored a few goals for the club. He was selected to play for Malaysian XI in a friendly match against Tottenham Hotspur in July 2015.
In January 2016 his contract with Selangor was continued after Selangor fans forced the Football Association of Selangor to continue his contract by using the social media.
On 9 July 2016, Cornthwaite was released by Selangor.[11]
Western Sydney Wanderers
On 14 July 2016, Cornthwaite joined Western Sydney Wanderers on a two-year deal.[12]
Perak
On 16 January 2018, Cornthwaite signed a contract with Malaysia Super League club Perak on a one plus one-year deal.[13]
Cornthwaite announced his immediate retirement from football on 4 June 2018, halfway through his Perak contract.[14]
International career
Cornthwaite made his first senior international debut for the Socceroos on 4 March 2009 in an AFC Asian Cup qualifying match versus Kuwait. He scored his first international goal in against South Korea in a 2012 friendly.[15]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 8 October 2017
| Club | Season | League1 | Cup | International2 | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Adelaide City | 2003 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| Total | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| Enfield City | 2004 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 |
| Total | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | |
| White City | 2005 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Total | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | |
| Adelaide United | 2005–06 | 12 | – | – | – | – | – | 12 | – |
| 2006–07 | 8 | 1 | 6 | – | – | – | 14 | 1 | |
| 2007–08 | 19 | – | 5 | – | 1 | – | 25 | – | |
| 2008–09 | 20 | 2 | 3 | – | 13 | 2 | 36 | 4 | |
| 2009–10 | 19 | – | – | – | – | – | 19 | – | |
| 2010–11 | 25 | 1 | – | – | 6 | 2 | 31 | 3 | |
| Total | 103 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 20 | 4 | 137 | 8 | |
| Jeonnam Dragons | 2011 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 3 |
| 2012 | 31 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 3 | |
| 2013 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 2 | |
| Total | 90 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 9 | |
| Selangor | 2015 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 4 |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Total | 23 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 28 | 4 | |
| Western Sydney Wanderers | 2016–17 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 2 |
| 2017–18 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | |
| Total | 30 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 3 | |
| Total career | 289 | 20 | 25 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 339 | 23 | |
1 – includes A-League final series statistics
2 – includes FIFA Club World Cup statistics; AFC Champions League statistics are included in season commencing after group stages (i.e. 2008 ACL in 2008–09 A-League season etc.)
International
- As of 15 November 2017[16]
| Australia national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | 4 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 7 | 3 |
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 14 November 2012 | Hwaseong Stadium, Hwaseong, South Korea |  South Korea | 1–2 | 1–2 | International Friendly |
| 2. | 9 December 2012 | Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong, Hong Kong | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Chinese Taipei | 2–0 | 8–0 | 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup |
| 3. | 6 February 2013 | Estadio Municipal de Marbella, Marbella, Spain |  Romania | 2–1 | 2–3 | Friendly |
Honours
Personal life
Cornthwaite was born in Blackburn, England and was brought up in Adelaide, South Australia.[17]
Cornthwaite has a wife, Nel, a son and a daughter, Sahara.[18]
References
- "FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2008 Presented By TOYOTA — List Of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 5 December 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 December 2008.
- "Robert Cornthwaite". Selangor FA. Selangor FA. Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
- Smithies, Tom. "World Cup qualifiers: Harry Souttar poised to become second-tallest Socceroo in clash against Kuwait". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- Parry, Martin (13 March 2008). "Australia, China, Japan all winners". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
- Earle, Richard (24 September 2008). "Adelaide United beat Kashima Antlers". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
- "Adelaide in search of Boxing day Glory". Adelaide United FC. 24 December 2008. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
- "Reds take glory in tough Boxing Day clash". Adelaide United FC. 27 December 2008. Archived from the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
- "Cornthwaite signs new Adelaide deal". Ontheminute.com, 30 October 2009. 30 October 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- "News Display". Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
- "Cornthwaite Flies Out to Korea - Australian FourFourTwo - the Ultimate football Website". Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
- Zainal, Zulhilmi (9 July 2016). "Aussie defenders released, Turtles sign towering striker". Goal.com.
- "Wanderers sign former Socceroos defender". Football Federation Australia. 14 July 2016.
- Smithies, Tom (16 January 2018). "A-League: Western Sydney Wanderers release skipper Robbie Cornthwaite". The Daily Telegraph.
- "Ex-Wanderers skipper announces retirement". A-League. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- "Robert Cornthwaite strikes late to lift Socceroos to 2-1 win against South Korea". The Australian. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
- "Robert Cornthwaite". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- Dasey, Jason (8 July 2017). "Former Socceroo Robbie Cornthwaite brings scoring boots to Selangor in Malaysia". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
- Prichard, Greg. "Wanderers the right choice for Cornthwaite". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
External links
- Adelaide United profile Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- FFA – Olyroo profile Archived 27 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- Robert Cornthwaite – K League stats at kleague.com (in Korean)