Paul Okon

Football player infobox
playername = Paul Okon
fullname = Paul Michael Okon


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1972|4|5|df=y
cityofbirth = Sydney
countryofbirth = Australia
height = height|m=1.77
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Central Midfielder, Centre Back
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1989-1991
1991-1996
1996-1999
1999-2000
2000-2002
2002
2003
2003-2004
2004-2005
2005-2006
2006-2007
clubs = Marconi Stallions
Club Brugge
Lazio
Fiorentina
Middlesbrough
→ Watford "(loan)"
Leeds United
Vicenza
Oostende
APOEL FC
Newcastle Jets
caps(goals) = 49 (4)
72 (1)
19 (0)
11 (0)
28 (0)
15 (0)
21 (0)
11 (0)
33 (0)
09 (0)
17 (0)
nationalyears = 1991
1992
1991-2003
nationalteam = flagicon|Australia Australia U-20
flagicon|Australia Australia U-23
flagicon|Australia Australia
nationalcaps(goals) =
29 (0)
manageryears = 2009-
managerclubs = Gold Coast United FC "(Asst.)"
pcupdate = 28 July 2007
ntupdate = 21 June 2007

Paul Okon (born 5 April 1972 in Sydney) is a former Australian football (soccer) player who retired after playing with Australian side Newcastle United Jets.

He previously captained the Australian National Team and has represented Australia Olympic Football Team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Okon's career began at Marconi Stallions in the old NSL in Australia. He then went on to play at many European clubs including S.S. Lazio and Fiorentina in Italy's Serie A, Vicenza Calcio in Serie B, Middlesbrough F.C. and Leeds United F.C. in the English Premiership, Club Brugge, K.V. Oostende in Belgium's Jupiler League and APOEL FC in the Cypriot First Division.

It has been recently announced that Paul will be the interim coach of NSW Premier League giant APIA Leichhardt Tigers in season 2009.

Club career

Okon grew up in the Sydney suburb of Bossley Park. He is of German and Italian descent. He represented his high school, Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield during his time as a teenage schoolboy and featured prominently in all teams including the A Grade squad. However, his abilities did not stop at the football pitch. He set the record for high jump at the College's annual Athletics Carnival in the under 16s age group which was not broken until 2004.

He signed with A-League club Newcastle United Jets for the 2006-07 season. Okon fit into a well constructed Jets side and helped then make the playoffs in 2007. Due to injury concerns, Okon decided to retire from professional football in June 2007.

Okon is back [http://www.westryderovers.asn.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=74&Itemid=26 playing in 2008] for amateur team West Ryde Rovers's Over 35 Division 1 team in the [http://www.ghfa.com.au/ GHFA] .

He is also slated to play in the Zidane match (Zidane's XI Vs. Australia '97) on 1 June 2008

Trivia

Okon was a childhood friend of Italian striker Christian Vieri, who grew up in Australia. They both later played together at S.S. Lazio in 1998/1999.

Paul Okon now plays for the West Ryde Rovers Over 35's division 1.

He had a relationship with Belgian model Phaedra Hoste when he played at Club Brugge.

Honours

With Australia:
* OFC Nations Cup: 2000With Club Brugge:
* Belgian League Championship: 1995-1996
* Belgian Cup: 1994-1995, 1995-1996Personal Honours:
* Belgian Golden Shoe: 1995-1996
* NSL Papasavas Medal (U-21): 1989-1990, 1990-1991
* Oceania Footballer of the Year: 1996

External links

* [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/O/OB.html Oz Football profile]