Simon Eaddy (born 14 September 1971) is a former New Zealand footballer who played as a goalkeeper and is the current goalkeeper coach with Toronto FC.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 14 September 1971 | ||
Place of birth | New Plymouth, New Zealand | ||
Position(s) | goalkeeper | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1999–2003 | Football Kingz | ||
2001 | Uni-Mount Bohemian AFC | ||
2003 | Ottawa Wizards | ||
2004–2009 | Waitakere United | ||
2009–2010 | Auckland City | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Eaddy began his professional career in the Australian National Soccer League with Football Kingz FC in 1999 as a backup for Jason Batty.[1] He would re-sign with the club the following season.[2][3] Throughout his tenure with the Kingz FC, he was selected to the league's all-star team for the 2000, 2001, and 2002 seasons.[2] In 2001, he returned to New Zealand to play in the 2001 Chatham Cup final with Uni-Mount Bohemian AFC where he assisted the club in defeating Central United.[4]
In the summer of 2003, he played abroad in the Canadian Professional Soccer League with the Ottawa Wizards and was also named the club's captain.[5] He would record his first clean sheet for the club on 6 July 2003, against Laval Dynamites.[6] Throughout his stint with Ottawa, he helped the club achieve a perfect season which clinched the Eastern Conference title.[7] However, the club opted out of the postseason tournament as the team's owner was embroiled in a dispute with the league's executive committee.[5] Following a successful regular season, Eaddy was named the league's top goalkeeper.[2]
In 2004, he returned to his native New Zealand to play in the country's top league with Waitakere United.[8][9] The club would finish second in the division and Eaddy was named as the club's players' player.[8] He re-signed with Waitakere the following season.[10][2] In his debut season with Waitakere, he would appear in the 2007 OFC Champions League.[11] Waitakere would win the continental tournament after defeating Fijian side Ba F.C..[12] He would compete once again in the champions league with Waitakere during the 2007-08 edition.[13]
In 2009, league rivals Auckland City qualified for the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup, and in preparation for the tournament he was signed by the club.[14][15]
In 2006, he was called to the New Zealand men's national football team camp held by head coach Ricki Herbert.[16]
He began to transition into the coaching realm in 2009 as the goalkeeping coach for Auckland City.[17][18] Eaddy would expand his coaching portfolio in 2010 by becoming involved with the New Zealand national team program in the same role.[19]
Eaddy once more joined John Herdman's coaching staff in 2018 as the goalkeeper coach for the Canada men's national soccer team.[20][21] He would help the national team qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[22] In 2023, he joined the coaching staff of Toronto FC in Major League Soccer along with head coach John Herdman as the club's goalkeeper coach.[23][24]