Brad Jones (soccer) facts for kids

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Brad Jones

Jones warming up for Liverpool before a friendly game vs. Roma in 2014

Personal information

Date of birth

19 March 1982 (age 43)

Place of birth

Mount Nasura, Australia

Height

1.94 m

Playing position

Goalkeeper

Youth career

1997–1999

Bayswater City

1999–2001

Middlesbrough

Senior career*

Years

Team

Apps^†

(Gls)^†

2001–2010

Middlesbrough

(0)

2001

→ Shelbourne (loan)

(0)

2002–2003

→ Stockport County (loan)

(0)

2003

→ Rotherham United (loan)

(0)

2003

→ Blackpool (loan)

(0)

2004–2005

→ Blackpool (loan)

(0)

2006

→ Sheffield Wednesday (loan)

(0)

2010–2015

Liverpool

(0)

2011

→ Derby County (loan)

(0)

2015–2016

Bradford City

(0)

2016

NEC

(0)

2016–2018

Feyenoord

(0)

2018–2021

Al-Nassr

(0)

2021–2023

Perth Glory

(0)

Total

278

(0)

National team

2001

Australia U20

(0)

2003–2004

Australia U23

(0)

2007–2018

Australia

(0)

Honours

Men's Association football

Representing Australia
OFC Nations Cup
Winner	2004 Australia

Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (Goals).

Bradley Scott Jones (born on March 19, 1982) is an Australian former goalkeeper who played professional football. He was a key player for Middlesbrough for over ten years. During this time, he often played on loan at other clubs. These included Stockport County, Rotherham United, Blackpool, and Sheffield Wednesday. He also had a short loan spell in Ireland with Shelbourne.

In August 2010, Brad Jones moved to Liverpool for £2.3 million. He played there for four seasons, mostly as a backup goalkeeper. After Liverpool, Jones had short stays at Bradford City in England and then NEC in the Netherlands. In August 2016, he joined Feyenoord on a one-year deal. He signed for two more years with Feyenoord in May 2017 after they won the Dutch Eredivisie title.

Club Career Highlights
International Career
Personal Life
Achievements and Awards
Images for kids
See also

Club Career Highlights

Starting Out in Football

Jones was born in Mount Nasura, a suburb near Perth, Australia. His parents were from England. He grew up as a fan of the Liverpool football team. He went to John Curtin Senior High School and finished in 1998. Brad Jones began his football journey by signing with Bayswater City SC in Western Australia.

Time at Middlesbrough

After playing for Bayswater City, Jones was signed by Middlesbrough. He played in their youth system before becoming a professional player in March 1999. He made his first team debut in an FA Cup game in 2004. Later that season, he won a League Cup medal with Middlesbrough.

Jones spent time on loan at several clubs to gain experience. In the 2001–02 season, he played four games for the Irish club Shelbourne. He made his professional debut there in October against Bohemians. He also had loan spells at Stockport County and Blackpool. In the 2005–06 season, while playing for Middlesbrough, Jones saved a penalty from Ruud van Nistelrooy in a match against Manchester United.

In August 2006, Jones was loaned to Sheffield Wednesday for three months. During a home game, some fans threw objects at him. This was a difficult moment for him.

When Mark Schwarzer, another goalkeeper, moved to Fulham, Jones became Middlesbrough's main goalkeeper. He got injured early in the 2008–09 season but soon got his spot back. Middlesbrough was relegated from the Premier League that season. Another injury kept him out at the start of the next season. However, he returned and stayed as the main goalkeeper for the rest of the season.

Playing for Liverpool

Jones playing for Liverpool in a 2012 summer friendly

On August 17, 2010, Jones joined Liverpool. The deal was worth £2.3 million. He was given the number 1 shirt. Jones made his first official appearance for Liverpool in a League Cup game in September 2010. The game ended in a draw, and Liverpool lost on penalties. A few weeks later, he injured his shoulder during training. He made his second start for the club in December 2010 in a UEFA Europa League game. He kept a clean sheet, meaning the other team did not score.

Loan to Derby County

In March 2011, Jones joined Derby County on loan. He played seven games for Derby. His manager, Nigel Clough, criticized him after a mistake in one game. This was Jones's last game for Derby before he returned to Liverpool.

Back at Liverpool

Jones and Péter Gulácsi training with Liverpool in 2012

Jones watching Péter Gulácsi in training in 2012

His first Premier League game for Liverpool was in April 2012. He came on as a substitute after another goalkeeper was sent off. Jones saved a penalty in that game. He also played in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. Liverpool won that game. Jones made history by playing his first four games for Liverpool in four different competitions.

Jones started the 2012–13 season playing in a UEFA Europa League qualifier. He also helped Liverpool move forward in the League Cup. His first Premier League start that season was in October. He continued to play well, making important saves.

Because of his great performances, Jones signed a new contract with Liverpool in December 2012. He kept another clean sheet in a big 5–0 win. However, he made a mistake in an FA Cup match where Liverpool lost. He played two more times that season, making good saves in both games.

In total, Jones played 15 games in the 2012–13 season. This was his most active season for Liverpool. In the 2013–14 season, he did not play in the Premier League. He was the main goalkeeper for the FA Cup games.

In December 2014, Jones started a game against Manchester United. Some people criticized his performance in the 3–0 loss. On June 10, 2015, Liverpool released Jones from his contract.

After Liverpool: Bradford City and NEC

On August 17, 2015, Jones signed with Bradford City. He played his first game for them in a 2–2 draw. In October 2015, he left Bradford City by agreement.

In January 2016, Jones joined the Dutch club NEC. He had a good season, playing 17 games and keeping four clean sheets. NEC wanted him to stay, but he left in June 2016 for other opportunities.

Success with Feyenoord

On July 7, 2016, Jones joined Eredivisie team Feyenoord in the Netherlands. He made his debut in August 2016, keeping a clean sheet in a 5–0 win. In February 2017, Jones achieved a milestone by keeping his 14th clean sheet of the season. This was the first time a Feyenoord goalkeeper had done this in twenty years.

Jones continued to be the starting goalkeeper for the rest of the 2016–17 season. Feyenoord went on to win the 2016–17 Eredivisie title. This was the club's first title in 18 years, and Jones kept 17 clean sheets. In May 2017, Feyenoord announced that Jones had signed a new two-year contract. In April 2018, he helped Feyenoord win the KNVB Cup final.

Moving to Al-Nassr

On August 1, 2018, Jones joined Al-Nassr, a team in the Saudi Professional League. He signed an initial two-year deal. Jones left Al-Nassr in July 2021 when his contract ended. While with Al-Nassr, he was part of the team that won the Saudi Pro League title in 2019.

Back Home to Australia

On August 5, 2021, it was announced that Jones would return to his hometown of Perth. He signed a two-year contract with Perth Glory. On May 24, 2023, Brad Jones officially announced that he was retiring from playing football.

International Career

Jones on international duty for Australia in 2007

Brad Jones played for Australia's Under-20 and Under-23 teams. He also played in the 2004 Summer Olympics. He was disappointed not to be chosen for the 2006 FIFA World Cup squad.

He got his first call-up to the senior Australia team in February 2007. He made his first senior international start in June 2007 against Uruguay. He was part of Australia's first 2007 AFC Asian Cup team but did not play in any matches. He was also chosen as one of the three goalkeepers for Australia's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. However, he left the squad to return to his family during a very challenging time. This showed how much his family meant to him.

Later, when Ange Postecoglou was coaching Australia, Jones only played one game. This was a friendly match against Ecuador. Many people, including fellow goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, were surprised that Jones wasn't called up more often, especially when he was playing well. After Postecoglou left, the new coach, Bert van Marwijk, showed interest in bringing Jones back to the national team. In May 2018, Jones was named in Australia's team for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Personal Life

Brad Jones faced a very difficult time when his young son was seriously ill. This was a challenging period for him and his family. Liverpool's players and staff wore black armbands in a game to show their support for him. His former teammates at Middlesbrough also wore armbands.

Jones married his long-term partner, Dani Rose Jones, in July 2015. They have three children: two sons born in 2012 and 2019, and a daughter born in 2014. After retiring from playing, Jones has been working as a goalkeeping coach for the women's team at his former club, Perth Glory.