Steve Fitzsimmons

Steve Fitzsimmons (born 7 September 1976) is a former Australian football (soccer) player and coach.

Club career

Steve is of English-Greek heritage. He started his NSL career with Parramatta Power under coach former Socceroo David Mitchell and assistant coach Lawrie McKinna. In what was a breakout year for Fitzsimmons he seen moves to Hull City and Leyton Orient break down in 2001 and returned to Australia and signed with NSL glamour club Marconi Stallions.

A frustrating year at the Stallions was ended when Fitzsimmons returned home to Queensland and signed a 2-year contract with the Brisbane Strikers under rookie coach Stuart McClaren. The Strikers achieved what many people didn't think they could with a squad of mainly local based players sprinkled with NSL experience, they made the NSL finals only to lose to Adelaide United on the away goals rule not only to bring down the curtain on their season but also the National Soccer League as we knew it.

Fitzsimmons was signed by the foundation A-League club New Zealand Knights for the inaugural year of the A-League in what was a largely unsuccessful year for the club. On 25 January 2006 he agreed to part ways with the New Zealand Knights allowing him to look for a new club before the close of the January transfer window. He then signed a short-term contract with Queensland Roar and subsequently made a solitary appearance before being released at the conclusion of the season.

This looked to spell the end to Fitzsimmons's national league career as he went on to play for Brisbane Premier League side Palm Beach SC. The following year he moved to Beenleigh Football Club in the Brisbane Premier League Division 1 where he enjoyed a successful season playing 24 games for the club scoring 7 times including an important goal the club's Grand Final win against Capalaba Football Club. He was also on top in the Player of the Year award voting for Brisbane Premier League Division as voted by referees but was ruled ineligible due to a sending off against Albany Creek Excellsior Soccer Club in Round 21.

Late in 2008, Fitzsimmons was rewarded for his performances while at Beenleigh Football Club by being one of the first signings for Gold Coast United.

On 21 August 2009, he scored his first ever A-League goal in a 2–0 win for Gold Coast during the second half of United's game against Adelaide at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Fitzsimmons turned down a move to Chinese Super League Club Qingdao Jonoon at the end of the 2009/10 season & he was rewarded for his performances with a new 1-year contract at Gold Coast United for the 2010/11 season taking him up to his 34th birthday.

After retiring at the end of the 2010–11 A-League season, Fitzsimmons joined the staff at the club becoming Assistant Coach.

Fitzsimmons currently plays AFL for Gold Coast club Broadbeach Cats.