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Connor Pain
Connor Thomas Pain (born 11 November 1993) is a Hong Kong-born Australian professional football (soccer) player who plays as a forward for Al-Bukiryah. He signed his first professional contract in March 2013 for Melbourne Victory. Pain has made one appearance for Australia, in 2013 against China. Early life Pain's grandfather Tommy Casey played in Newcastle United's 1955 FA Cup Final‑winning team and for the Northern Ireland team which reached the quarter finals of the 1958 FIFA World Cup.[4][5] His father, Craig, was a rugby union player who played in the Hong Kong Sevens Rugby Tournament between 1987 and 1993 and coached Hong Kong in the 2002 tournament.[6] Pain went to Beaumaris Primary School. Club careerMelbourne VictoryPain made his A-League debut for Melbourne Victory in a Melbourne Derby against Melbourne Heart on 2 February 2013.[7] He made his first start for the club a week later, against Central Coast Mariners.[8] In 2013, he was singled out for praise by then-Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers after a friendly match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.[9] Central Coast MarinersPain moved to the Central Coast Mariners in June 2016 in a swap deal for Mitch Austin.[10] Pain made his debut for the Mariners against Perth Glory on 8 October 2016, putting on a man of the match performance in an eventual 3–3 draw.[11] He scored his first goal for the club in a win over Adelaide United one month later with a powerful strike from outside the area.[12] Western UnitedOn 14 April 2019 Pain signed for new A-League club, Western United.[13] He played in the club’s first ever A-League Championship, in 2021–22. On 25 January 2023 he signed a three-year contract extension[14] and was the first ever to play 100 games for Western United.[15] Al-OrobahOn 8 July 2023, Western United confirmed that Pain would leave the club to join Saudi First Division League side Al-Orobah.[16][17] Al-BukiryahOn 18 July 2024, Pain joined Al-Bukiryah.[18] International careerYouthPain was first called up to the Australian under-20 side for a tour of Europe in May 2013.[19] He made his debut for the Young Socceroos in that tour, starting in a loss to the Netherlands in Emmen.[20] He was subsequently selected in the squad for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[21] Pain played in all three of Australia's games in the tournament as they were eliminated in the group stage.[22] Pain was named in the Australia under-23 squad for the 2013 AFC U-22 Championship.[23] He played his first game for the Olyroos in a group stage win over Iran.[24] In March 2016, Pain scored a double for the team in a win over Hong Kong in 2016 AFC U-23 Championship qualification.[25] He was later named in the squad for the final tournament.[26] SeniorFollowing the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, in July 2013 Pain received his first call up for Australia for the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup in South Korea.[27] He and Melbourne Victory teammate Nathan Coe left the squad midway through the tournament for a club friendly against Liverpool.[28] Nonetheless, Pain returned for the final game of the tournament against China and made his debut as a second-half substitute in a 4–3 loss.[29] Career statisticsClub
Personal lifePain is currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce at Deakin University.[31] HonoursClubReferences
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