Benjamin Garuccio (born 15 June 1995) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a left back for Western United in the A-league.

Ben Garuccio
Personal information
Full nameBenjamin Garuccio
Date of birth (1995-06-15) 15 June 1995 (age 29)
Place of birthAdelaide, Australia
Height1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s)Left back
Team information
Current team
Western United
Number17
Youth career
Adelaide City
2010SASI
2010–2011Adelaide United
2011–2012AIS
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2012–2016Melbourne City[2]45(1)
2016–2018Adelaide United50(1)
2018–2020Heart of Midlothian21(0)
2020–2021Melbourne City21(0)
2021–Western United69(6)
International career
2012–2014Australia U2017(0)
2018Australia U233(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 April 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 January 2018

Born in Adelaide, Garuccio played youth football at the Australian Institute of Sport before making his professional debut for Melbourne Heart. In 2016, he moved back to Adelaide to play for Adelaide United. Garuccio signed for Scottish club Hearts in May 2018. He returned to Australia in October 2020 with Melbourne City.

Garuccio represented the Australian under-20 side on many occasions.

Career

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Melbourne Heart

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On 19 September 2012, Garuccio signed for A-League side Melbourne Heart,[3] who have since been rebranded as Melbourne City.[4]

Adelaide United

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On 16 June 2016, Garuccio returned to his hometown, signing a 2-year contract with Adelaide United.[5]

Heart of Midlothian

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Garuccio signed a pre-contract agreement with Scottish Premiership club Hearts in May 2018.[6] He scored his first goal for Hearts in a 5–0 win against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 29 July 2018, with a 25-yard free-kick.

Melbourne City

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Garuccio returned to Australia in October 2020, signing for Melbourne City.[7]

Western United

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In July 2021, Garuccio secured a mutual termination of contract with Melbourne City, so he could join rival Melbourne club Western United.[8][9]

Career statistics

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As of 24 May 2018
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Melbourne City2012–13A-League50000050
2013–141200000120
2014–1570100080
2015–162111000221
Total4512000471
Adelaide United2016–17A-League2700050320
2017–182311000241
Total5011050561
Heart of Midlothian2018–19Scottish Premiership1706100231
2019–2040200060
Total2108100291
Career total1162111501323

Honours

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Melbourne City
Western United
Individual

References

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  1. ^ "B. Garuccio". Soccerway. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  2. ^ The team was known as Melbourne Heart prior to 2014
  3. ^ "Heart sign Qantas Young Socceroo Garuccio". Football Federation Australia. 19 September 2012. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  4. ^ "City Football Group Confirms Name Change to Melbourne City FC - Melbourne Heart FC 2013". Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  5. ^ "Reds snare former City defender". Football Federation Australia. 16 June 2016.
  6. ^ "Hearts sign Australian full-back Ben Garuccio". BBC Sport. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Garuccio returns to Melbourne in two-year deal with City". The World Game. SBS. 14 October 2020.
  8. ^ "City confirm departure of Ben Garuccio". Melbourne City. 17 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Western United bolster squad with Ben Garuccio signing". Western United. 18 July 2021.
  10. ^ Harrington, Anna (20 May 2022). "ALM young guns get shot against Barcelona". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  11. ^ "A-League All Stars Men lock in final 21-player squad to take on Newcastle United this Friday". A-League Men. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  12. ^ "PFA reveals player-voted Austraffic A-League Men Team of the Season on eve of Grand Final". Professional Footballers Australia. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
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