Jackson Khoury

{{Short description|Association football player (born 2002)}}

{{Use Australian English|date = March 2024}}

{{family name hatnote|Habib|Khoury|lang=Lebanese}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Jackson Khoury

| image =

| caption =

| full_name = Jackson Habib Khoury{{GSA player|jackson-khoury/7840009|access-date=21 March 2024}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|10|13|df=yes}}{{cite web |title=Jackson Khoury {{!}} MLS Soccer |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/jackson-khoury/ |publisher=Major League Soccer |access-date=11 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111134245/https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/jackson-khoury/ |archive-date=11 November 2023 |language=en}}

| birth_place = Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, Australia{{cite web |title=Tormenta FC Adds Jackson Khoury to 2023 USL League One Roster |url=https://www.tormentafc.com/news/2023/02/01/tormenta-fc-adds-jackson-khoury-to-2023-usl-league-one-roster/ |publisher=South Georgia Tormenta FC |access-date=11 November 2023 |date=1 February 2023}}

| height = 1.85 m{{cite web | url=https://www.tormentafc.com/roster/jackson-khoury/ | title=Jackson Khoury }}

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Tacoma Defiance

| clubnumber = 48

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2015

| youthclubs1 = Marconi Stallions

| youthyears2 = 2016–2017

| youthclubs2 = Bonnyrigg White Eagles

| youthyears3 = 2018

| youthclubs3 = Parramatta FC

| youthyears4 = 2018–2020

| youthclubs4 = Sydney United

| youthyears5 = 2022–2023

| youthclubs5 = Central Coast Mariners

| years1 = 2020–2021

| clubs1 = Sydney United

| caps1 = 21

| goals1 = 4

| years2 = 2022–2023

| clubs2 = Central Coast Mariners Academy

| caps2 = 21

| goals2 = 2

| years3 = 2023–2024

| clubs3 = South Georgia Tormenta

| caps3 = 52

| goals3 = 7

| years4 = 2025–

| clubs4 = Tacoma Defiance

| caps4 = 1

| goals4 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2024

| nationalteam1 = Lebanon

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update = 8 March 2025

| nationalteam-update = 26 March 2024

}}

Jackson Habib Khoury ({{langx|ar|جاكسون حبيب خوري}}; born 13 October 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for MLS Next Pro club Tacoma Defiance. Born in Australia, he played for the Lebanon national team.

Early life

Khoury was born in Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, a western suburb of Sydney, Australia, the eldest of three siblings to an Australian mother and Lebanese father.{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Paul |title=Lebanese-Australian players eager to make community proud against Socceroos |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/21/lebanon-vs-soccerroos-world-cup-qualifier-match-preview-parramatta-commbank-stadium |website=The Guardian |access-date=22 March 2024 |language=en |date=20 March 2024}}

Club career

=Early career=

Khoury began his senior career with Sydney United in the National Premier Leagues NSW, being named as a breakout star in July 2021.{{cite web |title=Breakout 2021 NPL NSW Men's Performers |url=https://mens.nplnsw.com.au/2021/07/01/breakout-2021-npl-nsw-mens-performers/ |website=NPL Men's NSW |publisher=Football NSW |access-date=27 March 2024 |language=en-AU |date=1 July 2021}} He scored in the Grand Final against Rockdale Ilinden in October 2020 and contributed to United's 4–3 victory in the penalty shootout following a 3–3 draw in regular time.{{cite web |title=Sydney United 58 prevail on penalties in NPLNSW Grand Final epic |url=https://www.myfootball.com.au/news/sydney-united-58-prevail-penalties-nplnsw-grand-final-epic |publisher=MyFootball |access-date=11 November 2023 |language=en |date=27 October 2020}}

Khoury later joined Central Coast Mariners Academy, who played in NSW League One, in 2022.{{cite web |last1=Triebsch |first1=Ethan |title=2023 Season Preview: Top Young Players |url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1264934 |publisher=USL League One |access-date=11 November 2023 |language=en-us |date=16 March 2023}} He played in the 2–1 Grand Final defeat to St George City at the Sydney United Sports Centre on 3 September 2022.{{cite web |title=St George City crowned 2022 League One Champions |url=https://footballnsw.com.au/2022/09/03/st-george-city-crowned-2022-league-one-champions/ |publisher=Football NSW |access-date=11 November 2023 |language=en-AU |date=3 September 2022}} Despite the loss, the Mariners were promoted to the National Premier Leagues.{{cite web |title=Mariners fall in League One Grand Finals |url=https://ccmariners.com.au/news/mariners-fall-in-league-one-grand-finals |publisher=Central Coast Mariners |access-date=11 November 2023 |date=4 September 2022}}

=Tormenta FC=

In February 2023, Khoury signed a two-year contract, with an option to extend for a year, for American club Tormenta FC in the USL League One. After accumulating seven goals and six assists in 31 appearances in his first season, Khoury was named the USL League One Young Player of the Year in November 2023,{{cite web |title=Jackson Khoury Named USL League One Young Player of the Year |url=https://www.tormentafc.com/news/2023/11/09/jackson-khoury-named-usl-league-one-young-player-of-the-year/ |publisher=South Georgia Tormenta FC |access-date=11 November 2023 |date=9 November 2023}}{{cite web |title=Jackson Khoury wins best player in the USA |work=Australasian Soccer Academy |url=https://australasiansocceracademy.com.au/jackson-khoury-wins-best-player-in-the-usa/ |access-date=11 November 2023 |date=10 November 2023}} and, subsequently, Tormenta's Newcomer of the Year Award in December 2023.{{cite web |title=Jackson Khoury Named Tormenta FC Newcomer of the Year |url=https://www.tormentafc.com/news/2023/11/15/jackson-khoury-named-south-georgia-tormenta-fc-newcomer-of-the-year-for-the-2023-season/ |publisher=South Georgia Tormenta FC |access-date=26 January 2024 |language=en |date=November 15, 2023}} His 13 goal contributions was the joint third-highest for a player in their debut season in the league's history.{{cite web |last1=Maffit |first1=Gillian |title=Culture and courage: Jackson Khoury's journey from Sydney to Statesboro |url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1311220 |publisher=USL League One |access-date=8 August 2024 |language=en-us |date=29 May 2024}}

=Tacoma Defiance=

On 9 December 2024, it was announced that Khoury would join MLS Next Pro side Tacoma Defiance ahead of their 2025 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1325796|title=South Georgia's Jackson Khoury joins Seattle Sounders FC organizaion|author=USLLeagueOne com Staff|date=December 9, 2024|website=USL League One}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.soundersfc.com/tacoma-defiance/news/tacoma-defiance-signs-midfielder-jackson-khoury|title=Tacoma Defiance Signs Midfielder Jackson Khoury|first=Tacoma|last=Defiance|website=Tacoma Defiance}}

International career

Eligible to represent Lebanon through his father's side, Khoury was called up into the Lebanese national team for a local training camp in Beirut from 19 December to 28 December 2023.{{cite web |title=South Georgia's Jackson Khoury called up to Lebanon national team training camp |url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1294801 |publisher=USL League One |access-date=26 January 2024 |language=en-us |date=19 December 2023}}{{cite web |title=جاكسون خوري يلفت الأنظار بصفوف منتخب لبنان |url=https://www.alahednews.com.lb/article.php?id=63430&cid=130 |website=Alahed News |access-date=26 January 2024 |language=ar |date=24 December 2023}}{{cite web |title=جاكسون خوري بصفوف منتخب لبنان.. والتحاق الحارس خليل وسوني والاخوين ملكي |url=https://belwasat.com/?p=140853/ |website=Belwasat {{!}} بالوسط |access-date=26 January 2024 |language=ar |date=21 December 2023}} This was in preparation ahead of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, commencing on 14 January 2024. However, Khoury was not listed in the final squad.{{cite web |last1=Blondel |first1=Gabriel |title=Lebanon's national football team faces uphill battle in Asian Cup, says former captain |url=https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1364113/lebanons-national-football-team-faces-uphill-battle-in-asian-cup-says-former-captain.html#:~:text=The%20complete%20roster%20for%20Lebanon,Tneish%2C%20Yahya%20Hindi%2C%20Mohammad%20Ali |website=Lorient Today |access-date=26 January 2024 |language=en |date=12 January 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Younes |first1=Tarek |title=اللاعب جاكسون خوري يترك إنطباعاً جيداً |url=https://elmaestrosport.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A8-%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%83%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%83-%D8%A5%D9%86%D8%B7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7/ |website=El Maestro Sport |access-date=26 January 2024 |language=ar |date=24 December 2023}}

In March 2024, Khoury was recalled to the Lebanese squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against his native nation Australia.{{cite web |last1=Boykin |first1=Caroline |title=Jackson Khoury Covered in The Guardian Ahead of Lebanon National Team Matches |url=https://www.tormentafc.com/news/2024/03/22/khoury-guardian/ |publisher=Tormenta FC |access-date=27 March 2024 |date=22 March 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Younes |first1=Tarek |title=بعثة المنتخب اللبناني تغادر الى سيدني للقاء منتخب استراليا |url=https://elmaestrosport.com/%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AB%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%86%D9%8A/ |website=El Maestro Sport |access-date=27 March 2024 |language=ar |date=15 March 2024}} Khoury made his international debut on 26 March, after missing the initial fixture in Western Sydney Stadium, as a late substitute in a 5–0 defeat to the Socceroos at Canberra Stadium.{{cite web |last1=Monteverde |first1=Marco |title=Socceroos smash Lebanon as Goodwin stars, and Yengi, Iredale score first international goals |url=https://www.codesports.com.au/football/socceroos/socceroos-smash-lebanon-as-goodwin-stars-and-yengi-iredale-score-first-international-goals/news-story/2d8fa6329048600db0dc2e05e1d0ac7b#:~:text=Strikers%20Kusini%20Yengi%20and%20John,of%20AFC%20World%20Cup%20qualifiers. |publisher=Code Sports |access-date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240327050156/https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/football/socceroos-smash-lebanon-as-goodwin-stars-and-yengi-iredale-score-first-international-goals/news-story/2d8fa6329048600db0dc2e05e1d0ac7b?amp&nk=37d8d745d90cae514ecec23f1269e898-1711515721 |archive-date=27 March 2024 |language=en-AU |date=26 March 2024}}

Career statistics

=International=

{{updated|match played 26 March 2024}}{{FA Lebanon player|30213|access-date=26 March 2024}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Appearances and goals by national team and year

National teamYearAppsGoals
rowspan="1" |Lebanon

|2024

10
colspan="2" |Total

!1

0

See also

References

{{reflist}}