Jason Geria
{{Short description|Australian soccer player (born 1993)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jason Geria
| image = Geria Victory Training May 2015 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Geria with Melbourne Victory in 2015
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|5|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = Canberra, Australia
| position = Right back
| currentclub = Albirex Niigata
| clubnumber = 2
| youthclubs1 = Weston Creek SC
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs2 = Woden Valley
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs3 = AIS
| youthyears3 = 2009–2011
| youthclubs4 = Brisbane Roar
| youthyears4 = 2011–2012
| youthclubs5 = Melbourne Victory
| youthyears5 = 2012–2013
| years1 = 2013–2018
| clubs1 = Melbourne Victory
| caps1 = 107
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2018–2020
| clubs2 = JEF United Chiba
| caps2 = 57
| goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2021
| clubs3 = Perth Glory
| caps3 = 13
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2021–2025
| clubs4 = Melbourne Victory
| caps4 = 82
| goals4 = 4
| years5 = 2025–
| clubs5 = Albirex Niigata
| caps5 = 0
| goals5 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2011–2013
| nationalteam1 = Australia U20
| nationalcaps1 = 20
| nationalgoals1 = 3
| nationalyears2 = 2014–2015
| nationalteam2 = Australia U23
| nationalcaps2 = 8
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2016–
| nationalteam3 = Australia
| nationalcaps3 = 5
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| pcupdate = 23 January 2025
| ntupdate = 20 Nov 2024
}}
Jason Kato Geria (born 10 May 1993) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Albirex Niigata in the {{Japanese football updater|AlbirexN}}, and the Australia national team.
Born in Canberra, Geria played youth football with the Australian Institute of Sport and Brisbane Roar youth before joining Melbourne Victory in 2012, where he made his professional debut and played for five years. He then joined Japanese club JEF United Chiba in 2018.
Geria is Melbourne Victory's third most capped player, with 224 appearances in all competitions.{{cite web |title=Melbourne Victory |url=https://aleaguestats.com/A-League%20(Men)_6MelbourneVictory.html |publisher=ALeagueStats |access-date=9 November 2024}}
Early life
Geria was born in Canberra to Ugandan parents.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/melbourne-defender-jason-geria-hopes-to-inspire-canberrans-like-carl-valeri-20141015-116e9j.html|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=16 October 2014|accessdate=28 August 2015|author=David Polkinghorne|title=Melbourne defender Jason Geria hopes to inspire Canberrans like Carl Valeri}}
Club career
=Youth=
Geria's first youth club was Weston Creek SC in Canberra.{{cite web|url=http://www.melbournevictory.com.au/article/five-minutes-with-jason-geria/sdkkiybgb6hd1fzrvlluotwly|title=Five minutes with Jason Geria|date=11 August 2015|publisher=Melbourne Victory|accessdate=29 August 2015}} He also played in Woden Valley's youth sides.{{cite web|url=http://wvfootball.com.au/juniors/club-shop/wvsc-club-history/ |publisher=Woden Weston FC |accessdate=28 August 2015 |title=WVSC Club History |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929160738/http://wvfootball.com.au/juniors/club-shop/wvsc-club-history/ |archivedate=29 September 2015 }} Geria was a member of the Australian Institute of Sport football program before joining Brisbane Roar's youth team in 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.brisbaneroar.com.au/article/geria-finds-comfort-in-brisbane/1ivej22z5byp3ztmxjstq2vxk|title=Geria finds comfort in Brisbane|publisher=Brisbane Roar FC|date=2 December 2011|accessdate=28 August 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304203250/http://www.brisbaneroar.com.au/article/geria-finds-comfort-in-brisbane/1ivej22z5byp3ztmxjstq2vxk|url-status=dead}} He eventually became captain of the side in the National Youth League.{{cite news|url=http://www.brisbaneroar.com.au/article/roar-announce-nyl-squad/643omk7jg6jhzh7snm4jbmtr|title=Roar announce NYL squad|accessdate=29 August 2015|date=12 October 2012|publisher=Brisbane Roar FC}}
=Melbourne Victory=
On 29 November 2012, Geria was signed for Melbourne Victory by ex-Roar coach Ange Postecoglou.{{cite news|date=29 November 2012|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=29 August 2015|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/postecoglou-swoops-on-roar-youngster-20121129-2ahw1.html|title=Postecoglou swoops on Roar youngster|author=Jim Morton}} Despite often missing A-League games due to national youth team commitments, Geria became a regular first team player and was awarded the number 2 shirt, although it took him almost three years to score his first senior goal for the club, against Hume City in the 2015 FFA Cup Semi Final on 28 October 2015.[http://www.melbournevictory.com.au/article/melbourne-victory-into-ffa-cup-final-as-brave-hume-city-exit/199belih88zr213crolmwlwsmj Victory into FFA Cup final as brave Hume exit] melbournevictory.com.au, John Greco, 28 October 2015
=JEF United Chiba=
In March 2018, Geria left Melbourne Victory and transferred to J2 League club JEF United Chiba for a $800,000 transfer fee.{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/melbourne-victory-get-mojo-back-with-derby-win-as-jason-geria-farewells-a-league-20180303-p4z2nr.html|title=Melbourne Victory get mojo back with derby win as Jason Geria farewells A-League|first=Michael|last=Lynch|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=3 March 2018}}
=Perth Glory=
In March 2021, 3 months after leaving JEF United Chiba, Geria returned to Australia, joining A-League club Perth Glory on a contract for the remainder of the 2020–21 A-League season.{{cite web|url=https://www.perthglory.com.au/news/glory-snap-a-league-title-winning-defender|title=Glory snap up A-League title-winning defender|first=Gareth|last=Morgan|website=Perth Glory|date=22 March 2021}} In June 2021, he left Perth Glory at the conclusion of his contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.perthglory.com.au/news/nine-a-league-players-depart-club|title=Nine A-League players depart club|first=Gareth|last=Morgan|website=Perth Glory|date=22 June 2021}}
=Return to Melbourne Victory=
In July 2021, Geria re-joined Melbourne Victory, ahead of the 2021–22 A-League season.{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournevictory.com.au/news/melbourne-victory-signs-jason-geria|title=Melbourne Victory signs Jason Geria|website=Melbourne Victory|date=14 July 2021}} Geria lifted the 2021 FFA Cup and was named in the 2022 PFA Team of the Year in 2022. Geria departed Victory in January 2025.{{cite web|url=https://melbournevictory.com.au/news/jason-geria-to-depart-melbourne-victory-for-japan/|title=Jason Geria to depart Melbourne Victory for Japan|publisher=Melbourne Victory FC|date=8 January 2025}}
=Albirex Niigata=
In the January transfer window of 2025, Geria secured a move to J1 League club Albirex Niigata, marking his second spell playing in Japan.{{cite web|url=https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/jason-geria-secures-japanese-move|title=Jason Geria secures Japanese move|website=socceroos.com.au|date=12 January 2025}}
International career
Geria was eligible to represent Uganda (as both of his parents had Ugandan nationality) and also the country of his birth, Australia. Prior to October 2024, he had only represented Australia in friendlies, so was still eligible to represent Uganda.
Geria played for Australia numerous times at youth level, including participating in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship.
Geria was first called up to the Socceroos by Ange Postecoglou (with whom he had played for at club level) in March 2016 for two 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification matches that month against Tajikistan and Jordan, but he didn't play any match.{{cite web|url=http://www.socceroos.com.au/article/ange-postecoglou-names-socceroos-squad-for-world-cup-qualifiers-against-tajikistan-and-jordan/1ugo266ko1a3f1kyefzk3dclvt|title=Caltex Socceroos squad for March WC qualifiers|publisher=Football Federation Australia|date=9 March 2016}}
Geria was called up for the Socceroos for two home friendlies against Greece in June 2016, and played in the first match in a 1–0 win on 4 June.{{cite web|url=http://www.socceroos.com.au/article/leckies-late-goal-wins-it-for-caltex-socceroos/1t6um90miuej51d50809w58sqj|title=Leckie's late goal wins it for Caltex Socceroos|publisher=Football Federation Australia|date=4 June 2016}}
In October 2024, Geria was called up by Tony Popovic ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan. On 10 October, he make his first international return after eight years in a 3–1 win over China.
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|the start for 2025 season}}.{{cite web|url=http://aleaguestats.com/ALeagueStats_25Players_772.html|title=Jason Geria|publisher=ALeagueStats.com|accessdate=28 August 2015}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="7" align="center"|Melbourne Victory
|rowspan="6"|A-League |4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | rowspan="6" colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14
|21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 27 | 0 | |||
| 2014–15
|16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |||
| 2015–16
|18 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 30 | 1 | |||
| 2016–17
|27 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |||
| 2017–18
|21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |||
| colspan=2|Total | 107 | 0 | 12 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 16 | 0 | 135 | 1 | |
| rowspan="4" align="center"|JEF United Chiba
|2018 |rowspan="3"|J2 League |14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | rowspan="3" colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2019
|21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |||
| 2020
|22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 | |||
| colspan=2|Total
!57 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 59 | 2 | ||
| Perth Glory
|A-League |13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | rowspan="5" colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="5" |Melbourne Victory
| rowspan="4" |A-League Men |27 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 2 | |||
| 2022–23
|14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |||
| 2023–24
|28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 1 | |||
| 2024–25
|12 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!94 | 4 | 7 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 1 | 0 | 102 | 4 | ||
| rowspan="2" align="center"|Albirex Niigata
|2025 |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!258 | 4 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 296 | 5 |
Honours
Melbourne Victory
|url=https://keepup.com.au/fixtures/melbourne-victory-fc-v-central-coast-mariners-fc-ffa-cup-05-02-2022/2slltx5z3efxza6juvfq5a8es?tab=squads
|title=2021 FFA Cup Final
|publisher=keepup.com.au
|access-date=24 March 2022}}
Individual
- PFA A-League Team of the Season: 2021–22{{cite web|url=https://pfa.net.au/player-awards/pfa-reveals-player-voted-austraffic-a-league-men-team-of-the-season-on-eve-of-grand-final/|title=PFA reveals player-voted Austraffic A-League Men Team of the Season on eve of Grand Final|website=Professional Footballers Australia|date=27 May 2022|access-date=27 May 2022}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170225193249/http://www.melbournevictory.com.au/player/jason-geria/3cfyqffeuwc1dj68wv7xabxj Jason Geria profile] MelbourneVictory.com.au
- {{soccerway|jason-geria/232702}}
- {{FIFA player|339112|Jason Geria}}
- {{NFT player}}
- {{J.League player}}
{{Albirex Niigata squad}}
{{2021–22 A-League Men PFA Team of the Season}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Geria, Jason}}
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Australian men's soccer players
Category:Australia men's youth international soccer players
Category:Australia men's international soccer players
Category:Australia men's under-20 international soccer players
Category:Australian people of Ugandan descent
Category:Sportspeople of Ugandan descent
Category:Australian Institute of Sport soccer players
Category:Melbourne Victory FC players
Category:JEF United Chiba players
Category:Perth Glory FC players
Category:Albirex Niigata players
Category:Sportspeople from Canberra
Category:Soccer players from the Australian Capital Territory
Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen