Kye Rowles

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Kye Rowles

| image = Kye Rowles 2022.png

| caption = Rowles with A-Leagues All Stars

| full_name = Kye Francis Rowles{{cite news|url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce4/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf|website=FIFA|accessdate=8 July 2021|title=Squad list - Men's Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1998|6|24}}

| birth_place = Kiama, New South Wales, Australia

| height = 1.85 m

| position = Central defender

| currentclub = D.C. United

| clubnumber = 15

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = QAS

| years1 = 2014–2015

| clubs1 = FFA CoE

| caps1 = 1

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2016–2017

| clubs2 = Brisbane Roar NPL

| caps2 = 5

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2016–2017

| clubs3 = Brisbane Roar

| caps3 = 2

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2017–2022

| clubs4 = Central Coast Mariners

| caps4 = 104

| goals4 = 2

| years5 = 2022–2025

| clubs5 = Heart of Midlothian

| caps5 = 82

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2025–

| clubs6 = D.C. United

| caps6 = 14

| goals6 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2013–2015

| nationalteam1 = Australia U17

| nationalcaps1 = 15

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2016

| nationalteam2 = Australia U20

| nationalcaps2 = 4

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2019–2021

| nationalteam3 = Australia U23

| nationalcaps3 = 5

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 2022–

| nationalteam4 = Australia

| nationalcaps4 = 24

| nationalgoals4 = 1

| club-update = 29 May 2025

| nationalteam-update = 25 November 2024 (UTC)

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}

{{MedalCountry|{{fb|AUS}}}}

}}

Kye Francis Rowles (born 24 June 1998) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a central defender for Major League Soccer club D.C. United.

Rowles began his professional career with Brisbane Roar in 2016 before moving to Central Coast Mariners in 2017. In 2022 he signed for Scottish club Heart of Midlothian. He has represented Australia at under-17 level, including at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, under-23 level at the Tokyo Olympics and at senior level at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

=Brisbane Roar=

In May 2016, Rowles signed his first professional contract with Brisbane Roar on a two-year deal along with fellow young defender Connor O'Toole.{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/football/brisbane-roar-sign-teenage-defenders-at-the-expense-of-steve-lustica-and-javier-hervas/news-story/2112907ed731910baae2c291cade7953|title=Brisbane Roar sign teenage defenders at the expense of Steve Lustica and Javier Hervas|author=Monteverde, Marco|date=3 May 2016|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|accessdate=1 June 2017}} Rowles made his first competitive start for the Roar in a loss to Ulsan Hyundai in the AFC Champions League on 28 February 2017.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

=Central Coast Mariners=

Rowles moved to Central Coast Mariners on a one-year contract in June 2017.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/mariners-sign-roar-youngster-466491|title=Mariners sign Roar youngster|magazine=FourFourTwo|date=26 June 2017|accessdate=26 June 2017|archive-date=21 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621072557/https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/mariners-sign-roar-youngster-466491|url-status=dead}} He made his Mariners' A-League debut on 18 November 2017, following an injury to Josh Rose, in a loss to Adelaide United.{{cite news|url=https://www.ccmariners.com.au/news/depleted-mariners-fall-adelaide-united|title=Depleted Mariners fall to Adelaide United|publisher=Central Coast Mariners FC|date=17 November 2017|accessdate=18 November 2017|author=Taylor, Ellie}}

Rowles played for the Mariners in the 2021 FFA Cup Final, which the Mariners lost 2-1. Rowles was jointly awarded the Mark Viduka Medal along with Jake Brimmer, becoming the first player to win the medal while playing for the losing team. He is also the only person to consecutively win the Mariners Medal.

= Heart of Midlothian =

On 9 June 2022, Rowles joined Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian for an undisclosed fee and signed a three-year deal.{{Cite web |title=Gorgie Rowles {{!}} Heart Of Midlothian Football Club |url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/article/gorgie-rowles |access-date=10 June 2022 |website=www.heartsfc.co.uk}} On 16 January 2023, following a successful World Cup with Australia, Rowles signed a five-year contract extension to 2028.{{Cite web |title=KYE PLEDGES LONG-TERM FUTURE TO HEARTS {{!}} Heart Of Midlothian Football Club |url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/article/kye-pledges-long-term-future-to-hearts |access-date=16 January 2023 |website=www.heartsfc.co.uk}}

= D.C. United =

On 15 January 2025, Rowles joined Major League Soccer outfit D.C. United for an undisclosed fee on a two-year deal, with an option of another year.{{Cite web |title=Rowles makes MLS move – Hearts |url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/blogs/news/rowles-makes-mls-move |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=www.heartsfc.co.uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=dcunited |title=D.C. United Signs Australian National Team Defender Kye Rowles from Hearts FC in Scotland {{!}} DC United |url=https://www.dcunited.com/news/d-c-united-signs-australian-national-team-defender-kye-rowles-from-hearts-fc-in-scotland |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=dcunited |language=en}}

International career

Rowles was selected in the Australian under-17 team for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup.{{cite news|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2015/10/02/joeys-name-squad-fifa-u-17-world-cup|title=Joeys name squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup|publisher=The World Game|date=2 October 2015|accessdate=26 June 2017}}

In November 2020, Rowles was called up to the Australian under-23 team for friendly matches against A-League sides.{{Cite web|date=9 November 2020|title=Three Mariners head off to Olyroos camp in Sydney|url=https://www.ccmariners.com.au/news/mariners-head-olyroos-camp-sydney|access-date=11 November 2020|website=Central Coast Mariners|language=en}} In June 2021, Rowles was called up to the team again for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.{{Cite web|date=29 June 2021|title=8 out of 12 ain't bad: which A-League clubs featured Olympic-bound talent in 2020/21|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/8-out-of-12-ain%27t-bad-which-a-league-clubs-featured-olympic-bound-talent-2020-21|access-date=30 June 2021|website=A-League|language=en}} He was part of the Olyroos Olympic squad. The team beat Argentine in their first group match but were unable to win another match. They were therefore not in medal contention.{{Cite web|title=Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2021|url=https://www.theroar.com.au/olympics/australian-olympic-team/|access-date=22 February 2022|website=The Roar|language=en-US}}

Rowles made his Socceroos debut 1 June 2022 against Jordan in a friendly match, winning 2-1.{{Cite web |date=3 June 2022 |title='Couldn't have had a better game to play': Arnold praises Socceroos' resilience after Jordan fightback |url=https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/couldnt-have-had-a-better-game-play-arnold-praises-socceroos-resilience-after-jordan-fightback |access-date=4 June 2022 |website=Socceroos |language=en}}

Rowles was called up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-08 |title=Illawarra duo named in Socceroos World Cup squad |url=https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/7973494/illawarra-duo-named-in-socceroos-world-cup-squad/ |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=Illawarra Mercury |language=en-AU}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National cup{{efn\|Includes the FFA Cup and U.S. Open Cup}} !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Brisbane Roar \|2016–17 \|A-League \|2	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	4	0
rowspan="6"\|Central Coast Mariners \|2017–18 \|rowspan="5"\|A-League \|11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	0
2018–19 \|21	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	22	1
2019–20 \|20	1	2	0	2	0	0	0	22	1
2020–21 \|27	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	27	0
2021–22 \|25	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	28	0
colspan="2"\|Total !104	2	6	0	2	0	0	0	112	2
rowspan="4"\|Hearts \|2022–23 \|rowspan="3"\|Scottish Premiership \|29	1	2	0	2	0	0	0	33	1
2023–24 \|33	0	6	0	4	0	0	0	43	0
2024–25 \|20	0	0	0	7	0	colspan="2"\|—	27	0
colspan="2"\|Total !82	1	8	0	13	0	0	0	103	1
D.C. United \|2025 \|Major League Soccer \|10	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	11	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !198	3	15	0	17	0	0	0	230	3

=International=

National team	Year	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan="3"\|Australia \|2022	7	0
2023	6	0
2024	11	1
colspan="2"\|Total	24	1

==International goals==

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope=col\|No. !scope=col data-sort-type=date\|Date !scope=col\|Venue !scope=col\|Opponent !scope=col\|Score !scope=col\|Result !scope=col\|Competition
scope=row\|1 \| 21 March 2024 \|\| Western Sydney Stadium, Parramatta, Australia \|\| {{fb\|LBN}} \|\| align=center \| 2–0 \|\| align=center \| 2–0 \|\| 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

scope=col|No.

!scope=col data-sort-type=date|Date

!scope=col|Venue

!scope=col|Opponent

!scope=col|Score

!scope=col|Result

!scope=col|Competition

scope=row|1

| 21 March 2024 || Western Sydney Stadium, Parramatta, Australia || {{fb|LBN}} || align=center | 2–0 || align=center | 2–0 || 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

;Australia U20

AFF U-19 Youth Championship: 2016{{cite news|url=https://www.brisbaneroar.com.au/news/roar-quartet-young-socceroos-crowned-champions|website=Brisbane Roar FC|date=25 September 2016|accessdate=25 August 2021|title=Roar quartet and Young Socceroos crowned Champions}}

;Individual

Mariners Medal: 2020–21, 2021-22{{Cite web |date=3 June 2022 |title=News - Kye Rowles Big Winner At Mariners Medal Dinner |url=https://ccmariners.com.au/news/kye-rowles-big-winner-at-mariners-medal-dinner |access-date=4 June 2022 |website=Central Coast Mariners}}
Mark Viduka Medal: 2021{{cite news |last=Harrington |first=Anna |date=5 February 2022 |title=Popovic delights in Victory FFA Cup glory |newspaper=Seven News |publisher=Seven Network |url=https://7news.com.au/sport/soccer/victory-beat-mariners-for-ffa-cup-glory-c-5581335 |url-status=live |url-access=registration |access-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117185820/https://7news.com.au/sport/soccer/victory-beat-mariners-for-ffa-cup-glory-c-5581335 |archive-date=17 November 2022}}
A-Leagues All Star: 2022{{cite news|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7747208/alm-young-guns-get-shot-against-barcelona/|title=ALM young guns get shot against Barcelona|first=Anna|last=Harrington|date=20 May 2022|access-date=20 May 2022|website=The Canberra Times}}