Shay Spitz

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Shay Spitz

|image = Shay Spitz.JPG

|image_size = 280

|caption =

|fullname = Shay Phillip Spitz{{cite news |title=Shay Spitz |url=https://www.thefinalball.com/jogador.php?id=248015 |date=17 September 2013 |accessdate=17 September 2013 }}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|1|27|df=yes}}

|birth_place = Hong Kong

|height = 1.70 m

|position = Midfielder

|currentclub =

|clubnumber =

|collegeyears1 = 2006–2009

|college1 = Cal State Fullerton Titans

|years1 = 2010

|clubs1 = Hollywood United

|caps1 = 16

|goals1 = 4

|years2 = 2011–2012

|clubs2 = Rockdale City Suns

|caps2 = 22

|goals2 = 4

|years3 = 2012

|clubs3 = Los Angeles Blues

|caps3 = 10

|goals3 = 0

|years4 = 2012–2013

|clubs4 = Kitchee

|caps4 = 6

|goals4 = 0

|years5 = 2013

|clubs5 = Los Angeles Blues

|caps5 = 18

|goals5 = 4

|years6 = 2014

|clubs6 = Richmond Kickers

|caps6 = 26

|goals6 = 4

|years7 = 2014–2015

|clubs7 = Rangers (HKG)

|caps7 = 8

|goals7 = 0

|years8 = 2015–2020

|clubs8 = Southern

|caps8 = 80

|goals8 = 3

|nationalyears1 = 2012–

|nationalteam1 = United States (beach soccer)

|nationalcaps1 =

|nationalgoals1 =

|manageryears1 = 2018–2020

|managerclubs1 = Southern (fitness coach)

|medaltemplates =

|club-update = 29 June 2020

|nationalteam-update =

}}

Shay Phillip Spitz ({{zh|t=史必}}; born 27 January 1988) is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Born in Hong Kong, he represented the United States at international level in beach soccer.

Spitz holds United States citizenship as well, but grew up in Singapore, Portugal and Australia. Despite holding New Zealand and American citizenship, Spitz did not spend time growing up in either country.

Career

=College and amateur=

Spitz took classes at Orange Coast College in Orange County, California for one semester, but did not play intercollegiate soccer. In 2006, Spitz transferred to California State University, Fullerton and played college soccer for four years, making 77 appearances and scoring 12 goals.{{Citation needed|date=June 2019}}

Spitz also spent the 2010 season with Hollywood United Hitmen in the USL Premier Development League.[http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2010/roster/4069052.html 2010 Hollywood United Hitmen stats] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130205212457/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2010/roster/4069052.html |date=2013-02-05 }}

=Professional=

On 15 February 2012, Spitz signed a professional contract with USL Pro club Los Angeles Blues{{cite news |title=Blues Add Spitz To Squad |url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/598992.html |work=uslsoccer.com |publisher=United Soccer Leagues |date=15 February 2012 |accessdate=6 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006101625/http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/598992.html |archivedate=6 October 2014 }} and made his debut on 4 May in a 2–1 win over the Wilmington Hammerheads.{{cite web |url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2012/2826801.html |title=United Soccer Leagues (USL) |accessdate=2012-05-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517200123/http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2012/2826801.html |archivedate=2012-05-17 }}

==Kitchee==

On 12 September 2012, Spitz signed a professional contract with Hong Kong First Division club Kitchee.{{Cite news|url=http://hk.news.yahoo.com/%E8%B2%BB%E8%98%AD%E5%B0%BC-%E9%81%8E%E5%94%94%E5%88%B0%E5%8D%81%E4%BA%94-172200755.html|title=傑志簽土生洋將左路如虎添翼|date=11 September 2012|newspaper=now.com}} He was forced to leave the club after reports that he did not have a work permit which was required even though he was born in Hong Kong.{{Cite news|url=http://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1212494/hkfa-review-eligibility-rules-after-kitchee-fielded-hong-kong-born|title=HKFA to review eligibility rules after Kitchee fields Hong Kong-born Kiwi|date=12 April 2013|newspaper=South China Morning Post}}

==Los Angeles Blues==

In March 2013, Spitz rejoined Los Angeles Blues. He scored his first goal for the club on 26 April 2013 in a 4–0 victory over the Wilmington Hammerheads.{{cite web|title=Blues Sweep Past Hammerheads|url=http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/714156.html|publisher=USL Pro|accessdate=27 April 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130630132130/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/714156.html|archivedate=30 June 2013}}

==Southern District==

On 9 July 2015, Spitz joined Southern after a season with Hong Kong Rangers.

On 2 July 2017, Southern announced on Facebook that Spitz would return for the upcoming season.{{cite web|title=Majority of backbone players to stay with KC Southern|url=https://www.facebook.com/HKSDFC/photos/a.220859694700184.47134.220372978082189/1370916176361191/?type=3|website=Facebook|accessdate=2 July 2017}}

On 29 June 2020, it was announced that Spitz would leave the club and return to Australia to develop his career.

International career

Spitz was included in the 12-player roster of United States national beach soccer team for Copa Salvador del Mundo 2013.{{cite news |title=U.S. Beach Soccer Head Coach Eddie Soto Names 12-Player Roster for Copa Salvador del Mundo 2013 |url=http://www.ussoccer.com/news/beach-soccer/2013/07/soto-names-roster-for-copa-salvador-del-mundo-2013.aspx |date=30 July 2013 |accessdate=17 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904031906/http://www.ussoccer.com/news/beach-soccer/2013/07/soto-names-roster-for-copa-salvador-del-mundo-2013.aspx |archivedate=4 September 2013 }}

Family

Shay Spitz's younger brother Tyler Spitz plays for the Hong Kong national rugby union team.{{cite news|url=https://www.upower.com.hk/article/60222-%E6%AC%96%E7%90%83%E4%BA%9E%E9%8C%A6%E8%B3%BD-%E6%B8%AF%E8%B6%85%E8%85%B3%E8%83%9E%E5%BC%9F%E5%BB%BA%E5%8A%9F-%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E5%AE%A2%E5%8B%9D%E9%9F%93%E5%9C%8B|title=欖球亞錦賽港超腳胞弟建功香港客勝韓國|date=28 May 2017|newspaper=Upower}}