Travis Dodd

Travis Dodd
Travis Dodd
Born	January 6, 1980 (age 46); Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Occupation(s)	Soccer player, coach
Years active	1996–2016 (player), 2017– (coach)
Known for	First Indigenous Australian to score for the Australia national soccer team

Travis Dodd (born 6 January 1980) is a former Australian soccer player and current coach, most recently associated with North Eastern MetroStars SC competing in the National Premier League South Australia. Primarily deployed as an attacking midfielder, winger, or forward, Dodd holds the distinction of being the first Indigenous Australian to find the net for the national squad.

Domestic career

Originating from Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, Dodd began his youth football journey at Elizabeth before advancing to the South Australian Sports Institute in 1996. He ranks as Adelaide City’s fourth youngest player in the National Soccer League (NSL), debuting at 16 years and 281 days old. Additionally, he became the fifth player in NSL history to record a hat-trick coming off the bench during a 4–1 triumph over Football Kingz in 2003.

Following the conclusion of the 2003–04 NSL season, Dodd ventured overseas, signing with Malaysian outfit Johor and subsequently joining Greek side Panionios NFC. While at Panionios, he scored during their first round victory in the UEFA Cup against Italian club Udinese Calcio. His stint in Greece was short-lived due to a change in management, limiting his appearances to nine matches—four in domestic league play and five in UEFA Cup competition.

Adelaide United

In 2005, Dodd returned to his hometown to play for Adelaide United, contributing significantly to their triumph in the A-League Premiership. On 23 May 2007, he made history by becoming the first Australian player to notch a hat-trick in the Asian Champions League, leading his team to a 3–0 victory over Đồng Tâm Long An. His impressive form sparked transfer rumors linking him with Japan’s Kashima Antlers.

Dodd was named captain of Adelaide United in July 2008, taking over from Michael Valkanis and becoming only the fourth individual to captain the club since its establishment in 2003. That year, he tallied 11 goals from midfield positions, including a notable strike against New Zealand’s Waitakere United during the FIFA Club World Cup, aiding Adelaide’s progression to the quarterfinal stage. Furthermore, he became the first player from Adelaide United to reach 100 competitive appearances, a milestone marked by scoring the decisive goal in a 1–0 win over Perth Glory during the opening round of the 2008–09 A-League season.

Perth Glory

On 1 March 2011, Dodd secured a two-year deal with A-League side Perth Glory, reportedly earning $200,000 annually with an option extending into a third year. Unfortunately, on 23 March 2013, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during a fixture against Melbourne Victory, which sidelined him for an estimated year. As his rehabilitation extended beyond twelve months without return to play, Perth Glory announced on 4 April 2014 that they would not renew his contract, casting uncertainty over his professional playing future.

MetroStars

Dodd signed with South Australia’s North Eastern MetroStars competing in the National Premier League on 7 February 2016. During the final regular-season match, he again incurred an ACL injury and subsequently expressed intentions to pursue coaching opportunities starting in 2017.

International career

Dodd earned his first cap for Australia on 16 August 2006 during an AFC Asian Cup qualifying match versus Kuwait at Allianz Stadium. He opened the scoring in a 2–0 victory, becoming the first Indigenous Australian player to score an international goal for the national team.

Managerial career

For the 2017–18 campaign, Dodd accepted the role of assistant coach with the W-League side Adelaide United.

External links