Connor Pain

Connor Thomas Pain (; 11 November 1993) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Macarthur FC and the Australia national team.

Pain represented England on just one occasion at youth level, before going on to play for the Socceroos.

Early life

Pain's grandfather Tommy Casey played in Newcastle United's 1955 FA Cup Finalwinning team and for the Northern Ireland team which reached the quarter finals of the 1958 FIFA World Cup.

His father, Craig, was a rugby union player who played in the Hong Kong Sevens Rugby Tournament between 1987 and 1993 and coached Hong Kong in the 2002 tournament. At the age of eight, he moved with his family to Melbourne, Australia. He went to Beaumaris Primary School and also pain went to Saint Kevin’s College in Melbourne

Club career Melbourne Victory Pain made his A-League debut for Melbourne Victory in a Melbourne Derby against Melbourne Heart on 2 February 2013.

He made his first start for the club a week later, against Central Coast Mariners.

In 2013, he was singled out for praise by then-Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers after a friendly match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Central Coast Mariners Pain moved to the Central Coast Mariners in June 2016 in a swap deal for Mitch Austin. Pain made his debut for the Mariners against Perth Glory on 8 October 2016, putting on a man of the match performance in an eventual 3–3 draw. He scored his first goal for the club in a win over Adelaide United one month later with a powerful strike from outside the area.

Western United On 14 April 2019 Pain signed for new A-League club, Western United. He played in the club’s first ever A-League Championship, in 2021–22. On 25 January 2023 he signed a three-year contract extension and was the first ever to play 100 games for Western United.

Al-Orobah On 8 July 2023, Western United confirmed that Pain would leave the club to join Saudi First Division League side Al-Orobah.

Al-Bukiryah On 18 July 2024, Pain joined Al-Bukiryah.

Macarthur FC On 7 July 2026, Pain return to Australia and join the A-League club at Macarthur FC.

International career Youth Pain was first called up to the England U17 squad that won the 2010 Algarve Under-17 International Tournament. He started as a substitute for Will Keane in the match against Portugal that ended in a 0–0 draw.

Pain was first called up to the Australian U20 for a tour of Europe in May 2013. He made his debut for the Young Socceroos in that tour, starting in a loss to the Netherlands in Emmen. He was subsequently selected in the squad for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Pain played in all three of Australia's games in the tournament as they were eliminated in the group stage.

Pain was named in the Australia under-23 squad for the 2013 AFC U-22 Championship. He played his first game for the Olyroos in a group stage win over Iran. In March 2016, Pain scored a double for the team in a win over Hong Kong in 2016 AFC U-23 Championship qualification. He was later named in the squad for the final tournament.

Senior Following the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, in July 2013 Pain received his first call up for Australia for the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup in South Korea. He and Melbourne Victory teammate Nathan Coe left the squad midway through the tournament for a club friendly against Liverpool. Nonetheless, Pain returned for the final game of the tournament against China and made his debut as a second-half substitute in a 4–3 loss.

Style of play Pain plays as a winger. He has played as a defender. He is known for his passing ability.

Personal life Born in the British Hong Kong, to a British parents, pain holds British and Australian citizenships.

Pain is currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce at Deakin University. He has worked as a teaching assistant.

Career statistics

Club

Honours Melbourne Victory A-League Championship: 2014–15 A-League Premiership: 2014–15 FFA Cup: 2015

Western United A-League Men Championship: 2021–22