Curtis Good

Curtis Edward Good (born 23 March 1993) is an Australian soccer player who currently plays as a centre-back for Buriram United in the Thai League 1.

He began his career with the club (then called Melbourne Heart) before signing for Newcastle United in 2012. He subsequently had loan spells with Bradford City – for whom he appeared in the 2013 Football League Cup Final – and Dundee United. After being released by Newcastle, he returned to Melbourne in 2018. Good made his international debut for Australia in 2014 and was in the provisional squad for that year's World Cup, but missed out on selection through injury. With 180 appearances in all competitions, Good is Melbourne City's all time most capped player.

Club career

Melbourne Heart Good was born in Melbourne, Victoria and attended Wesley College. While growing up, Good met Jackson Irvine when "they were both ten and lived two minutes from each other and grew up together". They would also "ran cross countries together, played for Knox City (in Melbourne) as juniors".

In 2008, he was offered a two-year scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport which he commenced in Canberra in 2009. In February 2011 Good signed a multi-year senior contract with A-League club Melbourne Heart after impressing as a short-term injury replacement. His first league appearance for Melbourne Heart was in round 1 of the 2011–12 A-League season against Newcastle Jets.

Newcastle United In July 2012, Good, having been granted a work permit, joined English Premier League club Newcastle United on a six-year deal for a reported transfer fee of $600,000 AUD. Good was named on the substitute bench for the first time for the senior side in the defeat away to Manchester City in March 2013. He made his debut for Newcastle in their 2–0 League Cup win over Morecambe on 28 August 2013.

Bradford City loan In November 2012, after several appearances for Newcastle's reserves, Good signed on loan for Bradford City. He made his senior debut in English football for The Bantams in a 1–1 draw against Brentford in the second round of the FA Cup. He was not registered by the 12pm deadline on the day of the game, causing Bradford City to initially be removed from the FA Cup. This was however reduced to a £1,000 fine on appeal. In February 2013, Good appeared for Bradford in the 2013 Football League Cup Final at Wembley as half-time substitute, won 5–0 by Premier League opponents Swansea City.

Dundee United loan On 31 January 2014, Good signed for Scottish Premiership club Dundee United on loan until the end of the 2013–14 season.

Return to Newcastle Following his return from injury, Good next appeared for Newcastle's first team when he started on 28 January 2017 in a 3–0 FA Cup defeat against Oxford United. He was released at the end of the 2017–18 season.

Melbourne City Good completed a return to Australia on 18 September 2018 by rejoining Melbourne City; who were previously known as Melbourne Heart. He signed contract extensions on 8 July 2019 (two years), and on 11 January 2021(three years). On 29 June 2021, he was named Melbourne City's Player of the Year, after helping the team win the A-League. He was a crucial member of Melbourne City's third-straight A-League title.

Good played his final match for Melbourne City in a Melbourne Derby elimination final against Melbourne Victory. Good was sent off in the 118th minute of the match for a second bookable offence after bringing down a goalbound Nishan Velupillay, as Melbourne City lost 3–2 on penalties after the match ended 1–1 in regulation time.

International career

Good represented Australia at U20 level at the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship in United Arab Emirates and at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey.

Good made his international debut for Australia starting in a friendly match against Ecuador on 5 March 2014. He suffered a hip injury in the match against Ecuador and missed the rest of the 2013–14 club season, but was still named in Australia's provisional 30-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He was withdrawn from the squad after failing to recover from his injury.

Good made his first appearance in a World Cup Qualifier on 7 June 2021 in a World Cup Qualifier against Taiwan.

Career statistics

Club

International

Honours Bradford City Football League Cup runner-up: 2012–13

Melbourne City A-League Champion: 2020–21 A-League Premiership: 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23

Buriram United Thai FA Cup: 2024–25 Thai League Cup: 2024–25 ASEAN Club Championship: 2024–25

Individual A-Leagues All Star: 2022 PFA A-League Team of the Season: 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23 ASEAN Club Championship: Allstar XI 2024–25