James Delianov

James Delianov
Personal information
Full name James Nicholas Delianov[1]
Date of birth (1999-10-20) 20 October 1999 (age 25)[1]
Place of birth East Melbourne, Australia[2]
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Adelaide United
Number 1
Youth career
2015–2016 A.I.S
2016–2019 Melbourne City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 Melbourne City NPL 64 (0)
2019 Melbourne City 1 (0)
2019–2020 Western United 0 (0)
2020– Adelaide United 51 (0)
2021 Adelaide United NPL 5 (0)
International career‡
2015 Australia U17 3 (0)
2018–2019 Australia U20 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 January 2025
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 April 2019

James Nicholas Delianov (born 20 October 1999) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for A-League Men club Adelaide United.

Early life

Delianov was born in Melbourne, Victoria and raised in Mill Park. He has two older siblings, a brother who is four years older, and a sister who is five years older.[3] He took an interest in football at a young age, like his father, and was enrolled with Bundoora United Soccer Club.[4] Delianov idolised Mark Schwarzer and Mitchell Langerak.[3] He is of Macedonian descent.[4]

Club career

Early career

Delianov started his career at Melbourne City where he was named as one of the best young goalkeeping prospects in the country.[5][6] He was added to the first team squad after signing on a two-year scholarship contract in March 2017.[7]

Delianov made his debut on 26 April 2019, after spending two years as a third-choice keeper, in a 5–0 win against Central Coast Mariners at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.[8] Despite keeping a clean sheet in his maiden appearance, Delianov was released by Melbourne City a month later.[9]

Shortly after his release, Delianov signed for Western United on a two-year contract ahead of the club's inaugural A-League season.[10][11][12] He soon suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in training, missing the rest of the season and was later replaced by Ryan Scott in November 2019.[13][14] Delianov terminated his contract with Western United in November 2020 by mutual consent.[15]

Adelaide United

Delianov signed a two-year deal with Adelaide United on 11 November 2020, following his departure from Melbourne.[16] He made his debut on 28 December 2020 in a goalless draw against his former side Western United, keeping a clean sheet at GMHBA Stadium.[17][18] Delianov was voted RAA Travel Members' Player of the Month twice consecutively by March 2021, having made 41 saves and keeping three clean sheets in total.[19] He was later ruled out with a hamstring injury during that month and temporarily replaced by Joe Gauci.[20]

He played in Adelaide's last match on 19 June 2021, saving a penalty during a 2–1 semi-final defeat to Sydney FC.[21] Delianov remained as a first-choice keeper in his second season, playing in the opening seven league matches before suffering a shoulder injury.[22] He was replaced by Joe Gauci in goals for a second time, although after his return, Delianov remained on the bench in the following matches.[23] He extended his contract with Adelaide United on a renewed two-year contract in June 2022.[24]

After Gauci was absent due to international football,[25] Delianov made his first appearance for United, following two years on the bench (his last being on New Year's Day in 2022), on 4 January 2024 against Wellington Phoenix.[26]

International career

An Australian youth international, Delianov represented Australia under-16 and under-17 squad.[3] He was a part of the 2014 AFC U-16 Championship qualification campaign,[27] and included in the 2015 U-17 World Cup squad,[28][29] although he did not feature in a single match during the latter tournament.[1] Delianov was called up in October 2018 to the Australian under-20 squad, in preparation for the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship.[30][31] He received recognition for his goalkeeping abilities during the tournament,[32] even though Australia failed to qualify for the 2020 U-20 World Cup after a 3–1 loss to Saudi Arabia in the quarter-final.[33][34]

Career statistics

Club

As of 26 April 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Melbourne City Youth 2016 NPLV2 West 9 0 — 9 0
2017[35] NPLV2 East 29 0 — 29 0
2018[36] NPLV2 East 26 0 — 26 0
Total 64 0 — 64 0
Melbourne City 2018–19[37] A-League 1 0 — 1 0
Western United 2019–20[38] A-League 0 0 — 0 0
Adelaide United Youth 2021[39] NPL SA 5 0 — 5 0
Adelaide United 2020–21[40] A-League 18 0 — 18 0
2021–22[41] A-League 6 0 2 0 8 0
2022–23[42] A-League 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023–24[43] A-League 16 0 0 0 16 0
Total 40 0 2 0 42 0
Career total 110 0 2 0 112 0

References

  1. ^ a b c d "J. Delianov: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  2. ^ "James Delianov - Adelaide United". Adelaide United. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Davidson, John (27 March 2021). "How Schwarzer's heroics inspired Adelaide's young gun". SBS Sport. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b Ormond, Aidan (23 May 2019). "Eyes on the prize: New Western United keeper's inspiration". FTBL. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  5. ^ Lennon, Ben (3 March 2021). "Determined Delianov impressive in red". The Inner Sanctum. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Delianov ready to give it his all in Y-League". Melbourne City. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Teenage City trio sign on". FTBL. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  8. ^ "A-League Report: City 5-0 Central Coast". Melbourne City. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Galekovic Retirement Heads List of Melbourne City FC Player Updates". Melbourne City. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Western United FC signs James Delianov". Western United. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  11. ^ Greco, John (9 May 2019). "Signing news: Western United FC add first goalkeeper to their squad". Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  12. ^ Lynch, Michael (9 May 2019). "Galekovic retires, Delianov switches from City to Western United". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Meet Western United's new keeper Ryan Scott". Western United. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  14. ^ Telai, Suzanna (31 January 2020). "Delianov: Injury will not stop me". The Football Sack. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  15. ^ "James Delianov departs Western United". Western United. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  16. ^ "Reds sign Delianov to two-year deal". Adelaide United. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Reds play out goalless draw with Western United". Adelaide United. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Delianov delighted with clean sheet in A-League opener". Adelaide United. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Delianov reflects on his form as Reds targeting three in a row". Adelaide United. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  20. ^ Monteverde, Marco (30 March 2021). "A-League: Goalkeeper Joe Gauci is making the most of his opportunity with Adelaide United". news.com.au. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  21. ^ Bossi, Dominic (19 June 2021). "Sydney FC on cusp of title hat-trick after semi win over Adelaide". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  22. ^ Ottenhoff, Cameron (3 June 2022). "What Adelaide United need to change for next season". The Football Sack. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  23. ^ Twohill, Jack (9 December 2022). "Youth in focus: Joe Gauci". Front Page Football. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  24. ^ Filosi, Gianluca (23 June 2022). "Reds re-sign Delianov to two-year deal". Adelaide United. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  25. ^ Clarke, George; Harrington, Anna (23 December 2023). "Arnold on edge as Socceroos set for Asian Cup take-off". FTBL. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  26. ^ "Veart backs Delianov to step up". Adelaide United. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Joeys squad named for AFC U-16 Championship Qualifiers". Socceroos. 14 September 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  28. ^ "Joeys name squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup". SBS Sport. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  29. ^ "Joeys squad named for 2015 U-17 FIFA World Cup Chile". Socceroos. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  30. ^ "Update to Young Socceroos squad for AFC U19 Championship". Socceroos. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  31. ^ Davutovic, David (18 October 2018). "Ajax youngster Seb Pasquali to captain Young Socceroos as they chase U/20 World Cup qualification". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  32. ^ "In-form Delianov chasing World Cup berth". Asian Football Confederation. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  33. ^ "Quarter-final: Saudi Arabia 3-1 Australia". Asian Football Confederation. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  34. ^ Windon, Jacob (30 October 2018). "Young Socceroos bow out of AFC U-19 Championship". Socceroos. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  35. ^ "James Delianov – 2017 Player Statistics". GameDay. SportsTG. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  36. ^ "James Delianov – 2018 Player Statistics". GameDay. SportsTG. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  37. ^ "James Delianov (Goalkeeper, Melbourne City): 2018/19". Ultimate A-League. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  38. ^ "James Delianov (Goalkeeper, Western United): 2019/20". Ultimate A-League. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  39. ^ "James Delianov – 2021 Player Statistics". GameDay. SportsTG. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  40. ^ "James Delianov (Goalkeeper, Adelaide United): 2020/21". Ultimate A-League. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  41. ^ "James Delianov (Goalkeeper, Adelaide United): 2021/22". Ultimate A-League. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  42. ^ "James Delianov (Goalkeeper, Adelaide United): 2022/23". Ultimate A-League. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  43. ^ "James Delianov (Goalkeeper, Adelaide United): 2023/24". Ultimate A-League. Retrieved 31 October 2023.