Matthew Nierras

Matthew Nierras
Personal information
Full name Matthew Erwin Thomas Dacanay Nierras[1]
Date of birth (1993-02-06) February 6, 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth San Mateo, California, United States
Position(s) Center-back / Full-back
Team information
Current team
 Stallion Laguna
Number 3
Youth career
PAREF Southridge
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2015 De La Salle University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011– Stallion Laguna 117 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2:07, September 3, 2023 (UTC)

Matthew Erwin Thomas Dacanay Nierras (born 6 February 1993) is a Filipino professional footballer. Born in the United States, he plays as a defender for Philippines Football League club Stallion Laguna.[1][2]

Personal life

Nierras was born in San Mateo, California.[1] His father, Ernie, is the current coach of Stallion Laguna, where Matthew plays, and has also managed the Philippine women's national football team.[3] His sister, Samantha, also plays club football for Stallion and is a former national team player. Alongside former La Salle teammate Gregory Yang, the two work for clothing company Cutz Apparel.[4]

Career

De La Salle University

Nierras played high school football for PAREF Southridge School alongside future teammate Gregory Yang.[4][5] He played college football for the team of De La Salle University and was co-captain in his final year, where La Salle reached the final after a long drought, losing late on to Far Eastern University, 3–2.[6][7]

Stallion Laguna

While playing for De La Salle University, he also suited up for United Football League club Stallion alongside La Salle teammate Nathaniel Alquiros.[4][8][9][10] Due to the league's status being amateur, he was allowed to participate in both without complication.[11][12][13] While playing for them in 2013, Stallion won the 2013 United Football League, the first and only in the club's history.[14] In 2015, he took a break from the club to focus on his final UAAP season as a senior, returning to the club after.[15] At the onset of the 2017 Philippines Football League, the first professional league in the country, he became a starter for the team and eventually became club captain,[16][17][18][8] leading them to their first-ever qualification for the AFC Cup in 2023 alongside two third-place finishes in the Copa Paulino Alcantara in 2021 and 2022.[19][20]

International career

Philippines

Nierras was called up to the Philippine senior team multiple times, but has not had a senior cap yet. In 2018, he was called up to the Azkals squad for the 2018 Bangabandhu Cup in Bangladesh, but just before the tournament's start was ruled out of participation after suffering an ACL injury in a Copa match against the Davao Aguilas.[21][17] In 2022, he was again called up to the Azkals for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, but did not make it to the final squad.[22] In July 2022, he finally made it to the senior squad in a friendly 4–1 win against Timor-Leste, but remained on the bench.[23]

Coaching career

In 2022, Nierras took part in the PFF "C" Diploma Blended Course held in Carmona, Cavite, alongside Stephan Schröck, Marwin Angeles, Hikaru Minegishi, and Nathan Alquiros.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Matthew Nierras - Global Sports Archive". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  2. ^ "Matthew Erwin Thomas Dacanay Nierras". Stallion Laguna Football Club on Facebook. April 10, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  3. ^ Estrada, Kevin. "The Nierrases glad for Stallion's last minute fightback". Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Tamayao, Brian Lance; Vasquez, Rogie (May 11, 2013). "Matthew Nierras and Nathan Alquiros: Rising to the next level". The LaSallian. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  5. ^ Punzalan, Andrea; Reyes, Alfonso (July 22, 2019). "The men behind Cutz Apparel: Greggy Yang and Matt Nierras". The LaSallian. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  6. ^ "Nierras addresses the DLSU Men's Football Team for one last time". The LaSallian. March 9, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  7. ^ Gathercole, Nadz (March 9, 2015). "FOOTBALL: La Salle falls to FEU late in extra time". dlsusports.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Jacinto, Christian (May 21, 2017). "Late game fireworks in Binan as Stallion Laguna, Global Cebu battle to a draw". spin.ph. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  9. ^ Guerrero, Bob (February 5, 2016). "UAAP 78 football preview: It's anyone's title". Rappler. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  10. ^ Guerrero, Bob (March 10, 2014). "UAAP STARS FIND SPOTS IN UFL ROSTERS". bobguerrero.ph. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  11. ^ Sacamos, Karlo (July 9, 2013). "Under-23 Azkals out to prove SEAG point in game against UFL stars". spin.ph. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  12. ^ Sacamos, Karlo (April 9, 2014). "Kaya settles for draw against Stallion despite Aly Borromeo return". spin.ph. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  13. ^ "Take a look at some of our longest serving players when they first joined the club!". Stallion Laguna Football Club on Facebook. April 23, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  14. ^ Guerrero, Bob (June 12, 2013). "UFL: Stallion Denied Title-clinching Points by Resolute Loyola". sg.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  15. ^ Sacamos, Karlo (April 21, 2015). "Jury still out as Stallion brings in highly touted Fil-Jamaican Levi Fernandez". spin.ph. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  16. ^ Tupas, Cedelf (May 23, 2017). "Huge blow for Laguna as Matthew Nierras suffers injury". Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Estrada, Kevin. "Nierras has mixed thoughts as Laguna advance to Copa semifinal". Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  18. ^ del Carmen, Lorenzo (May 2, 2022). "PFL: Kaya-Iloilo staves off Stallion Laguna comeback to book Copa semis ticket". Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  19. ^ "Nierras sets AFC Cup target for Stallion Laguna". pfl.org.ph. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  20. ^ "Stallion Laguna 2-3 Kaya-Iloilo". kayafc.com. May 2, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  21. ^ Saldajeno, Ivan (October 5, 2018). "Huge blow for Laguna as Matthew Nierras suffers injury". Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  22. ^ del Carmen, Lorenzo (May 27, 2022). "Schrock reunites with Dooley, leads 30-man Azkals pool for Asian Cup Qualifiers". Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  23. ^ "Philippines 4:1 Timor Leste - Global Sports Archive". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  24. ^ "Second PFF 'C' Diploma Blended Course held in Carmona, Cavite". Philippine Football Federation. June 20, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2023.