Alexander Hugh Tobin OAM (born 3 November 1965) is an Australian former professional soccer player who played as a centre-back. He is the fifth-most capped player for the Australia national team with 87 'A' appearances, including 30 as captain. He made his international debut on 9 March 1988 in an Olympic qualifying match against Chinese Taipei (3–2) in Adelaide.

Club career

Tobin spent his entire club career playing in Australia. He played most of his club career as a defender with Adelaide City in the National Soccer League. Alex left Adelaide City in 2000, after sixteen years with the club, to join Parramatta Power. He finished his career with Northern Spirit. Tobin played a total of 522 senior club games in Australia.

Tobin worked for the Central Coast Mariners as assistant first team coach.

The Alex Tobin Medal

In 2008, the PFA Alex Tobin OAM Medal was inaugurated by the Professional Footballers Australia (PFA). It is to be awarded annually by the PFA to a current, or a former, player based on four attributes demonstrated by Alex Tobin throughout his career and which reflect the philosophy of the PFA: Leadership, achievement as a player, commitment to ones fellow professionals and service and dedication to the game. The first two medals were conferred on Joe Marston and, posthumously, Johnny Warren.

Alex Tobin Medal (A-League)

Separately, the broadcaster's A-League Men player of the season award is also named the Alex Tobin Medal. The medal winner is selected by a panel of experts from the league's broadcast partner (Network 10 as of 2026) by awarding points after each regular season game, with the best player on the pitch given 3 points, the second-best given 2 points, and third-best 1 point. At the end of the season, the points are tallied and the player with the most points overall is awarded the Alex Tobin Medal. The winner receives a cash prize, and also nominates a junior club to receive prizes from the league sponsors.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNSL CupOceaniaOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Adelaide City1984National Soccer League16000——160
198512000——120
198626000——260
19872400010—250
198820110——211
198921000——210
1989–9025000——250
1990–9127120——291
1991–9230330——333
1992–9330230——332
1993–9431430——344
1994–9526220——282
1995–9634530——375
1996–9729400——294
1997–98252———252
1998–99293———293
1999–2000310———310
Total4362717010—45427
Parramatta Power2000–01National Soccer League262———262
2001–02222———222
Total484———484
Northern Spirit2002–03National Soccer League320———320
2003–0460———60
Total380———380
Career total5223117010—54031

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Australia198831
198900
199030
199160
1992150
1993100
199460
199590
1996101
1997160
199890
Total872

Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Tobin goal.

List of international goals scored by Alex Tobin
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
19 March 1988Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, AustraliaChinese Taipei1–03–21988 Olympics qualification
221 September 1996Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, South AfricaKenya4–04–0Friendly

Honours

Adelaide City:

Australia

Individual

External links