Matthew Nierras
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthew Erwin Thomas Dacanay Nierras[1] | ||
| Date of birth | February 6, 1993 | ||
| 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 as of 2:07, September 3, 2023 (UTC) | |||
Matthew Erwin Thomas Dacanay Nierras (born February 6, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Philippines Football League club Stallion Laguna.[1][2]
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 soccer 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 soccer for PAREF Southridge School alongside future teammate Gregory Yang.[4][5] He played college soccer 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]