{{Short description|American soccer player (born 1991)}} {{Use American English|date=December 2022}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Matt Perrella | image = | fullname = Matthew Perrella | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|10|06}} | birth_place = North Brunswick, New Jersey, United States | height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}} | position = Goalkeeper | currentclub = Ocean City Nor'easters (head coach)<br/>Saint Joseph's Hawks (assistant coach) | clubnumber = | youthclubs1 = New Jersey Copa | collegeyears1 = | college1 = Rider Broncs | clubs1 = Durham City | years2 = 2013 | clubs2 = Jacksonville Armada | caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2014 | clubs3 = Carolina Railhawks | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2015 | clubs4 = New Jersey Copa | caps4 = 8 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2015 | clubs5 = Syracuse Silver Knights (indoor) | caps5 = 1 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2016 | clubs6 = Bethlehem Steel | caps6 = 4 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2017 | clubs7 = Jacksonville Armada | caps7 = 0 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2017 | clubs8 = Pittsburgh Riverhounds | caps8 = 8 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2018 | clubs9 = Atlantic City FC | caps9 = 8 | goals9 = 0 | years10 = 2018–2019 | clubs10 = Harrisburg Heat (indoor) | caps10 = 12 | goals10 = 0 | years11 = 2019–2020 | clubs11 = Utica City (indoor) | caps11 = 1 | goals11 = 0 | years12 = 2020–2021 | clubs12 = Rochester Lancers (indoor) | caps12 = 0 | goals12 = 0 | years13 = 2021–2022 | clubs13 = Milwaukee Wave (indoor) | caps13 = 13 | goals13 = 0 | years14 = 2022–2023 | clubs14 = Florida Tropics (indoor) | caps14 = 0 | goals14 = 0 | manageryears1 = 2018 | managerclubs1 = Matabeleland (assistant) | manageryears2 = 2019 | managerclubs2 = Drexel Dragons Women (assistant) | manageryears3 = 2019–2022 | managerclubs3 = Ocean City Nor'easters (assistant) | manageryears5 = 2020 | managerclubs5 = Camden County Cougars (assistant) | manageryears6 = 2021–2022 | managerclubs6 = Camden County Cougars | manageryears7 = 2023– | managerclubs7 = Ocean City Nor'easters | manageryears8 = 2023– | managerclubs8 = Saint Joseph's Hawks (assistant) | nationalteam1 = Marshall Islands | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | medaltemplates = | pcupdate = January 10, 2024 | ntupdate = August 16, 2025 | nationalyears1 = 2025 | totalcaps = 55+ | totalgoals = 0 | goals1 = 0 }}
'''Matthew "Matt" Perrella''' (born October 6, 1991) is an American professional soccer coach and former player who played as a goalkeeper. He is currently head coach of USL League Two team Ocean City Nor'easters and assistant coach of the Saint Joseph's Hawks men's team in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
== Club career == After playing four years of collegiate soccer at Division I Rider University, Perrella went on to get his Master's from Durham University in England. While playing for non-league side Durham City, he was scouted by Newcastle United when Durham played the Newcastle United Reserves and won 2–0 with Perrella keeping a clean sheet in an outstanding performance. This led to trials with Newcastle United in England, Udinese in Italy, LB Châteauroux in France, Daugava Rīga in Latvia and APOEL in Cyprus. In the United States, Perrella spent time with the Carolina Railhawks (now North Carolina FC) and Sporting Kansas City. Perrella's European tour came to an end when he was denied of dual citizenship (US/France) and returned to the US.
In 2013, Perrella signed with Jacksonville Armada FC at the start of the clubs franchise. After making zero appearances in four months, Perrella left for Sporting Kansas City.
In 2016, Perrella signed with Bethlehem Steel FC.<ref name="SignsWithSteel">{{cite web |url=http://www.elitegoalkeeperacademy.org/single-post/2016/08/13/ELITE-Owner-Matthew-Perrella-Signs-for-Bethlehem-Steel-FC |title=ELITE Owner Matthew Perrella Signs for Bethlehem Steel FC |website=elitegoalkeeperacademy.org |access-date=September 25, 2016 |archive-date=September 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927155110/http://www.elitegoalkeeperacademy.org/single-post/2016/08/13/ELITE-Owner-Matthew-Perrella-Signs-for-Bethlehem-Steel-FC |url-status=dead }}</ref> Perrella also had previous stints with Carolina Railhawks of the NASL and New Jersey Copa SC of the NPSL On May 1, 2017, Steel FC announced that they and Perrella had mutually parted ways, with Perrella not making an appearance during the 2017 season.
On May 14, 2017, Perella signed with Jacksonville Armada FC on a one match loan to provide goalkeeping cover.
On August 10, 2017, Perella signed with Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL on a contract for the remainder of the season. He was intended as a replacement for Keasel Broome, who had to undergo season-ending wrist surgery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riverhounds.com/news_article/show/822178?referrer_id=2869741|title=RIVERHOUNDS SIGN MATT PERRELLA|website=Riverhounds.com|access-date=August 10, 2017}}</ref> Perrella's contract expired at the end of the season and was not renewed by the Riverhounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riverhounds.com/news_article/show/861849?referrer_id=2993158|title=HOUNDS ANNOUNCE INITIAL OFFSEASON ROSTER PLANS|website=Riverhounds.com|access-date=December 11, 2017}}</ref> He made eight appearances during his short spell with the club.
In 2018 Perella played with NPSL side Atlantic City FC and was the Keystone Conference goalkeeper of the year.
Perella was signed by Utica City FC of the MASL on May 30, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=UTICA CITY SIGNS MOISES GONZALEZ, DIEGO ZUÑIGA, AND MATT PERRELLA |url=https://www.uticacityfc.com/news/utica-city-signs-moises-gonzalez-diego-zu-iga-and- |website=UticaCityFC.com |access-date=June 5, 2019}}</ref>
After appearing in just one game for Utica in the 2019–20 season, Perrella signed with the Rochester Lancers in October 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fanta |first1=Frankie P. |title=VETERAN GOALKEEPER MATT PERRELLA JOINS THE LANCERS |url=https://www.rochesterlancers.com/blog/veteran-goalkeeper-matt-perrella-joins-the-lancers |website=RochesterLancers.com |access-date=October 31, 2020 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122053342/https://www.rochesterlancers.com/blog/veteran-goalkeeper-matt-perrella-joins-the-lancers |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== International career == Perrella was not initially included in the Marshall Islands national team squad announcement for the 2025 Outrigger Challenge Cup, however was included in the later released squad list. While the Marshall Islands squad was selected to follow FIFA rules on eligibility as closely as possible, Perrella has no public connection to the Marshall Islands other than being the national team's goalkeeper coach.<ref name="squad">{{cite web |last1=MISF |title=2025 Outrigger Challenge Cup Squad |url=https://rmi.soccer/2025/07/30/marshall-islands-soccer-announce-squad-for-the-2025-outrigger-challenge-cup/ |publisher=Marshall Soccer Federation |access-date=30 July 2025}}</ref>
Perrella played in the 4–0 loss against the United States Virgin Islands on August 14, 2025, conceding a penalty.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 August 2025 |title=Last country on Earth to play an international match make debut |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/marshall-islands-international-football-debut-xbrbstbrs |access-date=15 August 2025 |website=The Times}}</ref>
== Coaching career == Perella joined the Drexel Dragons women's team coaching staff on April 12, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Perrella Named Women's Soccer Assistant Coach |url=https://drexeldragons.com/news/2019/4/12/perrella-named-womens-soccer-assistant-coach.aspx |website=DrexelDragons.com |access-date=June 5, 2019}}</ref> He also joined the staff of USL League Two team Ocean City Nor'easters in the summer of 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nor'easters head coach Kevin Nuss announces coaching staff for 2019 season |url=http://www.oceancityfc.com/nor-easters-head-coach-kevin-nuss-announces-coaching-staff-for-2019-season/ |website=OceanCityFC.com |date=May 22, 2019 |access-date=June 5, 2019}}</ref>
Perrella was named head coach of the Camden County Cougars men's team in July 2021.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Perrella To Take Charge of Cougars Men's Soccer Fall 2021 |url=https://www.camdenccathletics.org/general/Matt_Perrella |website=CamdenCCAthletics.com |date=July 2021 |publisher=Camden County College |access-date=10 January 2024}}</ref>
In July 2023, Perrella was promoted to head coach for the Ocean City Nor'easters.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gargan |first1=Guy |title=Matt Perrella to coach Ocean City Nor'easters in 2023 |url=https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/matt-perrella-to-coach-ocean-city-noreasters-in-2023/article_a256eb82-991a-11ed-b73d-cf5716675b14.html |website=PressOfAtlanticCity.com |date=January 21, 2023 |publisher=The Press of Atlantic City |access-date=10 January 2024}}</ref>
Perrella also joined the staff of the Saint Joseph's Hawks men's team in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Matt Perrella - Assistant Coach |url=https://sjuhawks.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/coaches/matt-perrella/946 |website=SJUHawks.com |publisher=Saint Joseph's Hawks |access-date=10 January 2024}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===International=== :''As of match played August 16, 2025''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |Marshall Islands |2025||2||0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total||2||0 |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Sports links}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perrella, Matt}} Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:American men's soccer players Category:North Carolina FC players Category:Philadelphia Union II players Category:Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC players Category:People from North Brunswick, New Jersey Category:Soccer players from Middlesex County, New Jersey Category:USL Championship players Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:Syracuse Silver Knights players Category:Major Arena Soccer League players Category:Harrisburg Heat (MASL) players Category:Utica City FC players Category:American soccer coaches Category:USL League Two coaches Category:Drexel Dragons women's soccer coaches Category:Alumni of Durham University Category:Durham City A.F.C. players Category:American expatriate men's soccer players Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:American expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Jacksonville Armada FC players Category:National Premier Soccer League players Category:Rochester Lancers (1967–1980) players Category:Atlantic City FC players Category:Rider Broncs men's soccer players Category:Indoor soccer goalkeepers Category:Saint Joseph's Hawks men's soccer coaches Category:21st-century American sportsmen