{{Short description|American soccer player (born 1993)}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Matthew Nierras | fullname = Matthew Erwin Thomas Dacanay Nierras<ref name="globalsports">{{cite web|url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/people/soccer/matthew-nierras/512576/|title=Matthew Nierras - Global Sports Archive|website=Global Sports Archive|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref> | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|2|6|mf=y}} | birth_place = San Mateo, California, United States | height = | currentclub = Stallion Laguna | clubnumber = 3 | position = Center-back, Full-back | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = PAREF Southridge | collegeyears1 = 2011–2015 | college1 = De La Salle University | years1 = 2011– | clubs1 = Stallion Laguna | caps1 = 117 | goals1 = 1 | pcupdate = 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.<ref name="globalsports" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/StallionLagunaFootball/photos/a.3066294033588963/3090524777832555/|title=Matthew Erwin Thomas Dacanay Nierras|website=Stallion Laguna Football Club on Facebook|date=10 April 2022|accessdate=21 August 2023}}</ref>
==Personal life== Nierras was born in San Mateo, California.<ref name="globalsports" /> His father, Ernie, is the current coach of Stallion Laguna, where Matthew plays, and has also managed the Philippine women's national football team.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Estrada |first1=Kevin|url=https://www.dugout.ph/2017/05/the-nierras-glad-for-stallions-last.html|title=The Nierrases glad for Stallion's last minute fightback |accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref name="rising" />
==Career== ===De La Salle University=== Nierras played high school soccer for PAREF Southridge School alongside future teammate Gregory Yang.<ref name="rising">{{cite news|last1=Tamayao|first1=Brian Lance|last2=Vasquez|first2=Rogie|url=https://thelasallian.com/2013/05/11/matthew-nierras-and-nathan-alquiros-rising-to-the-next-level/|title=Matthew Nierras and Nathan Alquiros: Rising to the next level|work=The LaSallian|date=11 May 2013|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Punzalan|first1=Andrea|last2=Reyes|first2=Alfonso|url=https://thelasallian.com/2019/07/22/the-men-behind-cutz-apparel-greggy-yang-and-matt-nierras/|title=The men behind Cutz Apparel: Greggy Yang and Matt Nierras|work=The LaSallian|date=22 July 2019|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thelasallian.com/2015/03/09/nierras-addresses-the-dlsu-mens-football-team-for-one-last-time/|title=Nierras addresses the DLSU Men's Football Team for one last time|work=The LaSallian|date=9 March 2015|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gathercole|first1=Nadz |url=http://dlsusports.com/la-salle-falls-to-feu-late-in-extra-time/|title=FOOTBALL: La Salle falls to FEU late in extra time|work=dlsusports.com|date=9 March 2015|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref>
===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.<ref name="rising" /><ref name="spin.ph">{{cite news|first1=Christian|last1=Jacinto|url=https://www.spin.ph/football/shu-sasaki-hiraku-minegishi-stallion-laguna-global-cebu-philippines-football-league|title=Late game fireworks in Binan as Stallion Laguna, Global Cebu battle to a draw|publisher=spin.ph|date=21 May 2017|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Guerrero|first1=Bob|url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/121444-football-preview-anyones-title/|title=UAAP 78 football preview: It's anyone's title|publisher=Rappler|date=5 February 2016|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Guerrero|first1=Bob |url=https://bobguerreroph.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/uaap-stars-find-spots-in-ufl-rosters/|title=UAAP STARS FIND SPOTS IN UFL ROSTERS|publisher=bobguerrero.ph|date=10 March 2014|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref> Due to the league's status being amateur, he was allowed to participate in both without complication.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Karlo |last1=Sacamos|url=https://www.spin.ph/football/23-azkals-gauge-capability-against-ufl-all-stars|title=Under-23 Azkals out to prove SEAG point in game against UFL stars |publisher=spin.ph |date=9 July 2013|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Karlo|last1=Sacamos |url=https://www.spin.ph/football/pfl/kaya-settles-for-draw-against-stallion-despite-aly-borromeo-return|title=Kaya settles for draw against Stallion despite Aly Borromeo return|publisher=spin.ph|date=9 April 2014|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=723636822001582|title=Take a look at some of our longest serving players when they first joined the club!|website=Stallion Laguna Football Club on Facebook|date=23 April 2022|accessdate=21 August 2023}}</ref> While playing for them in 2013, Stallion won the 2013 United Football League, the first and only in the club's history.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Guerrero|first1=Bob |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/the-passionate-fan/ufl-stallion-denied-title-clinching-points-resolute-loyola-174542278.html|title=UFL: Stallion Denied Title-clinching Points by Resolute Loyola|publisher=sg.news.yahoo.com|date=12 June 2013|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref> In 2015, he took a break from the club to focus on his final UAAP season as a senior, returning to the club after.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Karlo |last1=Sacamos |url=https://www.spin.ph/football/pfl/levi-gilmar-di-silva-fernandez-neymar-recruit-on-loan-alloa-fc-stallion-fc-ernie-nierras-ufl-football|title=Jury still out as Stallion brings in highly touted Fil-Jamaican Levi Fernandez|publisher=spin.ph |date=21 April 2015|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tupas|first1=Cedelf|url=https://sports.inquirer.net/249354/stallion-holds-off-global|title=Huge blow for Laguna as Matthew Nierras suffers injury|date=23 May 2017|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref><ref name="dugout.ph">{{cite news |last1=Estrada |first1=Kevin|url=https://www.dugout.ph/2018/10/nierras-has-mixed-thoughts-as-laguna.html|title=Nierras has mixed thoughts as Laguna advance to Copa semifinal|accessdate=26 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=del Carmen|first1=Lorenzo|url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/pfl-kaya-iloilo-staves-off-stallion-laguna-comeback-to-book-copa-semis-ticket/238755|title=PFL: Kaya-Iloilo staves off Stallion Laguna comeback to book Copa semis ticket |date=2 May 2022|accessdate=3 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="spin.ph"/> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pfl.org.ph/nierras-sets-afc-cup-target-stallion-laguna/|title=Nierras sets AFC Cup target for Stallion Laguna|work=pfl.org.ph|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kayafc.com/match/11892-stallion-laguna-fc-v-kaya-fc%E2%80%93iloilo/|title=Stallion Laguna 2-3 Kaya-Iloilo|work=kayafc.com|date=2 May 2022|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Saldajeno|first1=Ivan|url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/1050070|title=Huge blow for Laguna as Matthew Nierras suffers injury|date=5 October 2018|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref><ref name="dugout.ph"/> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=del Carmen|first1=Lorenzo|url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/schrock-reunites-with-dooley-leads-30-man-azkals-pool-for-asian-cup-qualifiers/241167 |title=Schrock reunites with Dooley, leads 30-man Azkals pool for Asian Cup Qualifiers|date=27 May 2022|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2022-07-16/philippines-vs-timor-leste/2757395/|title=Philippines 4:1 Timor Leste - Global Sports Archive|website=Global Sports Archive|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pff.org.ph/2022/06/20/second-pff-c-diploma-blended-course-held-in-carmona-cavite/|title=Second PFF 'C' Diploma Blended Course held in Carmona, Cavite|work=Philippine Football Federation|date=20 June 2022|accessdate=3 September 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
{{Stallion Laguna F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nierras, Matthew}} Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from San Mateo, California Category:Soccer players from San Mateo County, California Category:American people of Filipino descent Category:Sportspeople of Filipino descent Category:Filipino people of American descent Category:Filipino men's footballers Category:Philippines men's international footballers Category:De La Salle University alumni Category:Stallion Laguna F.C. players Category:University Athletic Association of the Philippines men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Philippines Football League players Category:21st-century Filipino sportsmen