# Jackson Irvine
**Jackson Irvine** (Jackson Alexander Irvine, born 1993 in Melbourne) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for [J1 League](https://www.edgepedia.org/j1-league) club [Cerezo Osaka](https://www.edgepedia.org/cerezo-osaka) and the Australia national team, the Socceroos. He is a former captain of German club [FC St. Pauli](https://www.edgepedia.org/fc-st-pauli) and has represented Australia at three FIFA World Cups and two AFC Asian Cups.[1](https://socceroos.com.au/player/jackson-irvine?page=7) • [2](https://www.jleague.jp/en/news/article/34578/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1993, Melbourne; height 189 cm[1](https://socceroos.com.au/player/jackson-irvine?page=7) |
| Socceroos record | Debut 15 October 2013 against Canada; cap number 568; 86 appearances and 14 goals[1](https://socceroos.com.au/player/jackson-irvine?page=7) |
| Major tournaments | FIFA World Cup 2018, 2022, and 2026; AFC Asian Cup 2019 and 2023[1](https://socceroos.com.au/player/jackson-irvine?page=7) |
| St. Pauli | Joined 2021; 153 appearances, 15 goals, 21 assists; club captain 2022 to 2026; promoted to the Bundesliga in 2024[3](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/jackson-irvine-st-pauli-transfer-cerezo-osaka-japan-38488/) |
| Current club | Cerezo Osaka, J1 League, signed on a permanent transfer from St. Pauli in August 2026[2](https://www.jleague.jp/en/news/article/34578/) |
| Union roles | Representative within Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) and board member of FIFPro[4](https://www.jacksonirvine.com/about) |
## Early life and youth career
Irvine was born and raised in Melbourne and has heritage spanning Scotland, the Netherlands, and Malta.[4](https://www.jacksonirvine.com/about) His junior club was Ringwood City in Victoria.[1](https://socceroos.com.au/player/jackson-irvine?page=7) He came through the Melbourne Victory youth setup and joined Celtic in 2010, spending around three years in a successful youth setup at the Scottish club.[5](https://www.thecelticwiki.com/players/all-time-a-to-z-of-celtic-players/i/irvine-jackson/) He also represented Scotland at youth international level before committing to Australia, and played for the Young Socceroos and Olyroos.[6](https://socceroos.com.au/news/jackson-irvine) • [7](https://www.gulf-times.com/pdf/2022/11/30/sport-20221130-1.pdf?ts=020942)
His childhood idols were [David Beckham](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-beckham) and [Harry Kewell](https://www.edgepedia.org/harry-kewell), and he has said Kewell was his sporting idol as an aspiring footballer in Melbourne.[4](https://www.jacksonirvine.com/about) • [8](https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/kewell-inspires-australias-rising-star-jackson-irvine) He played in bands in high school, an early grounding for the music interests that later became part of his public profile.[4](https://www.jacksonirvine.com/about)
## Club career
**Scotland and England.** After his years at Celtic, Irvine was loaned to [Kilmarnock](https://www.edgepedia.org/kilmarnock) and then established himself at Ross County in the [Scottish Premiership](https://www.edgepedia.org/scottish-premiership).[5](https://www.thecelticwiki.com/players/all-time-a-to-z-of-celtic-players/i/irvine-jackson/) • [6](https://socceroos.com.au/news/jackson-irvine) He moved to Burton Albion in July 2016 and scored 11 goals in 49 appearances before Hull City signed him from Burton for an undisclosed fee on 30 August 2017.[9](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/369742/jackson-irvine) • [10](https://www.skysports.com/football/player/114481/jackson-irvine) He made more than 100 appearances for Hull.[1](https://socceroos.com.au/player/jackson-irvine?page=7)
After spending ten months without playing a competitive game, he signed with Scottish Premiership side Hibernian, where he played alongside fellow Socceroo Martin Boyle.[11](https://socceroos.com.au/news/socceroos-podcast-jackson-irvine)
**FC St. Pauli.** Irvine joined St. Pauli of the 2. Bundesliga, the Hamburg club known for its left-wing supporter culture, in 2021.[3](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/jackson-irvine-st-pauli-transfer-cerezo-osaka-japan-38488/) • [12](https://pfa.net.au/footballers-voice/footballers-voice-jackson-irvine-on-life-at-st-pauli-the-qatar-world-cup-and-his-role-with-the-pfa/) He quickly became a key player, was club captain from 2022 to 2026, and helped the club win promotion to the [Bundesliga](https://www.edgepedia.org/bundesliga) in 2024. Across his St. Pauli career he registered 153 appearances in all competitions, with 15 goals and 21 assists.[3](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/jackson-irvine-st-pauli-transfer-cerezo-osaka-japan-38488/) He described the Bundesliga spell as the experience he had always craved, and called the Hamburg derby the coldest conditions he had played in, with players coming to the bench mid-game for gloves and extra layers.[13](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/nov/06/jackson-irvine-australia-football-player-socceroos-st-pauli-bundesliga-interview) • [14](https://podscan.fm/podcasts/the-howie-games/episodes/268-jackson-irvine-part-a)
**Cerezo Osaka.** In August 2026, after St. Pauli's relegation from the Bundesliga, Irvine moved to J1 League club Cerezo Osaka on a permanent transfer. He said he was excited to join a new league and a club with potential in what he called the most exciting football nation in the world at that time.[2](https://www.jleague.jp/en/news/article/34578/) • [3](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/jackson-irvine-st-pauli-transfer-cerezo-osaka-japan-38488/)
## International career
Irvine made his senior Socceroos debut on 15 October 2013, coming off the bench for captain [Mile Jedinak](https://www.edgepedia.org/mile-jedinak) in a 3-0 friendly win over Canada, and scored his first international goal with a header three years later.[6](https://socceroos.com.au/news/jackson-irvine) • [15](https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/day-irvine-heads-first-socceroos-goal-amini-makes-debut) He has since been a regular for Australia, with 86 appearances and 14 goals as recorded by Football Australia.[1](https://socceroos.com.au/player/jackson-irvine?page=7) FIFPro, citing his union work, describes him as having made over 75 senior national team appearances.[16](https://www.fifpro.org/en/articles/2025/08/footballers-unfiltered-jackson-irvine-on-the-importance-of-player-unions-and-the-collective)
His tournament record spans five major competitions: the FIFA World Cups of 2018, 2022, and 2026, and the AFC Asian Cups of 2019 and 2023.[1](https://socceroos.com.au/player/jackson-irvine?page=7) At the 2023 Asian Cup he scored a goal against Syria that qualified Australia for the knockout stage.[1](https://socceroos.com.au/player/jackson-irvine?page=7) He was in Australia's squad at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he wore number 22.[17](https://www.fifatrainingcentre.com/media/native/world-cup-2022/report_133015.pdf) On 28 March 2023 he captained Australia in a friendly against Ecuador, becoming the 63rd captain of Australia.[1](https://socceroos.com.au/player/jackson-irvine?page=7) He was named in the Socceroos squad for the 2026 World Cup as a midfielder.[18](https://as.com/futbol/mundial/listas-de-convocados-para-el-mundial-2026-selecciones-y-todos-los-jugadores-que-estaran-en-la-copa-del-mundo-clone-f202606-n/)
## Player union work and advocacy
Irvine became involved in football's player union movement during the early stages of his international career and has made the collective organization of players a central theme of his public work.[16](https://www.fifpro.org/en/articles/2025/08/footballers-unfiltered-jackson-irvine-on-the-importance-of-player-unions-and-the-collective) He serves as a representative within Professional Footballers Australia and as a board member of FIFPro, the global players' union, advocating for players' rights, wellbeing, and futures.[4](https://www.jacksonirvine.com/about) He has spoken publicly on social justice causes, and his support for Palestine during his St.
## Music and football culture
Irvine's two stated passions are football and music, and his taste runs from [The Streets](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-streets)' *Original Pirate Material* to [Father John Misty](https://www.edgepedia.org/father-john-misty) and [Lou Reed](https://www.edgepedia.org/lou-reed), whose *Transformer* album is tattooed on his left shoulder.[19](https://www.soccerbible.com/interviews/2024/06/tune-into-jackson-irvine/) • [20](https://pfa.net.au/in-my-words/in-my-words-st-pauli-fans-see-me-as-a-person-not-a-performer-jackson-irvine/) He hosts a radio show, broadcasting in English, and spends the month between shows curating a playlist, with Australian music as a staple.[4](https://www.jacksonirvine.com/about) • [13](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/nov/06/jackson-irvine-australia-football-player-socceroos-st-pauli-bundesliga-interview) His love of retro football shirts and vintage aesthetics, together with his presence in fashion and modeling, has made him a visible figure in football culture beyond his playing career.[4](https://www.jacksonirvine.com/about)
## References
1. [Midfielder Jackson Irvine, Socceroos player profile](https://socceroos.com.au/player/jackson-irvine?page=7)
2. [MF Irvine Joins Cerezo Osaka on Permanent Transfer from FC St. Pauli, J.League official website](https://www.jleague.jp/en/news/article/34578/)
3. [Jackson Irvine leaves St. Pauli for Japan, Bundesliga.com](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/jackson-irvine-st-pauli-transfer-cerezo-osaka-japan-38488/)
4. [About Jackson Irvine, jacksonirvine.com](https://www.jacksonirvine.com/about)
5. [Irvine, Jackson, The Celtic Wiki](https://www.thecelticwiki.com/players/all-time-a-to-z-of-celtic-players/i/irvine-jackson/)
6. [Jackson Irvine, Socceroos](https://socceroos.com.au/news/jackson-irvine)
7. [Gulf Times sport pages, 30 November 2022](https://www.gulf-times.com/pdf/2022/11/30/sport-20221130-1.pdf?ts=020942)
8. [Kewell inspires Australia's rising star Jackson Irvine, Socceroos](https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/kewell-inspires-australias-rising-star-jackson-irvine)
9. [Jackson Irvine stats, career and market value, FotMob](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/369742/jackson-irvine)
10. [Jackson Irvine player profile and transfer history, Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/player/114481/jackson-irvine)
11. [Socceroos Podcast: Jackson Irvine, 10 month journey back to football](https://socceroos.com.au/news/socceroos-podcast-jackson-irvine)
12. [Footballers' Voice: Jackson Irvine on life at St. Pauli, the Qatar World Cup and his role with the PFA](https://pfa.net.au/footballers-voice/footballers-voice-jackson-irvine-on-life-at-st-pauli-the-qatar-world-cup-and-his-role-with-the-pfa/)
13. [Jackson Irvine: 'This Bundesliga experience is what I've always craved', The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/nov/06/jackson-irvine-australia-football-player-socceroos-st-pauli-bundesliga-interview)
14. [The Howie Games episode 268: Jackson Irvine (Part A)](https://podscan.fm/podcasts/the-howie-games/episodes/268-jackson-irvine-part-a)
15. [On this day: Irvine heads in first Socceroos goal, Socceroos](https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/day-irvine-heads-first-socceroos-goal-amini-makes-debut)
16. [Footballers Unfiltered: Jackson Irvine on the importance of player unions and the collective, FIFPro](https://www.fifpro.org/en/articles/2025/08/footballers-unfiltered-jackson-irvine-on-the-importance-of-player-unions-and-the-collective)
17. [FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 official report, FIFA Training Centre](https://www.fifatrainingcentre.com/media/native/world-cup-2022/report_133015.pdf)
18. [Listas de convocados para el Mundial 2026, AS](https://as.com/futbol/mundial/listas-de-convocados-para-el-mundial-2026-selecciones-y-todos-los-jugadores-que-estaran-en-la-copa-del-mundo-clone-f202606-n/)
19. [Tune Into Jackson Irvine, SoccerBible](https://www.soccerbible.com/interviews/2024/06/tune-into-jackson-irvine/)
20. [In My Words: 'St Pauli fans see me as a person, not a performer', The PFA](https://pfa.net.au/in-my-words/in-my-words-st-pauli-fans-see-me-as-a-person-not-a-performer-jackson-irvine/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania › Oceanian footballers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license