Aziz Behich (, ; born 16 December 1990) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a left back for A-League Men club Melbourne City and the Australia national team.
Club career Youth career Behich played in the junior divisions of Green Gully SC. He participated in the junior leagues of Melbourne's North-West. He had played for the club's Reserve team in 2007. In February 2007 Behich had returned to Australia after having been training at the David Beckham Academy. In 2008 Behich was signed to the club's first team, surprisingly because the coach; Ian Dobson, had preferred experienced players within his squad, where he made his debut on 22 February 2008 in a 2–0 loss against Richmond. He had been substituted onto the field in the 57th minute. He had been promoted to the club's first team with teammate Diogo Ferreira, who also went on to sign for Melbourne during Behich's second youth season. In 2008, Behich scored two goals in 11 appearances while playing for Green Gully in Australia's Second Division. He had scored his two goals in a 6–1 win against Fawkner Blues on 17 May 2008, he had been substituted onto the field in the 76th minute and scored in both the 84th and 86th minutes.
Prior to the start of the 2008–2009 A-League's National Youth League, Behich was selected for Melbourne Victory's squad.Aziz Behich . Mvfcblog.com (1 August 2008). Retrieved on 21 October 2011.A-League Football Club . Melbourne Victory. Retrieved on 21 October 2011.Victory Sign Up Seven Youths – Australia News – Australian FourFourTwo – The Ultimate Football Website. Au.fourfourtwo.com (31 July 2008). Retrieved on 21 October 2011. On 3 January 2009, Aziz scored in a 3–0 win against Queensland Roar.. A-league.com.au. Retrieved on 21 October 2011. One week later, he scored again in a 2–0 win against Perth Glory on 10 January 2009.. A-league.com.au. Retrieved on 21 October 2011. Victory went on to finish in 6th position out of seven teams.
During the National Youth League's off-season, Behich would return to play for Green Gully in the 2009 season. Aziz had appeared 22 times for Green Gully, once in the final's play-offs, and had scored two goals overall. His second goal came in a play-off match against Altona Magic where which Behich was substituted onto the field in the 80th minute when Green Gully were trailing 3–2. Behich had scored an equaliser in the 94th minute to take the game to extra-time, however, Green Gully eventually lost 4–3 on penaltiesADVANTAGE ALTONA! Green Gully pays the penalty . Greengully.com. Retrieved on 21 October 2011.
The following season, Behich was the only youth player to re-sign with Melbourne's youth team and was handed the captain's arm band.Aziz Behich Pictures – National Youth League Rd 6 – United v Victory. Zimbio (1 November 2008). Retrieved on 21 October 2011.. Melbournevictory.net (15 January 2010). Retrieved on 21 October 2011.Aziz Behich – Melbourne Heart FC. Football Lineups. Retrieved on 21 October 2011.A-League Football Club. Melbourne Victory. Retrieved on 21 October 2011.
Melbourne Victory Behich made his debut for Melbourne Victory's first team on 16 January 2010, in the 2009–10 A-League season, where he was substituted on to the field in the 83rd minute for Carlos Hernández in a 6–2 win against Perth Glory.. A-league.com.au. Retrieved on 21 October 2011. His second appearance was on 23 January 2010, where he was substituted onto the field in the 91st minute, again for Carlos Hernández, in a 2–0 win against Adelaide United.. A-league.com.au. Retrieved on 21 October 2011. Despite Matthew Theodore being the only player to sign from Melbourne's youth-team to its first team in 2009, as of 2010 Behich was the only youth player to gain a first-team appearance and consecutive first-team appearances. It was then announced, in January 2010, that Behich was named in Melbourne's 2010 AFC Champions League squad.Melbourne Victory Name Asian Champions League Squad. Goal.com (21 January 2010). Retrieved on 21 October 2011. He was substituted on during the second half of the 2009–2010 A-League Grand Final when Melbourne lost on penalties to Sydney, and is notable for the narrowest miss of the match, which could have been the winner. Behich then signed to Hume City in the Victorian Premier League during the A-League off-season.
Hume City Behich debuted for Hume City in a 2–2 draw against Northcote City on 16 May 2010. Scoring on debut, he netted Hume city's second goal on 81 minutes. He appeared 5 more times for the side, departing from the club in June, as they finished in second spot of the Victorian Premier League table.2010 Victorian Premier League – Final Table. Ozfootball.net. Retrieved on 21 October 2011.
Melbourne Heart By July 2010, he trialled with the Melbourne Heart squad where he took part in a round of warm up matches that the club played, including a 2–0 defeat against Everton. Behich, shortly after trialling with Melbourne Heart, signed a seven-week deal with the club as an injury replacement player for Kristian Sarkies until October 2010. After Dean Heffernan received a red card, Behich slotted into the starting lineup to cover his position, and started most games afterwards. On 25 October 2010, he signed a full-time contract with the Melbourne Heart, becoming the first player to play for both Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart.Behich staying with Heart – Football – Sportal Australia . Sportal.com.au. Retrieved on 21 October 2011. At Heart, he was developed into more of a defensive player, a left back or left winger, as opposed to the striker position he played at Victory. He was the first player to be sent off in a Melbourne derby, given his second yellow in the very first encounter between the clubs, which Heart won 2–1. In January, Behich was awarded the A-League Young Footballer of the month.Behich wins January award as A-League Young Footballer. Herald Sun (2 February 2011). Retrieved on 21 October 2011. It was reported on 28 January 2012 by the Dutch media that Behich had attracted the interest of Eredivisie club Excelsior and 2. Bundesliga sides VfL Bochum and Eintracht Frankfurt. Excelsior manager John Lammers spoke of his interest in the exciting youngster to Rotterdam newspapers Algemeen Dagblad and NRC Handelsblad: "We are looking to bring Aziz to the club, he's an exceptional talent who we've been watching."
Bursaspor On 29 January 2013, Behich signed to Turkish Süper Lig club Bursaspor. On 11 March 2013, Aziz Behich made his Turkish Süper Lig debut for Bursaspor against Fenerbahçe as a 69th-minute substitute for Tuncay. On 4 March 2016, Behich signed three-year extension to his contract with Bursaspor, which was due to expire in May.
PSV Eindhoven On 31 August 2018, Behich signed for Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven for four years. The transfer fee paid to Bursaspor was reported as for $4.5 million
Başakşehir On 24 May 2019, it was announced Behich would return to Turkey to join Başakşehir for the 2019–20 season, having agreed a three-year deal.
Kayserispor (loan) On 2 October 2020, Behich joined Kayserispor on a season-long loan.
Giresunspor On 26 August 2021, Behich joined recently promoted sided Giresunspor, in their return to the Süper Lig.
Dundee United
On 28 July 2022, Behich joined Dundee United on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract.
Return to Melbourne City After parting ways with Dundee United, Behich signed a two-year deal for Melbourne City on 6 August 2023. This marked his return to the club after nine years overseas. At the start of the 2024–25 season, Behich was appointed captain.
Al-Nassr (loan) On 31 January 2024, while on Asian Cup duty with the Socceroos, he joined Al-Nassr on loan for the remainder of the 2023–24 season. The loan fee was reported to be around $2 million AUD.
International career
Behich was called up to the Australia Under-23 side by coach Aurelio Vidmar for a friendly match against Japan's Under-23 side at the Tohoku Denryoku Bigswan Stadium, Niigata on Wednesday 1 June 2011.. Footballaustralia.com.au. Retrieved on 21 October 2011. Behich was selected to play against Yemen's under-23 side for the Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's Asian Qualifiers Preliminary Round 2. On 14 June 2011, in preparation for the 2012 AFC Men's Pre-Olympic Tournament, Behich featured in a 6–0 win against Singapore under-23 where he scored Australia's sixth goal in the 90th minute. On 19 June 2011 Behich played in Australia's first-leg 3–0 win against Yemen.Official Home of Asian Football. The-afc.com (19 June 2011). Retrieved on 21 October 2011.Australia vs Singapore – U23 – 2011 . Back of the Net. Retrieved on 21 October 2011.Aziz Behich and Diogo Ferreira named in Qantas Olyroos squad . Greengully.com. Retrieved on 21 October 2011.Football Federation Australia Home . Footballaustralia.com.au. Retrieved on 21 October 2011. Four days later he played in the second leg which resulted in a 4–0 win to Australia on 23 June.Football Federation Australia Home . Footballaustralia.com.au. Retrieved on 21 October 2011.
Behich was called up to the Australian national team by Holger Osieck for a friendly match against South Korea on 14 November 2012, where he made his debut.
Behich scored his first international goals on 9 December 2012 against Chinese Taipei at the Hong Kong Stadium during the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup.
He was included in Ange Postecoglou's 2015 AFC Asian Cup-winning squad where he played 2 matches as Australia won the tournament on home soil.
In May 2018 he was named in Australia's 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia after being involved in the previous summer's Confederations Cup.
Behich was also called up to the Australia squad by manager Graham Arnold for the 2022 FIFA World Cup where he started all 4 matches during Australia's campaign to the Round of 16. Behich made a run past Argentinian defenders and had a chance at an equalising goal in the dying seconds of the Round of 16 game, but his shot was stopped by Emi Martinez. Behich was also a prominent member of Australia's squad in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and all rounds of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
On 31 May 2026, Behich was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Personal life Behich is a Muslim of Turkish Cypriot origin, son of immigrants to Australia from Cyprus. For this reason he was eligible to represent Turkey, Cyprus or Australia, eventually choosing the latter.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGreen Gully2008Victorian Premier League112————1122009Victorian Premier League222————222Total33400000000334Melbourne Victory2009–10A-League50——00—50Hume City2010Victorian Premier League61————61Melbourne Heart2010–11A-League270————2702011–12A-League241————2412012–13A-League140————140Total65100000000651Bursaspor2012–13Süper Lig1010—00—202014–15Süper Lig29080—20—3902015–16Süper Lig26150——103212016–17Süper Lig32020———3402017–18Süper Lig31530———3452018–19Süper Lig3000———30Total12261900020101446Melbourne Heart (loan)2013–14A-League241————241PSV Eindhoven2018–19Eredivisie4020—00—60Başakşehir2019–20Süper Lig5040—20—110Kayserispor (loan)2020–21Süper Lig34020———360Giresunspor2021–22Süper Lig34000———340Dundee United2022–23Scottish Premiership313212010—364Melbourne City2023–24A-League Men10030—61—1912024–25A-League Men27210———2822025–26A-League Men25300—90—343Total625400015100816Al-Nassr (loan)2023–24Saudi Pro League0000—300030Total42521331202311048423
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsAustralia201252201300201430201540201600201770201811020198020200020219020221002023602024140202541202660Total873
Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Behich goal.