Jim Kourtis
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 14 February 1973 | ||
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1993–1995 | Brunswick Pumas | 41 | (0) |
| 1995–1998 | Gippsland Falcons | 78 | (0) |
| 1996 | → Port Melbourne Sharks (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 1997 | → Bentleigh Greens (loan) | 16 | (0) |
| 1998–2000 | Sydney Olympic | 12 | (0) |
| 2001 | Heidelberg United | 25 | (0) |
| 2002 | Bentleigh Greens | 24 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 1990 | Australia Schoolboys | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Jim Kourtis (born 14 February 1973) is an Australian former professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper. He is best known for his time with the Gippsland Falcons in the National Soccer League (NSL), where he served as captain, was named the club's best player for the 1996–97 season, and was later included in the club's 'Team of the NSL Era'.
Kourtis also had stints with Brunswick Pumas and Sydney Olympic before returning to Victorian Premier League, winning the Bill Fleming Medal in 2001 and the Gold Medal (VPL Player of the Year) in 2002.
He also represented Australia at Schoolboys level in 1990 and played for Victoria between 1994 and 2001.
Early years
Kourtis began his youth career in Melbourne and represented Australia at the Schoolboys level in 1990.[1]
Club career
Brunswick Pumas (1993–1995)
Kourtis made his senior debut with Brunswick Pumas in the 1993–94 NSL season, making 24 appearances. He continued with the club in 1994–95, adding 17 appearances.[2]
Gippsland Falcons (1995–1998)
Kourtis joined the Morwell Falcons in 1995 and remained with the club through its transition to Gippsland Falcons, making 78 NSL appearances across three seasons.
He captained the team in 1997–98 and was named the club’s best player for 1996–97 for his outstanding consistency.
For his renowned excellence during his time with the Latrobe Valley-based club, he was named in the Gippsland Falcons 'Team of the NSL Era' in 2011.
During the 1996 season, Kourtis spent time on loan at Port Melbourne Sharks, making 11 Victorian Premier League appearances.[3]
He was loaned to Bentleigh Greens in 1997, playing 16 Victorian Premier League matches and demonstrating consistent performances between the posts.[4]
Sydney Olympic (1998–2000)
He joined Sydney Olympic in the NSL, making 8 appearances in 1998–99 and 4 appearances in 1999–2000.[5]
Heidelberg United (2001)
Kourtis played 25 Victorian Premier League games in 2001 and won the Bill Fleming Medal as the league’s best player.[6]
Heidelberg United won the 2001 VPL Grand Final over Port Melbourne Sharks, where Kourtis had saved two kicks in the penalty shootout after the match finished 2-2.[7] [8] [9]
Bentleigh Greens (2002)
He returned to Bentleigh Greens in 2002, making 24 appearances and winning the NPL Gold Medal as the league’s best player.[10]
Representative career
Kourtis was an Australian schoolboys representative, earning selection in 1990.[11]
He made four Victorian representative appearances between 1994 and 2001[12][13]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Brunswick Pumas | 1993–94 | National Soccer League | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| 1994–95 | National Soccer League | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| Total | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 0 | ||
| Gippsland Falcons | 1995–96 | National Soccer League | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
| 1996–97 | National Soccer League | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |
| 1997–98 | National Soccer League | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| Total | 78 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 0 | ||
| Port Melbourne Sharks (loan) | 1996 | Victorian Premier League | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Bentleigh Greens (loan) | 1997 | Victorian Premier League | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Sydney Olympic | 1998–99 | National Soccer League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 1999–00 | National Soccer League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 0 | ||
| Heidelberg United | 2001 | Victorian Premier League | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| Bentleigh Greens | 2002 | Victorian Premier League | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Career total | 207 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 207 | 0 | ||
Honours
- Bill Fleming Medal: 2001, Heidelberg United
- NPL Gold Medal: 2002, Bentleigh Greens
- Gippsland Falcons: 'Team of the NSL Era' (1992-2001)
- Gippsland Falcons Player of the Year: 1996–97
References
- ^ "Australian Schoolboys Representative Teams 1977–2017" (PDF). Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Brunswick Pumas NSL 1993–94". OzFootball. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Port Melbourne Sharks 1996 Season". Retrieved 7 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Bentleigh Greens 1997 Season". Retrieved 7 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Sydney Olympic NSL 1998–2000". Retrieved 7 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Heidelberg United Honours". Retrieved 7 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Tony Persoglia. "Victorian Premier League: 1991–2013". Football Victoria. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "2001 Championship Grand Final Highlights: Port Melbourne v Heidelberg United". Facebook. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "2001 Eat Well Live Well Premier League Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Victorian Player Honours – NPL Gold Medal". Retrieved 7 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "The History of Australian Schoolboys Football Teams" (PDF). NSW Schools Football. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ "Representative Teams: Senior Men 1977-1996". Retrieved 7 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Representative Teams: Senior Men 2001-2009". Retrieved 7 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)