Dean Heffernan

With the Central Coast Mariners he scored 8 goals from left back in 24 games and was subsequently named in Australian FourFourTwo's A-League dream team. In March 2006, he and teammate Michael Beauchamp had a ten-day trial with German Bundesliga club Nürnberg. On 1 July 2006, both players transferred to Nürnberg on season-long loans. Heffernan struggled to get senior games only appearing on the bench for the first team, although he played eight games in the reserves scoring five goals. Heffernan suffered a broken leg during the Mariners 4–5 loss to Sydney FC on 22 December 2007, due to a tackle by Ufuk Talay. As a result, he was unable to play in the rest of the 2007–08 A-League season. Since returning from fracturing his tibia, he was selected twice for the Socceroos and was a stand out for his club the Mariners in their 2010 Asian Champions League campaign. With the Central Coast Mariners in the 2009–10 he had another stand out season, where he was named in the PFA team of the year and Australian Four Four Two team of the year. He also scored his first international goal for Australia against Kuwait. On 26 November 2009, Heffernan joined new A-league side, Melbourne Heart on a multi-year deal.

Huddersfield Town

Prior to joining Melbourne Heart, Heffernan joined English side Huddersfield Town in Football League One to help prepare for a World Cup call up for the Socceroos. He completed the deal on 28 January 2010 after receiving his international clearance. On 30…

On 24 April 2019 Heffernan was appointed the manager of the Western Sydney Wanderers in the W-league. On 12 April 2023 Heffernan was appointed the manager of the Central Coast United FC in the NSW League One. In August 2026, Heffernan was appointed coach of Central Coast Mariners Women.

1Includes A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup.

Heffernan was selected to be part of the Socceroos in the Australia versus Argentina game on 11 September 2007. He got his first senior international cap on 28 January 2009 in an AFC Asian Cup qualifying match versus Indonesia at the Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. He was then again selected for the Socceroos in January 2010 in an AFC Asian Cup qualifying match versus Kuwait. Heffernan scored in the fifth minute to open his international scoring account and help his side to a 2–2 draw.