| Intro | English-South African footballer |
| Is |
Athlete Football player Association football player |
| From | South Africa |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | male |
| Birth |
22 June 1988, Cape Town |
| Age | 32 years |
Dean Furman (born 22 June 1988) is a South African professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for SuperSport United in the Premier Soccer League.
He made his debut for the South Africa national team in 2012, representing the nation at two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
Personal life
Furman, who is of English-Jewish descent, was born in the Camps Bay suburb of the city of Cape Town.
Club career
Chelsea
Furman began his footballing career as a youth team player at Premier League club Chelsea. However, he did not make the breakthrough into the first team and so left the club.
Rangers
He signed for Rangers on 10 May 2006. Furman was a regular in the reserve side and captained the Under-19 team to the Scottish Youth Cup final in 2007, where they beat Old Firm rivals Celtic.
He signed a new two-year contract on 24 October 2007. Furman made his professional debut in a 3–1 Scottish Premier League win at Ibrox against Dundee United on 10 May 2008, as a 52nd-minute substitute for Kevin Thomson.
Bradford City
On 27 August 2008, he joined English League Two side Bradford City, managed by former Rangers midfielder Stuart McCall, on loan until January. He made his debut for Bradford City as a late substitute in a 3–2 defeat away to Aldershot Town three days after his signing before he made his first start in a Football League Trophy game with Leeds United and first league start at Shrewsbury Town, all of which ended in defeats for Bradford. After playing 12 league games for Bradford, he pulled his hamstring, which kept him out for more than a month before he returned to action in a reserve game against Hartlepool United on 16 December. His first game back in the first team was as a late substitute in a 0–0 draw with Lincoln City ten days later. Having returned to fitness, Furman also extended his loan spell with Bradford to the end of the season. His first goal for Bradford came later the same month when he scored Bradford’s first equaliser in a 3–3 league draw with Luton Town.
Oldham Athletic
Furman returned to Rangers at the end of the season and was offered a new one-year deal at Ibrox, as well as an offer from Bradford City. Instead, Furman returned to England with League One side Oldham Athletic, joining them on 29 June 2009, on a three-year contract. Furman won the Football League Goal of the Year 2011 for his effort against Notts County on 14 August 2010. Furman was appointed captain of Oldham Athletic for the 2011–12 season.
Doncaster Rovers
Though still club captain of Oldham, Doncaster Rovers signed him on loan on 14 March 2013 for the remainder of the 2012–13 season. Without Furman Oldham Athletic avoided relegation and Doncaster Rovers were promoted on the last day of the league season, the aims of both teams when the loan transfer was made being achieved. At the end of the season Furman joined Doncaster permanently, signing a two-year contract.
On 18 May 2015, he was one of six players released by the club.
SuperSport United
After rejecting a contract extension from Doncaster Rovers, on 18 August 2015 Furman signed for South African side, SuperSport United
on a two-year deal, with an option of a further year.
International career
Furman received his first international call-up for South Africa for a friendly on 19 August 2008 against Australia. He was an unused substitute in that match. Furman earned his first cap for South Africa in a friendly against Brazil on 8 September 2012. Furman earned his first man of the match award in the country’s 2–0 defeat of Mozambique on 11 September 2012.
Furman was selected for the final squad of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament hosted by his home country. In the second group match of the tournament, the Bafana Bafana convincingly defeated Angola 2–0 and Furman was named as Man of the Match. Furman played the full 90 in South Africa’s final group game, a 2–2 draw with Morocco, that secured Bafana Bafana top spot in the group and ensured their first passage to the quarter-finals of the competition since 2002. The quarter-final game against Mali on 2 February ended 1–1 after extra time and Furman had his penalty kick saved by Soumaila Diakité, as Mali won 3–1 in the penalty shoot-out.
Furman was named captain of Bafana Bafana ahead of 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan in Durban on 15 November 2014. He replaced former captain Senzo Meyiwa, who died earlier after being shot at his girlfriend’s home. He played every minute of the finals in Equatorial Guinea, a group stage exit.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 September 2013 | Durban, South Africa | Botswana | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 8 October 2016 | Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | Burkina Faso | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Honours
Doncaster Rovers
- Football League One: 2012–13