Stephen Laybutt

Stephen Laybutt (3 September 1977 – 13 January 2024) was an Australian football player. He played for Australia national team.

Stephen Laybutt

Laybutt training with Newcastle Jets
Personal information
Full name	Stephen John Laybutt
Date of birth	(1977-09-03)3 September 1977
Place of birth	Lithgow, Australia
Date of death	13 January 2024(2024-01-13) (aged 46)
Place of death	Cabarita Beach, Australia
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Centre back
Youth career
1994–1995	AIS
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1995–1997	Wollongong Wolves	29	(2)
1997–1999	Brisbane Strikers	68	(6)
1999	Bellmare Hiratsuka	10	(0)
1999–2000	Parramatta Power	7	(1)
2000–2002	Feyenoord	0	(0)
2000–2001	→RBC Roosendaal (loan)	3	(0)
2001	→Lyn Oslo (loan)	6	(0)
2002	Sydney Olympic	12	(1)
2002–2003	Brisbane Strikers	22	(1)
2003–2004	Excelsior Mouscron	30	(1)
2004–2007	Gent	70	(1)
2007–2008	Newcastle Jets	10	(0)
2009–2010	Dandaloo FC
International career‡
1998–2000	Australia U-23	14	(1)
2000–2004	Australia	15	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 January 2008 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 September 2007

Death

Laybutt was reported missing on 13 January 2024 when he could not be contacted after having last been seen the previous night.^[1] Police discovered his body on 14 January 2024 in bushland near Cabarita Beach, New South Wales. He was 46.^[1]

Club career statistics

^[2]

Club statistics			League
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals
Australia			League
1995–96	Wollongong Wolves	National Soccer League	7	0
1996–97			10	0
1997–98	Brisbane Strikers	National Soccer League	22	2
1998–99			24	3
Japan			League
1999	Bellmare Hiratsuka	J. League 1	10	0
Australia			League
1999–00	Parramatta Power	National Soccer League	7	1
Netherlands			League
2000–01	Roosendaal	Eredivisie	3	0
Norway			League
2001	Lyn Oslo	Premier League	6	0
Australia			League
2001–02	Sydney Olympic	National Soccer League	12	1
2002–03	Brisbane Strikers	National Soccer League	22	1
Belgium			League
2003–04	Mouscron	First Division	30	1
2004–05	Gent	First Division	30	1
2005–06			26	0
2006–07			14	0
Australia			League
2007–08	Newcastle United Jets	A-League	10	0
Country	Australia		114	8
	Japan		10	0
	Netherlands		3	0
	Norway		6	0
	Belgium		100	2
Total			233	10

National team statistics

^[3]

Australia national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2000	8	1
2001	2	0
2002	0	0
2003	1	0
2004	4	0
Total	15	1

Australia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Laybutt goal^[4]

List of international goals scored by Stephen Laybutt

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	23 February 2000	Üllői úti stadion, Budapest, Hungary	4	Hungary	1–0	3–0	Friendly	[4]

Honours

With Australia:

• OFC Nations Cup: 2000, 2004

With Sydney Olympic:

• NSL Championship: 2001-2002