| Sam Brotherton | |
| Fullname: | Samuel Edward Brotherton |
| Birth Date: | 29 October 1996 |
| Birth Place: | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Height: | 1.87 m[1] |
| Position: | Central defender |
| Youthclubs1: | Westlake Boys High School |
| Collegeyears1: | 2015–2016 |
| College1: | Wisconsin Badgers |
| Collegecaps1: | 33 |
| Collegegoals1: | 3 |
| Years1: | 2014–2015 |
| Clubs1: | Wanderers SC |
| Caps1: | 16 |
| Goals1: | 1 |
| Years2: | 2016 |
| Clubs2: | Des Moines Menace |
| Caps2: | 5 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2017–2019 |
| Clubs3: | Sunderland |
| Caps3: | 0 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2018 |
| Clubs4: | → Blyth Spartans (loan) |
| Caps4: | 1 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2019–2020 |
| Clubs5: | North Carolina FC |
| Caps5: | 42 |
| Goals5: | 3 |
| Years6: | 2021–2022 |
| Clubs6: | Auckland City FC |
| Caps6: | 37 |
| Goals6: | 4 |
| Years7: | 2023 |
| Clubs7: | Forward Madison FC |
| Caps7: | 15 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2015 |
| Nationalteam1: | New Zealand U20 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 7 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 1 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2015– |
| Nationalteam2: | New Zealand U23 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 3 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2015–2023 |
| Nationalteam3: | New Zealand |
| Nationalcaps3: | 12 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 16 October 2023 |
| Ntupdate: | 29 January 2019 |
Samuel Edward Brotherton (born 29 October 1996) is a former New Zealand professional footballer who played as a defender. Brotherton also played with the New Zealand national team.
Brotherton started his career in the ASB Premiership with Wanderers SC and made his debut in the opening of the 2014–15 ASB Premiership against Waitakere United in the 3–2 loss.[2] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 win over Canterbury United in round 8.[3]
In 2015, he moved to the United States and signed for University of Wisconsin. Playing in the Big Ten Conference during his freshman year, Brotherton would go on to make 17 appearances in 19 games for Wisconsin.[4]
On 1 February 2017, Brotherton completed a deal with English Premier League side Sunderland until the summer of 2019.[5]
On 29 January 2019, Brotherton joined USL Championship side North Carolina FC.[6]
Brotherton signed with Auckland City FC of the New Zealand Football Championship on 22 January 2021.[7]
Brotherton signed with Forward Madison FC of USL League One on 16 January 2023.[8]
Brotherton announced his retirement from professional football after the 2023 season.[9]
Brotherton has represented New Zealand at several levels with his first representation being with the touring New Zealand under-19 schoolboys national team in England and Ireland in which he was vice captain. The team would go on to score wins against the U18 and U19 national teams of Ireland and Wales and draws against Scotland and England.[4]
Brotherton was then announced in the New Zealand national under-20 football team for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup which was to be held in New Zealand.[10] Brotherton would go on to score his first international goal for New Zealand in the tournament in their 5–1 victory over Myanmar at Wellington Regional Stadium.[11]
Brotherton was part of the New Zealand national under-23 football team that participated in the 2015 Pacific Games, which doubled as qualification for the Football at the 2016 Summer Olympics.[12]
Brotherton's first senior international appearance would also arrive in 2015. He was called up to the squad to face South Korea in March,[13] however did not make an appearance. He would however be recalled for New Zealand's friendly against Oman in Seeb, Oman. Brotherton played the whole 90 minutes in which New Zealand won 1–0.[14]