Ryan Nelsen
Ryan Nelsen, 2013
Ryan William Nelsen, ONZM (born 18 October 1977 in Christchurch ) is a former New Zealand football player and current coach. He is currently head coach of the Toronto Football Club.
Career as a player
Association
Nelsen began his career in the youth of Christ Church United, where he also played in the first team. In 1997 he moved to the University team of Greenboro University in the United States. In 2001 he moved to D.C. United in Major League Soccer. After he took over the captaincy in 2003, he was elected into the best team in the league. The same thing he succeeded in the following season, in which he had won with DC United their fourth MLS Cup.
The center-back joined within the 2004/05 season to England to Blackburn Rovers, the team captain Nelsen was. 2007 was Nelson with Blackburn in the final of the FA Cup, which was lost against Chelsea after extra time. He is still the only New Zealander who ever stood in an FA Cup final. As a defensive man Nelson played more than 150 games for Blackburn Rovers, although it failed by a serious hamstring injury almost an entire season.
During the winter break 2012, the contract was terminated with Nelsen; He joined Tottenham Hotspur. After half a year in Tottenham Nelsen joined the 2012/13 season at the Queens Park Rangers, where he signed a one year contract. On 1 February 2013, finished his career to become head coach of Toronto FC. Nelsen completed his last game on January 29, 2013 against Manchester City ( 0-0).
National
Ryan Nelsen made his debut in 1999 for the New Zealand national team, but due to injuries and commitments to his club he has completed so far relatively little caps for the All Whites. He played until 2008 for four years for the national team, but then he put the obligations to his club into the background and was apart from the A- team also still in the game beyond the age limit in the Olympics in Beijing use. While he achieved only rarely in association gates, was the defender who is always dangerous even in standard situations, have often successfully for New Zealand. With a bit more luck he could be a very few players who have participated in three Confederations Cup, but after his missions in 1999 in Mexico and 2003 in France, he had to forego 2009 South Africa due to an injury. The highlight of his national team career was undoubtedly the play-off against Bahrain, he led the team as captain to the first World Cup appearance in 28 years. In the final competition for the Football World Cup 2010 in South Africa, he failed in New Zealand undefeated in the preliminary round.
Career as a coach
On 8 January 2013, the Toronto FC Nelsen committed as head coach of his MLS team. Since Nelsen was still up to 30 June 2013 as a player at Queens Park Rangers under contract, was initially unclear when he will take over as coach. Nelsen agreed later with the Queens Park Rangers to take over his new job on February 1, 2013.
Achievements
- American Football Champion 2004 with DC United
- Oceania Footballer of the Year: 2006