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Ryan Nelsen

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"Ryan Nelson" redirects here. For the American judge, seeRyan D. Nelson.

Ryan Nelsen
ONZM
Nelsen as head coach ofToronto FCin 2013
Personal information
Full name Ryan William Nelsen[1]
Date of birth (1977-10-18)18 October 1977(age 46)[1]
Place of birth Christchurch,New Zealand
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 Greensboro Pride
1999–2000 Stanford Cardinal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1998 Christchurch United 96 (12)
2001–2005 D.C. United 81 (7)
2005–2012 Blackburn Rovers 172 (8)
2012 Tottenham Hotspur 5 (0)
2012–2013 Queens Park Rangers 21 (1)
Total 375 (28)
International career
2008 New Zealand Olympic(O.P.) 5 (0)
2012 New Zealand Olympic(O.P.) 3 (0)
1999–2012 New Zealand 49 (7)
Managerial career
2013–2014 Toronto FC
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ryan William NelsenONZM(born 18 October 1977) is a former New Zealand professional football player and former head coach ofMajor League SoccersideToronto FC.

Nelsen commonly played as adefender,and his professional career began in 1995. He notably captained theNew Zealand national teamand started his professional football career in his native country forChristchurch United.In 2001, he joined MLS sideD.C. Unitedand went on to play 81 times in the league, scoring 7 goals. In 2005, he moved to England withPremier LeaguesideBlackburn Roverswhere he scored 8 times in 172 appearances. In 2012, he made a move toTottenham Hotspurbut only managed 5 appearances (scoring once in anFA Cuptie againstBolton Wanderers,the re-arranged match followingFabrice Muamba's cardiac arrest) before joiningQueens Park Rangersin the summer of 2012. He agreed to return to MLS on 8 January 2013 by signing withToronto FCas head coach.[3]He was fired from Toronto FC on 31 August 2014.

Early life

[edit]

After attendingOur Lady of the Assumption primary schoolandSt Thomas of Canterbury College,he moved to the United States to play forGreensboro CollegeinNorth Carolinain 1997. After spending two years at Greensboro and leading The Pride to theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division IIIchampionship match, only to lose toOhio Wesleyan University,he transferred toStanford Universitywhere he played his final two years of college football. He was named Stanford's Most Valuable Player as a junior and anNSCAA All-Americanas a senior while playing as a defensive midfielder. He graduated with a bachelor's degree inpolitical science.[4]

Club career

[edit]

Christchurch United

[edit]

Nelsen played forChristchurch Unitedfrom 1995 to 1998. Even after he relocated to the United States, he played his last season with the club when he was home for a semester's sabbatical from his university football scholarship withGreensboro College.

DC United

[edit]

Nelsen was drafted fourth overall in the2001 MLS SuperDraftbyD.C. United,with whom he spent four years inMajor League Soccer(MLS). After emerging as a starter in 2002, Nelsen was named team captain in 2003, replacingMarco Etcheverry,as well as winning the team's Defender of the Year Award and being named to the league'sBest XI.Again, in 2004 after leading United to its fourthMLS Cup,he was named the Best XI. In four years in MLS, Nelsen had seven goals and five assists.

Blackburn Rovers

[edit]

Nelsen was signed byBlackburn Roverson a free transfer in January 2005, shortly after the completion of the 2004 MLS season. In the summer of 2005, after just six months at the club, Nelsen signed a new three-year contract after impressing managerMark Hughesand helping to turn Blackburn's defence into one of the toughest in the Premiership. Nelsen was successfully awarded awork permiton appeal after the initial application had been refused due to New Zealand being ranked outside the top seventy in theFIFA World Rankings.

In the 2005–06 season, Blackburn qualified for theUEFA Cupwith a sixth-place finish, but Nelsen missed the last few games after breaking his foot in a 2–0 win atCharlton Athletic.Nevertheless, his performances since arriving in England prompted much interest from rival clubs includingPortsmouth,whose bid for Nelsen was rejected by Blackburn. On 1 February 2006, he started and played the full ninety minutes alongsideAndy Toddin a 4–3 league victory overManchester UnitedatEwood Park.

Nelsen andMorten Gamst Pedersenattempt to clear the ball in a match against Manchester United

Nelsen was dealt with another blow before the start of the 2006–07 season, with a serious hamstring injury forcing him out until the new year. On his return to the team in anFA Cupfourth round win againstLuton Town,he was immediately made captain. In July 2007, he signed a new five-year deal with the club until the summer of 2012. He scored his first league goal for Blackburn with a header againstWigan Athleticon 26 April 2009 in a 2–0 win which helped Blackburn stay in the Premier League for another season. He then scored his second Premier League goal against Portsmouth with a header from a corner taken by David Dunn on 7 November 2009, and has also scored goals against Birmingham City and Fulham. On 11 April 2010, Nelsen came on for the injuredChristopher Sambaagainst Manchester United atEwood Parkin a 0–0 draw.[5]Nelsen made his 175th appearance for Blackburn Rovers, leading the team in a 3–2 defeat toEvertonat Ewood Park on 17 April 2010. In all competitions, Nelsen made a total of thirty-three appearances and scored four goals in the 2009–10 season.

On 13 November 2010, he scored againstTottenham HotspuratWhite Hart Lanefor his first goal of the 2010–11 Premier League season. On 27 November, he played the full ninety minutes partneringChristopher Samba,but this time in a 7–1 rout againstManchester UnitedatOld Trafford.He then added his second and third goals of the campaign by scoring againstWolverhampton Wandererson 4 December in a 3–0 win and againstWest Ham Unitedon 18 December in a 1–1 draw.

With Blackburn's tenth successive Premier League season, and their seventeenth in nineteen seasons, now underway, Nelsen welcomed the club's proposed takeover by Indian owned Venky's Group who has promised up to £100 million forSam Allardyceto spend on strengthening the squad – with Nelsen feeling that the squad could do with "freshing up." On 15 January 2011, he made his 200th appearance for Blackburn in the away game againstChelseaatStamford Bridge.[citation needed]

Nelsen signed a two-year contract extension with Rovers in late January 2011 which would keep him at the club until the summer of 2013.[6]UnderSteve Keanas manager following the sacking of Sam Allardyce, Nelsen was relieved as team captain of Blackburn in favour ofChristopher Samba,Nelsen moving to vice-captain. Nelsen suffered a knee injury forcing him to miss the rest of the 2010–11 season. Following the 2010–11 season, in which Blackburn avoided relegation, Nelsen recovered from the knee injury and made one appearance against Aston Villa in a 3–1 loss.

After fully recovering from his knee injury Nelsen was released from Blackburn on the transfer deadline day 31 January 2012 to sign for Tottenham Hotspur by Tottenham bossHarry Redknapp.[7]

Tottenham Hotspur

[edit]

Nelsen was signed byTottenham Hotspuron a free transfer on 2 February 2012, to replace defenderSébastien Bassong,who joinedWolveson loan. He was given the number 33 shirt.[8][9]He made his debut forTottenhamon 11 February 2012 in the Premier League match againstNewcastle United,when he replacedLedley Kingin the seventy-fourth minute.

Nelsen made his first starting debut on 19 February 2012 againstStevenagein theirFA Cuptie.[10]

He scored his first goal for Tottenham Hotspur on 27 March 2012 in the seventy-fourth minute of an FA Cup tie againstBolton Wanderersin a replay of a previous game, due to Bolton midfielderFabrice Muambahaving a cardiac arrest in the first tie.Tottenham Hotspurwon the match 3–1 that day.

On 25 May 2012, he was released by Tottenham with fellow January signingLouis Saha.He made eight appearances scoring one goal.

Queens Park Rangers

[edit]

On 18 June 2012, it was announced that Ryan Nelsen had signed a one-year deal withQueens Park Rangers.He scored the first goal with Rangers againstWigan Athleticheading the ball equalising the score to 1–1.[citation needed]

It was announced on 8 January 2013 that Nelsen had signed for Canadian MLS sideToronto FCas the club's new head coach.[11]However, he remained under contract with QPR and was in negotiations with their management regarding his release to take up the Toronto position.[3]

It was announced on 22 January 2013 that Nelsen would play his last game for QPR against Manchester CityatLoftus Roadon 29 January and would join Toronto FC on 1 February.[12]He played his last match for Queens Park Rangers on 29 January in a 0–0 draw against English champions, Manchester City, and was given a guard of honour by his teammates after the game.

International career

[edit]

Nelsen made hisNew Zealanddebut againstPolandon 19 June 1999.[13][14]He was part of the All Whites' winning squad in the2002 OFC Nations Cup,scoring the only goal of a 1–0 win overrivalsAustraliain thefinal.[15]

Although he has been selected to play on numerous occasions, Nelsen had not represented New Zealand between his last appearance in 2004 and 2008 due largely to a recurring hamstring injury.[16] Nelsen captained the New Zealand U-23 squad for their first appearance at theOlympic GamesagainstChina.Although he was only available for the opening two matches as Blackburn had requested that he return in time to prepare for their opening Premier League game of the 2008–09 season againstEverton.[16][17] Nelsen captained the All Whites side as they qualified for the2010 FIFA World Cup,beatingBahrainin a two-legged playoff in November 2009.

On 10 May 2010, Nelsen was named in New Zealand's final 23-man squad to compete at the2010 FIFA World Cup.[18]

On 15 June, 28 years to the day after New Zealand made their second appearance in a FIFA World Cup Finals, their first since 1982, Nelsen captained New Zealand to their first ever point in a FIFA World Cup Finals match in a 1–1 draw with World Cup debutantsSlovakia.On 24 June, Nelsen again skippered the All Whites in a 0–0 draw withParaguay,but New Zealand were knocked out of the group stages. However, it is surely indisputable that New Zealand's biggest honour was to draw 1–1 withItaly,who were thereigning champions.

Nelsen was named in a football "World Cup Best XI" by American sports channel,ESPNon 10 July 2010.[19]

Coaching career

[edit]

On 8 January 2013 Nelsen accepted an offer to become head coach ofMajor League SoccersideToronto FC.[20]He started on 1 February in time for Toronto's pre-season. Nelsen won his first game as a head coach in the home opener againstSporting Kansas Cityin a 2–1 victory on 9 March, with both goals coming from newly acquired strikerRobert Earnshaw.[21]He was sacked, along with his assistants, on 31 August 2014[22]after winning three out of his last 13 matches.[23]

Writing career

[edit]

Nelsen and New Zealand author Tony Smith co-wrote the bookRyan Nelsen's Road to the World Cup.[24]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition [25][26]
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Christchurch United 1995 NZ Superclub League 24 2 0 0 – – 24 2
1996 Mainland Premier League 26 4 2 1 – – 28 5
1997 22 1 7 2 – – 29 3
1998 24 5 4 1 – – 28 6
Total 96 12 13 4 0 0 0 0 109 16
D.C. United 2001 Major League Soccer 19 0 0 0 – – 19 0
2002 20 4 0 0 – – 20 4
2003 25 1 2 0 – – 27 1
2004 17 2 3 0 – – 20 2
Total 81 7 5 0 0 0 0 0 86 7
Blackburn Rovers 2004–05 Premier League 15 0 5 0 0 0 – 20 0
2005–06 31 0 0 0 5 0 – 36 0
2006–07 12 0 5 0 0 0 2 0 19 0
2007–08 22 0 1 0 2 0 5 0 30 0
2008–09 35 1 2 0 2 0 – 39 1
2009–10 28 4 0 0 5 0 – 33 4
2010–11 28 3 1 0 1 0 – 30 3
2011–12 1 0 0 0 0 0 – 1 0
Total 172 8 14 0 15 0 7 0 208 8
Tottenham Hotspur 2011–12 Premier League 5 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 8 1
Queens Park Rangers 2012–13 Premier League 21 1 1 0 2 0 – 24 1
Career total 375 28 36 5 17 0 7 0 435 33

International

[edit]

New Zealand's goal tally first.

Managerial statistics

[edit]
As of 31 August 2014.
Team From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Toronto FC 8 January 2013[20] 31 August 2014[22] 64 17 18 29 71 97 −26 026.56

Honours

[edit]

In the2011 New Year Honours,Nelsen was appointed anOfficer of the New Zealand Order of Meritfor services to football.[27][28]

D.C. United

Blackburn Rovers

New Zealand

Individual

See also

[edit]

References

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  1. ^abHugman, Barry J., ed. (2010).The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11.Mainstream Publishing. p. 306.ISBN978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ^"Premier League Player Profile".Premier League. Archived fromthe originalon 9 June 2011.Retrieved15 March2011.
  3. ^ab"QPR defender Ryan Nelsen named new manager of Toronto".BBC Sport. 8 January 2013.Retrieved8 January2013.
  4. ^Hall, Matthew. "Kiwi Captain Learned Premier League Defense in M.L.S.," (The New York Timesfootball blog), Friday, 19 March 2010.
  5. ^"Blackburn 2–0 Wigan".BBC.26 April 2009.Retrieved24 October2009.
  6. ^"New deal for Nelsen".Archived fromthe originalon 25 January 2011.
  7. ^"Nelsen Leaves".rovers.co.uk. 1 February 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 3 February 2012.Retrieved3 February2012.
  8. ^"Spurs sign Nelsen from Blackburn".RTÉ Sport.2 February 2012.Retrieved2 February2012.
  9. ^"NELSEN COMPLETES MOVE".Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 2 February 2012.Retrieved3 February2012.
  10. ^"Stevenage FC vs Tottenham LIVE Commentary".Goal. 19 February 2012.Retrieved21 February2012.
  11. ^"Nelsen quits EPL to coach in Canada".3 News NZ.8 January 2013.
  12. ^Millson, Larry."Full-time job: Nelsen set to take reins at TFC on Feb. 1".Major League Soccer.Retrieved23 January2013.
  13. ^"A-International Lineups".The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website.Retrieved15 December2009.
  14. ^Ryan Nelsen Profile at NZ SoccerArchived30 April 2008 at theWayback Machine
  15. ^"Soccer: All Whites $2m, Australia 0".The New Zealand Herald.16 July 2002.
  16. ^ab"Rover Ryan Returns".New Zealand Football. Archived fromthe originalon 7 July 2008.Retrieved4 July2008.
  17. ^"Olympic Football Squads Named".New Zealand Olympic Committee. 4 July 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 5 July 2008.Retrieved4 July2008.
  18. ^"All Whites World Cup squad named".Stuff.co.nz. 10 May 2010.Retrieved10 May2010.
  19. ^"World Cup Best XI".Archived fromthe originalon 14 July 2010.
  20. ^abLarson, Kurtis (8 January 2013)."TFC introduction of Ryan Nelsen as head coach met with skepticism".Toronto Sun.Retrieved8 January2013.
  21. ^Bottjer, Steve (9 March 2013)."Reds Beat SKC at Rogers Centre".Toronto FC.Retrieved10 March2013.
  22. ^abSmith, Doug (31 August 2014)."Toronto FC fires coaches, Jermain Defoe might go".Toronto Star.Archived fromthe originalon 1 September 2014.Retrieved31 August2014.
  23. ^McIntyre, Doug (31 August 2014)."Ryan Nelsen fired as Toronto FC coach".ESPN FC.Retrieved1 September2014.
  24. ^"Ryan Nelsen's long and winding road".One Sport.2 June 2010.Retrieved6 November2011.
  25. ^Ryan Nelsen
  26. ^Ryan Nelsen | Blackburn Rovers | Team | 1st Team ProfilesArchived26 February 2009 at theWayback Machine
  27. ^"Football heroes congratulated on honours – tvnz.co.nz".Television New Zealand.31 December 2010.Retrieved31 December2010.
  28. ^"New Years Honours: Full 2011 list – nzherald.co.nz".The New Zealand Herald.31 December 2010.Retrieved31 December2010.
  29. ^"IFFHS MAN TEAM – OFC – OF THE DECADE 2011-2020".IFFHS.31 January 2021.
  30. ^"IFFHS ALL TIME OCEANIA MEN'S DREAM TEAM".IFFHS. 14 June 2021.Retrieved23 December2021.
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