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Ryan Nelsen
Ryan William Nelsen ONZM (born 18 October 1977) is a New Zealand former professional football player and head coach.
Nelsen commonly played as a defender, and his professional career began in 1995. He notably captained the New Zealand national team and started his professional football career in his native country for Christchurch United. In 2001, he joined Major League Soccer side D.C. United. In 2005, he moved to England with Premier League side Blackburn Rovers.
In 2012, he made a move to Tottenham Hotspur but only managed 5 appearances before joining Queens Park Rangers later that year. From January 2013 to August 2014 he was head coach of Toronto FC in MLS.
Growing up in New Zealand, Nelsen played cricket and was "widely regarded as one of the most promising cricketers", but he opted to become a footballer instead.
After attending Our Lady of the Assumption primary school and St Thomas of Canterbury College, Nelsen moved to the United States to play for Greensboro College in North Carolina in 1997. After spending two years at Greensboro and leading The Pride to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III championship match, only to lose to Ohio Wesleyan University, he transferred to Stanford University where he played his final two years of college football. He was named Stanford's Most Valuable Player as a junior and an NSCAA All-American as a senior while playing as a defensive midfielder. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science.
Nelsen played for Christchurch United from 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 with Greensboro College.
Nelsen was drafted fourth overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United, with whom he spent four years in Major League Soccer (MLS). After emerging as a starter in 2002, Nelsen was named team captain in 2003, replacing Marco Etcheverry, as well as winning the team's Defender of the Year Award and being named to the league's Best XI. Again, in 2004 after leading United to its fourth MLS Cup, he was named the Best XI. In four years in MLS, Nelsen had seven goals and five assists.
Shortly after the completion of the 2004 MLS season, Nelsen was linked with a move to Blackburn Rovers after he was scouted by Mark Hughes and went on trial with the club. After impressing Blackburn Rovers at the trial, the club was keen on signing Nelsen. However, Blackburn Rovers' attempt to sign him suffered a setback at first after the initial application had been refused due to New Zealand being ranked outside the top seventy in the FIFA World Rankings. The setback was eventually resolved and he signed for Blackburn Rovers on a free transfer on 6 January 2005.
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Ryan Nelsen
Ryan William Nelsen ONZM (born 18 October 1977) is a New Zealand former professional football player and head coach.
Nelsen commonly played as a defender, and his professional career began in 1995. He notably captained the New Zealand national team and started his professional football career in his native country for Christchurch United. In 2001, he joined Major League Soccer side D.C. United. In 2005, he moved to England with Premier League side Blackburn Rovers.
In 2012, he made a move to Tottenham Hotspur but only managed 5 appearances before joining Queens Park Rangers later that year. From January 2013 to August 2014 he was head coach of Toronto FC in MLS.
Growing up in New Zealand, Nelsen played cricket and was "widely regarded as one of the most promising cricketers", but he opted to become a footballer instead.
After attending Our Lady of the Assumption primary school and St Thomas of Canterbury College, Nelsen moved to the United States to play for Greensboro College in North Carolina in 1997. After spending two years at Greensboro and leading The Pride to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III championship match, only to lose to Ohio Wesleyan University, he transferred to Stanford University where he played his final two years of college football. He was named Stanford's Most Valuable Player as a junior and an NSCAA All-American as a senior while playing as a defensive midfielder. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science.
Nelsen played for Christchurch United from 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 with Greensboro College.
Nelsen was drafted fourth overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United, with whom he spent four years in Major League Soccer (MLS). After emerging as a starter in 2002, Nelsen was named team captain in 2003, replacing Marco Etcheverry, as well as winning the team's Defender of the Year Award and being named to the league's Best XI. Again, in 2004 after leading United to its fourth MLS Cup, he was named the Best XI. In four years in MLS, Nelsen had seven goals and five assists.
Shortly after the completion of the 2004 MLS season, Nelsen was linked with a move to Blackburn Rovers after he was scouted by Mark Hughes and went on trial with the club. After impressing Blackburn Rovers at the trial, the club was keen on signing Nelsen. However, Blackburn Rovers' attempt to sign him suffered a setback at first after the initial application had been refused due to New Zealand being ranked outside the top seventy in the FIFA World Rankings. The setback was eventually resolved and he signed for Blackburn Rovers on a free transfer on 6 January 2005.