I've always wanted to know who was eligible for NZ but never actually played for NZ (Either played for another nation or just didn't play for any nation at all).
I really wanted to know if that Southampton FC prank that showcased Ricki Lambert being eligible for NZ was ever actually true...was he? Or just a yarn?
There was a guy born in Wellington called Levi Hanssen who moved to the Faroe Islands and ended being pro there and played for Faroe Islands national team, but I doubt he would fit in with the All Whites. Another one like Levi, Shay Spitz who played in Hong Kong was USA born but had a kiwi mother and the dodgy eligibility status of Ben Van Den Broek.
A few others to mention were the debated Nuno Coelho who everyone thought was eligible (Wasn't actually sure if he was). Ben McKendry who has a kiwi mother, but opted to play for Canada instead. Liam Jordan, another pro footballer who wants to represent South Africa and honour his father.
Michael Fitzgerald (Gave up NZ Passport) and Tyler Boyd (Opted for USA) being players who made an All Whites appearance and then decided elsewhere.
There was that german kid Dominick Traunmuller who was with the Bayern Munich U19s and then trialled for the Phoenix and didn't make the cut.
Kwabena Appiah-Kubi in the A-League never actually got a call up. Mitch Cooper was rumoured as a kiwi, but I wasn't sure if that was legit, same with Devante Clut. Everyone's also keeping tabs on Joe Champness who is currently with Australia U-23 (I think?) but also eligible for NZ and the Philippines.
When I was doing my research on Shay Spitz (Mentioned above) I found a 24 year old kid in Hong Kong called Matt Orr (Who plays for Kitchee). Don't know what the standard is in Hong Kong, nor if it's worth a call up. Didn't even know he existed.
If you wanted to mention Jack Van Luijken you could, but he seems pretty set on playing for the Netherlands.
Michael Den Heijer is one that rejected the possibility of playing for NZ.
I've also found a kid in Switzerland called Nils Winistorfer at BSC Old Boys. Never heard of him.
But also Khair Jones is a kiwi playing for Malaysia.
I think this is my list though? Could be more.
I really wanted to know if that Southampton FC prank that showcased Ricki Lambert being eligible for NZ was ever actually true...was he? Or just a yarn?
There was a guy born in Wellington called Levi Hanssen who moved to the Faroe Islands and ended being pro there and played for Faroe Islands national team, but I doubt he would fit in with the All Whites. Another one like Levi, Shay Spitz who played in Hong Kong was USA born but had a kiwi mother and the dodgy eligibility status of Ben Van Den Broek.
A few others to mention were the debated Nuno Coelho who everyone thought was eligible (Wasn't actually sure if he was). Ben McKendry who has a kiwi mother, but opted to play for Canada instead. Liam Jordan, another pro footballer who wants to represent South Africa and honour his father.
Michael Fitzgerald (Gave up NZ Passport) and Tyler Boyd (Opted for USA) being players who made an All Whites appearance and then decided elsewhere.
There was that german kid Dominick Traunmuller who was with the Bayern Munich U19s and then trialled for the Phoenix and didn't make the cut.
Kwabena Appiah-Kubi in the A-League never actually got a call up. Mitch Cooper was rumoured as a kiwi, but I wasn't sure if that was legit, same with Devante Clut. Everyone's also keeping tabs on Joe Champness who is currently with Australia U-23 (I think?) but also eligible for NZ and the Philippines.
When I was doing my research on Shay Spitz (Mentioned above) I found a 24 year old kid in Hong Kong called Matt Orr (Who plays for Kitchee). Don't know what the standard is in Hong Kong, nor if it's worth a call up. Didn't even know he existed.
If you wanted to mention Jack Van Luijken you could, but he seems pretty set on playing for the Netherlands.
Michael Den Heijer is one that rejected the possibility of playing for NZ.
I've also found a kid in Switzerland called Nils Winistorfer at BSC Old Boys. Never heard of him.
But also Khair Jones is a kiwi playing for Malaysia.
I think this is my list though? Could be more.
Another debatable one is Lee Ho-Jae, 20 year old striker for Pohang Steelers in the K-League. Made three league appearances so far this season. Played for Onehunga for a fair bit while his dad (ex-South Korea international Lee Ki-Hyung) was playing for Auckland City, and stayed to finish intermediate school. Was definitely here for more than five years, but unsure if he obtained citizenship. Been called up for South Korea's U21 and U22 squads in the past.