Tyler Boyd - USA (Nashville SC | USA)

Starting debut! thats pretty big news. Did you watch? How did he go?

He did OK. It's a big step up from the Segunda Divisão to the Liga NOS. I know Conceição rates him and has been keen to use him in the first team. Porto may be managerless at the moment but, make no mistake, a huge result for Guimarães and makes the title race interesting!

Good on the kid he would have been nervous no doubt having a big game like that as his debut

I think best now in short term for Hudson to continue leaving him out of AWs, so his progression with Vitoria not disrupted.

Not that AWs appear to have a game in March anyhow. He can always come in for OFC Nations in May-June

Huge game to debut in. Great news.

Good on him, first kiwi to play in this league?

Funnily enough, Tyler Boyd is not the first Kiwi to play in the Liga NOS. There have been players such as Luís Esteves (Belenenses) and Birhanu Taye (Braga) who have played in the youth systems in recent years. However, the first senior Kiwi appearance was Panayotis Todorya who played one game for Farense in 1987. If you're ever in a pub quiz... :)

Esteves and Taye never made a first team appearance did they in the top league?

I thought they never progressed beyond being youth players.

That is correct in Esteves and Taye. May have been my poor wording but what I meant by it was that both were at Liga NOS clubs but never graduated to the first team from the youth systems. Just the two Kiwis that have tasted top-flight action in Portugal to date.

I do have a newspaper article from one of the Portuguese dailies on Boyd's debut, however it the image attachment tool doesn't seem to attach anything? It's in PDF format and not a large file so am not sure what's happened there. Will see if I can get it to upload.

PANAYOTIS TODORYA: FROM WELLINGTON, NZ TO THE BIG LEAGUES OF EUROPE

Thanks for that amazing info on Panayotis Todorya.

Digging around online, he seems to be one of the great lost talents of NZ football who went overseas and signed for some big clubs but none of us here has heard of him.

(Apart maybe from some stalwarts at his original club Wellington Olympic who will no doubt remember him)

Some details here on him:

http://www.zerozero.pt/jogador.php?id=174755

He was known as "Santamaria" during his time in Portugal. Also known as "Dougle" (Douglas) Todorya on occasion. Born in 1964 in Wellington.

A NZ u-20 international in 1982. Also known in NZ as "Douglas Todorya".

Todorya was also on the books at major clubs Club Brugge (Belgium) and Fenerbahce (Turkey) in the 1980's as well as Farense in Portugal as you mention.

He's in Fenerbahce's squad list for the 1986-7 season but didn't appear for the first team:

https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenerbah%C3%A7e_Prof...

From Farense he seems to have then spent some years playing in his parents' country, Greece.

I found this blog piece by him in English from 2008 on his time at Farense:

http://algarve-desunited.blogspot.co.nz/2008/02/fe...

Todorya now runs a sporting goods manufacturing business in China:

"Now I have a FACTORY in China and manufacture sporting goods and toys."

Panayotis Todorya "Santamaria":

"Santamaria, the New Zealand player who played for Farense in 1987/88,  played a local cup match between Farense and Olhanense on August 16, 1987 (it was broadcast on RTP2) in which he scored in the tie:

OLHANENSE, 2 – FARENSE, 2
Estádio José Arcanjo
Árbitro: Cesário Evaristo

Olhanense: Gorriz; João Reina, Herculano, Lima (Vitor Ova aos 46) e Tito; Carlos Reis, Nelson Silva, Rui Esteves (Oliva aos 46) e Aldeias; Floris (Martens aos 66) e Raul Mejia;

Farense: Tavares: Coelho (Brito aos 54), Marcos, João Gilberto (Patrick aos 77) e Arújo; Pereirinha, Rogério (Capela aos 46), Barrocal e Nelo; Fernando Cruz e Cadri (Dougle Todorya aos 46);

Golos: Raul Mejia (27), Aldeias (32), Fernando Cruz (61) e Dougle Todorya (90)

Comment from a Farense fan:

"I remember Santa Maria. Even had good looks, tall, strong fiscamente, and with good technique."

A shame he never played for the All Whites after appearing at u-20 level.

He must have dropped off the radar after leaving for Europe and never coming back.

Todorya in 1985 Wellington Olympic Central League side (with Leo Bertos' relatives in back row):

1985-05-16 - Olympic 1985 v Masterton

L-R, Back: C. Palamidis, J. Nathu, G.Bertos, A. Brown, T. Palamidas, A. West, D. Todorya, T. Bertos, D. Shilson, H. Kotsapos, N. Androutsos, T. Grundy Front: P.Brown, N. Halakias, A. Iannou, G. Freer, J. Adams

Mention of Tyler's debut here in Portuguese article:

http://www.zerozero.pt/news.php?id=168331

Translation:

NZ ALSO PRODUCES FOOTBALLERS

It's not in the sports media in Portugal and Europe that New Zealand can produce fertile talent. Rugby is what moves crowds but not all necessarily have to go down that route.

And there, as everywhere, people prefer football. This is the case of Tyler Boyd, 21 player making tonight, his debut with the first team Vitoria Guimaraes.


After 21 games and six goals for the secondary team, the manager Sérgio Conceição was convinced that he was ready for new requirements and the coach gave him the highest and cast him to start a game against a candidate for the title.

But this is not the only case of such a long journey to play in Portugal. Santamaria also of New Zealand nationality, also appeared in our football in the 1987/88 season, when he played for Farense. But without success, since he only played once and 73 minutes in the home defeat to Elvas.

BBC Match report and live commentary:

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/35343302

10:01 Attempt blocked. Tyler Boyd (Vitória Guimarães) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Cafú.

59:49 Tyler Boyd (Vitória Guimarães) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

59:58 Booking Tyler Boyd (Vitória Guimarães) is shown the yellow card.

62:57 Substitution Vitória Guimarães. Thibang Phete replaces Tyler Boyd.

Tyler Boyd ‏@Tyler__Boyd Jan 18

Big win for us against Porto last night. Blessed to make my debut in front of our amazing fans.… https://www.instagram.com/p/BArIJjKuPPP/

Nice photo of Tyler during the Porto game (other images below):

http://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/vitori...

Nice one BP. I played with and against some of these guys, and coached another.

Superb find! Thanks for sharing!

Casillas in goal for Porto- awesome!

Yes enormity of occasion for Boyd when likes of Casillas playing for Porto.

See Vittoria won with only 23% possession! So unlikely to be a game where young Tyler's attacking skills would shine

Great work Pete.

Tyler even got booked...great to start a game.

Tyler Boyd on the bench for Guimarães (first team) for this afternoon's trip to the capital to take on Belenenses.

He was a 79th minute substitute in. 3-3 draw at the Estádio do Restelo in Lisbon. His progress continues and another point on the board for Guimarães.

Anyone read this (from BBC)? May have an impact on Tyler if it goes ahead. Portugal's second division could see an influx of Chinese players due to a clause in a major sponsorship deal. The Segunda Liga is set to be rebranded as the Ledman Proliga from next season, with plans to use the Portuguese system for helping to train Chinese talent, on and off the pitch. Chinese multinational Ledman initially said the top 10 clubs must include Chinese players and assistant coaches.

So is this the start of a new form of invasion? I mean, what the actual firetruck? We should get L&P to do that with the English championship then....

L&P = Coca Cola sadly

Oh yeah....Well Milk from our Dairy Farm then.

I can confirm that the said agreement has been shelved. The sponsorship will still go ahead but there will be no forcing of Chinese players on second tier clubs as a result. Caused quite a controversy in Portugal though.

Hasn't Tyler played the last two games in the Premiera Liga?

That's correct. Sérgio Conceição does seem to rate him quite highly as a future prospect.

Boyd not in squad for Vitoria's first team re their match this morning

A good 3-1 over União. He'll likely be in the B squad for their home game with Famalicão in Liga 2 tomorrow afternoon (Portugal time).

After his recent jaunt in the Liga NOS, Tyler was back on B team duty this past weekend in the 1-2 loss at home to Famalicão. He started the game but was substituted on 62mins.

The result leaves the B team back in the relegation zone, in 20th position.

Tyler scored over the weekend in a 3-1 loss

Played 90mins for the B team today in Liga 2. Side beat Leixões 1-0 to move into 17th position.

Played no part in Vitória B's 3-3 draw at Atlético last night (Wednesday). Was on the bench. Vitória B now sit in 18th.

Started last week though... being rested for the first team?

So hard to tell what they are planning for him with the in outs of his selections.

Knowing Portuguese football as I do, I'd say he's not being rested. It's more his form has been hit and miss. Was making a breakthrough but doesn't appear to have kicked on from what I've read in the Portuguese press. He's in a superb environment to improve though - Conceição will get the best out of him.

Started this weekend's game at home to Varzim but was taken off on 74 minutes in a 0-1 loss. The result means that Vitória B have now slipped back into the Liga 2 relegation zone - 35 points from 31 games. The good news is that it's quite tight in Liga 2 and Vitória B are only 5pts behind 12th placed, Sporting B.

Two more Portuguese second-tier games for Tyler:

62 mins in the 3-0 loss to Penafiel:

http://us.soccerway.com/players/tyler-boyd/215116/...

Unused sub in the 1-1 away draw with Chaves.

Came on as an 82 min sub in the 4-2 home win vs. Oliveirense:

http://us.soccerway.com/matches/2016/03/09/portuga...

Vitoria Guimaraes are now in 19th place, one position above the relegation places:

http://us.soccerway.com/national/portugal/liga-de-...

Tyler with his three goals is the side's third equal highest goal-scorer (with one other player) after a player with seven goals and another with six goals.

I notice that Vitoria II's crowds are on a par with Canterbury United in the ASB Premiership: 862 for their last game.

Hey guys. so in a few weeks im going over to lisbon, portugal to visit some family. I was looking at the schedule of what league games are on and as it turns out, while im over there benfica B are playing a home game against vitoria B. I'll try go to the game, and hopefully Boyd is in the squad! thoughts?

Hey guys. so in a few weeks im going over to lisbon, portugal to visit some family. I was looking at the schedule of what league games are on and as it turns out, while im over there benfica B are playing a home game against vitoria B. I'll try go to the game, and hopefully Boyd is in the squad! thoughts?

edit: idk why it sent this twice

Enjoy! Lisbon is a great city and the game will be at Benfica's Seixal Training Complex which is state of the art. You'll be able to buy a ticket on the gate and you'll certainly get change out of €10.

State of the art Sexual Training Complex? Tyler will love that. Very 50 Shades