Trialist
94
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120
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about 11 years
There have been several instances over the years where players with dual nationality have opted to choose another country over NZ, and to be honest the All Whites have recruited more of these than they have lost!

Archie Thompson is one of the more higher profile players in recent years having chosen to represent Australia instead of the country of his birth, while more recently we lost Tyler Boyd to the USA.

Playing Football Manager 2021 the other day I noticed that Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell was once eligible for New Zealand. Does anyone know the family connection or if he ever came close to playing for NZ?

Who else out there did we miss out on that would have made a real difference to the men's team?
WeeNix
1.6K
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980
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about 3 years
UK_ALLWHITE
There have been several instances over the years where players with dual nationality have opted to choose another country over NZ, and to be honest the All Whites have recruited more of these than they have lost!

Archie Thompson is one of the more higher profile players in recent years having chosen to represent Australia instead of the country of his birth, while more recently we lost Tyler Boyd to the USA.

Playing Football Manager 2021 the other day I noticed that Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell was once eligible for New Zealand. Does anyone know the family connection or if he ever came close to playing for NZ?

Who else out there did we miss out on that would have made a real difference to the men's team?
Ben Chilwell’s dad is a New Zealander and lived here until moving to England in 1993 (three years before Ben was born)
Trialist
94
·
120
·
about 11 years
carlind
UK_ALLWHITE
There have been several instances over the years where players with dual nationality have opted to choose another country over NZ, and to be honest the All Whites have recruited more of these than they have lost!

Archie Thompson is one of the more higher profile players in recent years having chosen to represent Australia instead of the country of his birth, while more recently we lost Tyler Boyd to the USA.

Playing Football Manager 2021 the other day I noticed that Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell was once eligible for New Zealand. Does anyone know the family connection or if he ever came close to playing for NZ?

Who else out there did we miss out on that would have made a real difference to the men's team?
Ben Chilwell’s dad is a New Zealander and lived here until moving to England in 1993 (three years before Ben was born)

I wonder if NZ made any contact before his England u18 debut? 
Legend
8K
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14K
·
over 16 years
UK_ALLWHITE
carlind
UK_ALLWHITE
There have been several instances over the years where players with dual nationality have opted to choose another country over NZ, and to be honest the All Whites have recruited more of these than they have lost!

Archie Thompson is one of the more higher profile players in recent years having chosen to represent Australia instead of the country of his birth, while more recently we lost Tyler Boyd to the USA.

Playing Football Manager 2021 the other day I noticed that Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell was once eligible for New Zealand. Does anyone know the family connection or if he ever came close to playing for NZ?

Who else out there did we miss out on that would have made a real difference to the men's team?
Ben Chilwell’s dad is a New Zealander and lived here until moving to England in 1993 (three years before Ben was born)

I wonder if NZ made any contact before his England u18 debut? 

I doubt that NZF even knew of his existence.
Phoenix Academy
100
·
370
·
about 9 years
theprof
UK_ALLWHITE
carlind
UK_ALLWHITE
There have been several instances over the years where players with dual nationality have opted to choose another country over NZ, and to be honest the All Whites have recruited more of these than they have lost!

Archie Thompson is one of the more higher profile players in recent years having chosen to represent Australia instead of the country of his birth, while more recently we lost Tyler Boyd to the USA.

Playing Football Manager 2021 the other day I noticed that Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell was once eligible for New Zealand. Does anyone know the family connection or if he ever came close to playing for NZ?

Who else out there did we miss out on that would have made a real difference to the men's team?
Ben Chilwell’s dad is a New Zealander and lived here until moving to England in 1993 (three years before Ben was born)

I wonder if NZ made any contact before his England u18 debut? 

I doubt that NZF even knew of his existence.
From my knowledge, NZF knew about this around 2015 when Ben Chilwell's dad approached NZF. 

Anthony Hudson was keen to call him up, but from my understanding there were no All Whites games (Was between Myanmar and Oman I believe) and when the opportunity came to call Ben up, England had already called him up. 

NZF knew about this, so I wouldn't call them out...
Phoenix Academy
100
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370
·
about 9 years
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.




WeeNix
1.6K
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980
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about 3 years
CactusJones
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.




Did Den Heijer really reject playing for New Zealand or was it the other way around. No disrespect to him but a guy who was at best benching for NEC Nijmegen in the Dutch second tier at 22 or so is going to require nothing short of a miracle meteoric rise to make a Dutch (assuming that would be the second nationality and reason for rejecting NZ) national team. He’s now apparently at Auckland United but I would argue he would have been lucky to even ever make a New Zealand senior national side 
Phoenix Academy
100
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370
·
about 9 years
carlind
CactusJones
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.




Did Den Heijer really reject playing for New Zealand or was it the other way around. No disrespect to him but a guy who was at best benching for NEC Nijmegen in the Dutch second tier at 22 or so is going to require nothing short of a miracle meteoric rise to make a Dutch (assuming that would be the second nationality and reason for rejecting NZ) national team. He’s now apparently at Auckland United but I would argue he would have been lucky to even ever make a New Zealand senior national side 
From What I know, he rejected playing for the U-20s in 2015 because it didn't suit his style of play. Then I never saw him again. 
Legend
11K
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21K
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almost 9 years
https://theniche-cache.com/football/2017/9/17/michael-den-heijer-vs-el-niche-cache
The Japan experience was fantastic for developing the technical and football intelligence part of my game. I returned to NZ in preparation for the Under 20 World Cup where I played about half a dozen games for the NZ U20 side in the lead up to the tournament but settling back into the NZ football style after being in Japan didn’t go well and I pulled out of the Under 20 squad.

From memory he thought the U20 environment was not helpful to his development as a professional. Gutsy call. Bazeley may have been the coach at the time??

Starting XI
3K
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3K
·
almost 7 years
CactusJones
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.





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.
WeeNix
390
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900
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almost 11 years
coochiee
https://theniche-cache.com/football/2017/9/17/michael-den-heijer-vs-el-niche-cache
The Japan experience was fantastic for developing the technical and football intelligence part of my game. I returned to NZ in preparation for the Under 20 World Cup where I played about half a dozen games for the NZ U20 side in the lead up to the tournament but settling back into the NZ football style after being in Japan didn’t go well and I pulled out of the Under 20 squad.

From memory he thought the U20 environment was not helpful to his development as a professional. Gutsy call. Bazeley may have been the coach at the time??


Yeah Bazeley coach at time so probably good decision...
Starting XI
6.7K
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4.5K
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over 9 years
Ricki Lambert for the AW's?

https://youtu.be/YnQWdeSO-Xw

Nope, this was an april fool's prank from a while back.
Phoenix Academy
100
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370
·
about 9 years
YoungHeart
Ricki Lambert for the AW's?

https://youtu.be/YnQWdeSO-Xw

Nope, this was an april fool's prank from a while back.
Yeah mate - was more asking if he actually at kiwi heritage. 

But all good! Enjoyed the prank but it disappointed me big time haha
Starting XI
2K
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4.7K
·
almost 17 years
Were there not also a couple Icelandic players from 15 odd years ago eligible for NZ?  

Born there but with kiwi dads who went there to fish in the 70s
Phoenix Academy
280
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350
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over 8 years
Tottenhams Son Heung-Min spent a small amount of his childhood in NZ improving his English without being spotted by Fencibles Utd.  I have seen various reports that it was 3 months https://peoplepill.com/people/son-heung-min/ or as much as 6 years https://www.reddit.com/r/Aleague/comments/gdmbyr/til_heungmin_son_grew_up_in_new_zealand/.  I suspect it was closer to the small amount
Phoenix Academy
100
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370
·
about 9 years
Marto
Were there not also a couple Icelandic players from 15 odd years ago eligible for NZ?  

Born there but with kiwi dads who went there to fish in the 70s
 Do tell! Anymore info?
Starting XI
2K
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4.7K
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almost 17 years
CactusJones
Marto
Were there not also a couple Icelandic players from 15 odd years ago eligible for NZ?  

Born there but with kiwi dads who went there to fish in the 70s
 Do tell! Anymore info?


I think was first noticed via FM back in the early 00s.  A bit of research showed a few players there had kiwi ancestry as above.  Not sure they were all that great though.  Have googled for them but brought up a blank.  A copy of FM2004-6 might have the answers!
Legend
11K
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21K
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almost 9 years
Marto
CactusJones
Marto
Were there not also a couple Icelandic players from 15 odd years ago eligible for NZ?  

Born there but with kiwi dads who went there to fish in the 70s
 Do tell! Anymore info?


I think was first noticed via FM back in the early 00s.  A bit of research showed a few players there had kiwi ancestry as above.  Not sure they were all that great though.  Have googled for them but brought up a blank.  A copy of FM2004-6 might have the answers!

Well if any of these half Kiwis took their dad's surnames, they shouldn't be hard to find.

Alfons Sampsted the only 'son' less exception, in the current national Icelandic squad.
https://us.soccerway.com/teams/iceland/iceland/1143/

Not many Smiths or Browns in Iceland. One of the most racially homogenous countries in Europe, if not the world.
Starting XI
1.3K
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2.7K
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almost 9 years
coochiee
Marto
CactusJones
Marto
Were there not also a couple Icelandic players from 15 odd years ago eligible for NZ?  

Born there but with kiwi dads who went there to fish in the 70s
 Do tell! Anymore info?


I think was first noticed via FM back in the early 00s.  A bit of research showed a few players there had kiwi ancestry as above.  Not sure they were all that great though.  Have googled for them but brought up a blank.  A copy of FM2004-6 might have the answers!

Well if any of these half Kiwis took their dad's surnames, they shouldn't be hard to find.

Alfons Sampsted the only 'son' less exception, in the current national Icelandic squad.
https://us.soccerway.com/teams/iceland/iceland/1143/

Not many Smiths or Browns in Iceland. One of the most racially homogenous countries in Europe, if not the world.

yeah but Icelandic names don't work like ours in that they don't neccessarilly follow the father, the sson is for those that take their fathers name while dottir is for those that take their mothers name and there is also bur which means child of.
also anyone born in Iceland has to get any new names approved by the Icelandic naming committee hence no Smiths or Browns etc

I've not heard about these before, thought maybe it would have come up when the likes of Che Bunce played in Iceland, but then I could have just missed it
Legend
11K
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21K
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almost 9 years
"also anyone born in Iceland has to get any new names approved by the Icelandic naming committee hence no Smiths or Browns etc"

Love interesting little nuggets like that. Read somewhere that when USA had a military base in Iceland, the Icelandic Govt secretly forbid any Black American GIs from being posted there. Such was their determination to preserve a sort of 'racial purity'!
Woof Woof
2.7K
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19K
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over 16 years
Not quite, the s-son suffix means son of, -dottir means daughter of.
But it does mean the overall point is correct in that children don't have the same last name as their parents.
Marquee
2.7K
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7.2K
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almost 17 years
el grapadura
Not quite, the s-son suffix means son of, -dottir means daughter of.
But it does mean the overall point is correct in that children don't have the same last name as their parents.
Thanks for the rabbit hole...just what I needed at 4:20pm on a short week... :-)
Phoenix Academy
100
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370
·
about 9 years
There must be some more players we've never heard of before that have kiwi ancestry but have gone on to play for other countries. 

In 2007, Michael McGlinchey played for Scotland at the U17 World Cup. 

I don't think any of us (correct me if I am wrong) even knew he was eligible for NZ until he made the switch. 

I think I am going to start researching this more in-depth and try and uncover some random as professional players with kiwi heritage overseas.

Would be good to know who we missed out on, who is eligible etc. 
WeeNix
600
·
920
·
almost 9 years
CactusJones
There must be some more players we've never heard of before that have kiwi ancestry but have gone on to play for other countries. 

In 2007, Michael McGlinchey played for Scotland at the U17 World Cup. 

I don't think any of us (correct me if I am wrong) even knew he was eligible for NZ until he made the switch. 

I think I am going to start researching this more in-depth and try and uncover some random as professional players with kiwi heritage overseas.

Would be good to know who we missed out on, who is eligible etc. 

Me and Dave Cross knew!

First Team Squad
1.2K
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1K
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over 14 years
am pretty sure there was an article about both him and Winston Reid in Soccer Talk way back when before they were well on the radar...
Starting XI
2K
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4.7K
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almost 17 years
Khalil Media
am pretty sure there was an article about both him and Winston Reid in Soccer Talk way back when before they were well on the radar...

Yip sure was.  Plus the scouts of FM always seem to have that sort of data bang on.
Trialist
8
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72
·
over 7 years
CactusJones
There must be some more players we've never heard of before that have kiwi ancestry but have gone on to play for other countries. 

In 2007, Michael McGlinchey played for Scotland at the U17 World Cup. 

I don't think any of us (correct me if I am wrong) even knew he was eligible for NZ until he made the switch. 

I think I am going to start researching this more in-depth and try and uncover some random as professional players with kiwi heritage overseas.

Would be good to know who we missed out on, who is eligible etc. 
Trialist
8
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72
·
over 7 years
Michael McClinchey was contacted as was Winston Reid for the 2007 U20s. Winston Reid chose to play for Denmark.
Trialist
120
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68
·
over 7 years
This might be swooping too low town the English football pyramid. But there was a young lad on the books at Bristol Rovers a few years ago. Was definitely training with the first team at the time, but unsure if he got a debut. Since then has dropped down to the conference south and below. 

Name is Charlie Ten-Grotenhuis and currently kicking it for Hednesford Town FC in the Southern Prem. central league. Apparently he was a pretty talented player who just didnt really want it enough in the end. 
Legend
11K
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21K
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almost 9 years
Rusty Dunks started a thread for Jack Iredale in Overseas Players.
https://us.soccerway.com/players/jack-iredale/493215/

His Scottish born mum represented NZ at Sydney Olympics. He lived in NZ age 1-10 years (9 years), then his family moved to Oz (Perth). A left back, age 25.

He scored a brace for Cambridge against Oldham in League Two back in March. Stated his ambition to play for Socceroos. Cambridge (2nd) only need a draw in their last game this weekend against relegated Grimsby, to lock in automatic promotion to League One.

If he doesn't get picked in Arnie's large 34 man squad for 1st round AFC qualifiers in QAE (June), maybe worth approaching by Hay/NZF. Might consider himself then out of Socceroos recognition. That's if he can get/has NZ citizenship.
Starting XI
2K
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4.7K
·
almost 17 years
coochiee
Rusty Dunks started a thread for Jack Iredale in Overseas Players.
https://us.soccerway.com/players/jack-iredale/493215/

His Scottish born mum represented NZ at Sydney Olympics. He lived in NZ age 1-10 years (9 years), then his family moved to Oz (Perth). A left back, age 25.

He scored a brace for Cambridge against Oldham in League Two back in March. Stated his ambition to play for Socceroos. Cambridge (2nd) only need a draw in their last game this weekend against relegated Grimsby, to lock in automatic promotion to League One.

If he doesn't get picked in Arnie's large 34 man squad for 1st round AFC qualifiers in QAE (June), maybe worth approaching by Hay/NZF. Might consider himself then out of Socceroos recognition. That's if he can get/has NZ citizenship.
 One would think he'd be a backup for both sides.  OK for a Euro only AW/Roo side but not good enough for either national team's strongest 23.
Marquee
2.7K
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7.2K
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almost 17 years
Mainland Analyst
This might be swooping too low town the English football pyramid. But there was a young lad on the books at Bristol Rovers a few years ago. Was definitely training with the first team at the time, but unsure if he got a debut. Since then has dropped down to the conference south and below. 

Name is Charlie Ten-Grotenhuis and currently kicking it for Hednesford Town FC in the Southern Prem. central league. Apparently he was a pretty talented player who just didnt really want it enough in the end. 
Pretty sure I remember facebooking him years ago to ascertain his right to play for NZ and he responded by saying that he had a Kiwi passport - good old days!
Legend
11K
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21K
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almost 9 years
Marto
coochiee
Rusty Dunks started a thread for Jack Iredale in Overseas Players.
https://us.soccerway.com/players/jack-iredale/493215/

His Scottish born mum represented NZ at Sydney Olympics. He lived in NZ age 1-10 years (9 years), then his family moved to Oz (Perth). A left back, age 25.

He scored a brace for Cambridge against Oldham in League Two back in March. Stated his ambition to play for Socceroos. Cambridge (2nd) only need a draw in their last game this weekend against relegated Grimsby, to lock in automatic promotion to League One.

If he doesn't get picked in Arnie's large 34 man squad for 1st round AFC qualifiers in QAE (June), maybe worth approaching by Hay/NZF. Might consider himself then out of Socceroos recognition. That's if he can get/has NZ citizenship.
 One would think he'd be a backup for both sides.  OK for a Euro only AW/Roo side but not good enough for either national team's strongest 23.
Iredale will be playing in League One next season, if he's still at Cambridge. They sealed 2nd spot on the last day of the season, and automatic promotion.
Starting XI
1.5K
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4.9K
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over 15 years
The first player I know of with dual nationality to choose another country over New Zealand goes way back to the early twentieth century:
Christchurch-born George Moorhead who chose to play for Northern Ireland (then known as "Ireland" before the Republic had a team).
According to Roy Pilott, former Deputy Editor of the Waikato Times & football encyclopaedia:
 "The first player from New Zealand to appear in the Football League was Northern Ireland international George "Barney" Moorhead. who played in the 1920s... he had left this country as a two-year-old."
Moorhead was born in 1895 in Christchurch and played in England for Southampton and then Brighton & Hove Albion, followed by a career in the Northern Ireland league.
A colourful character: see this biographical site for Northern Ireland internationals:
Overseas
610
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2.7K
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over 16 years
Big Pete 65
The first player I know of with dual nationality to choose another country over New Zealand goes way back to the early twentieth century:
Christchurch-born George Moorhead who chose to play for Northern Ireland (then known as "Ireland" before the Republic had a team).
According to Roy Pilott, former Deputy Editor of the Waikato Times & football encyclopaedia:
 "The first player from New Zealand to appear in the Football League was Northern Ireland international George "Barney" Moorhead. who played in the 1920s... he had left this country as a two-year-old."
Moorhead was born in 1895 in Christchurch and played in England for Southampton and then Brighton & Hove Albion, followed by a career in the Northern Ireland league.
A colourful character: see this biographical site for Northern Ireland internationals:

Here he is:

 https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/george-moorhead/
Starting XI
1.5K
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4.9K
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over 15 years
Greg Brown is a player followers of our national league and the All Whites in the mid-1980's will remember.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Brown_(footballer,_born_1962)
He was one of the best strikers in our national league in 1985 and 1986 for first Napier City Rovers and then Miramar Rangers, having been brought out from Southport in England.
He was a regular for the All Whites in 1986 under Kevin Fallon but unfortunately only played in friendlies that year.
Hence, when he left NZ in 1987 to become one of the best strikers in Australia's NSL ("Australian Player of the Year 1990") he was eventualy called up to play A-internationals for Australia in 1991 and 1992 (12 appearances).
Later he became coach of the Aussie national women's team. 
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Love these Big Pete. Greg Brown sounds like an interesting one.. only been in NZ for 2 years and didn't seem to have any other NZ connections family wise. Obviously eligibility was very different back then! :)
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We had a habit of playing some players in unofficial games before they were eligible. Greg Brown only played against a touring USSR XI.
I'm pretty sure Brown's time at Napier was not even a full season.
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reg22
We had a habit of playing some players in unofficial games before they were eligible. Greg Brown only played against a touring USSR XI.
I'm pretty sure Brown's time at Napier was not even a full season.
Yeah he only played half a season for Napier in 1985, scored 9 goals but they had a terrible start and had only got 1 point by the time he arrived, so his goals weren't enough to keep them up - they did win the Chatham Cup though
Since Napier got relegated, Miramar picked him up and he was a key member of the team that came runners up in 86, missing out on the title on the last day of the season
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Matt Orr scored on his debut today for Hong Kong in a 3-1 loss to Iran in World Cup qualifying. Has a Kiwi father and passport. Plays for Kitchee in the Hong Kong league after spells at US colleges

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