The experienced New Zealand defender completed his switch to Spurs yesterday after his contract at Blackburn Rovers was terminated. What can we tell you about Ryan Nelsen?
1) He has been a regular fixture at Blackburn Rovers since 2005 where he played 172 games scoring eight goals.
2) Nelsen is the captain of the New Zealand national side, known as the ‘All Whites’ who earned high praise from their battling undefeated performances at the 2010 World Cup.
3) Before signing for Blackburn his career enjoyed a spell in Amercia, playing 81 times for Washington based club, DC United.
4) This season he made just one appearance in the league for Blackburn after suffered a string of injuries.
5) One of his last goals for the club was last season, at White Hart Lane in a game Spurs won 4-2.
6) When he takes the number 33 shirt at Tottenham, he will be reunited with goalkeeper Brad Friedel who he played alongside at Blackburn.
7) Nelsen was the captain of Blackburn until Steve Kean took over, replacing him with Christopher Samba.
8) His moves in English football have never commanded a transfer fee. Mark Hughes signed him for Blackburn on a free transfer, and he cancelled his Rovers contract to sign as a free agent for Tottenham.
9) Harry Redknapp tried to sign Nelsen once before, while manager of Portsmouth in 2006, but Rovers rejected the offer.
10) He is a former Olympian. He competed as part of New Zealand’s football team at the 2008 Beijing Games as one of the over 23 players, playing two matches before being summoned back as agreed to rejoin the Blackburn Rovers squad.
image: © Shiraz Chakera
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