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Kingz
The Football Kingz were New Zealand's first professional football club. They played in the Australian National Soccer League from 1999 until their disestablishment in 2004, when they were replaced by the New Zealand Knights as an inaugural participant in the newly established Australian A-League. History Football Kingz FC (promoted as Auckland Kingz within Australia) joined the Australian National Soccer League in 1999 and proceeded to play in the last five seasons of the NSL, failing to qualify for the play-offs in every season. The club was originally to use the spelling of "Kings", however this was changed to the Kingz after receiving legal threats from Australian basketball team the Sydney Kings. The first season – 1999–2000 Their inaugural coach was OFC Player of the Century and former New Zealand international Wynton Rufer in a player-coach role, with his brother Shane as assistant coach. They played their inaugural game on the evening of 1 October 1999 at North ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
New Zealand Knights
New Zealand Knights Football Club (formed from the Football Kingz Football Club in 2004) were the only professional association football club in New Zealand before they became defunct. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, they played in the A-League, Australia's premier football competition and have since been replaced by the Wellington Phoenix. History Kingz and the NSL 1999–2004 Football Kingz FC (promoted as "Auckland Kingz" within Australia) joined the Australian National Soccer League in 1999 and proceeded to play in the last five seasons of the NSL, failing to qualify for the playoffs in every season. The club was originally to use the spelling of "Kings", however this was changed to the Kingz after receiving legal threats from the Sydney Kings basketball franchise. Restructuring Football Kingz into New Zealand Knights The Football Kingz brand was disestablished in 2004 and was restructured into the New Zealand Knights as a new franchise for Australia's new national footb ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wynton Rufer
Wynton Alan Whai Rufer (born 29 December 1962) is a New Zealand retired professional footballer who played as a striker. He spent more than a decade of his professional career in Switzerland and Germany, achieving his greatest success at Werder Bremen, where he won a total of four major titles and finished the top scorer in the UEFA Champions League 1993–94 season. He was also a member of the New Zealand national team in its first FIFA World Cup appearance in 1982. He was named the Oceania Footballer of the Century by the Oceania Football Confederation. Club career Early career Rufer was born in Wellington to a Swiss father, Arthur Rufer, and a New Zealand Māori mother, Anne Hine Rufer (née Campbell). He affiliates to the Ngāti Porou iwi. After leaving the city's Rongotai College, he played his first football for Wellington Diamond United, Stop Out and Miramar Rangers. After being voted New Zealand's Young Player of the Year in 1981 and 1982, Rufer attracted the atten ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National Soccer League (Australia)
The National Soccer League (NSL) was the top-level soccer league in Australia, run by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL, the A-League's predecessor, spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977 until its demise in 2004, when it was succeeded by the A-League competition run by Football Federation Australia, the successor to the Australian Soccer Association. During the history of the NSL the league was contested by a total of 42 teams; 41 based in Australia and one based in New Zealand. Seasons initially ran during the winter seasons, until 1989 when this was changed to the summer season. In 1984, the league was split into two conferences (Northern and Southern) to introduce more teams into the competition; the league returned to a single division in 1987. The competition was known by various names through sponsorships; these names included the Philips Soccer League, the Quit National Soccer League, Olympic Airways Soccer League, Coca-Cola S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Australian National Soccer League
The National Soccer League (NSL) was the top-level soccer league in Australia, run by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL, the A-League's predecessor, spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977 until its demise in 2004, when it was succeeded by the A-League competition run by Football Federation Australia, the successor to the Australian Soccer Association. During the history of the NSL the league was contested by a total of 42 teams; 41 based in Australia and one based in New Zealand. Seasons initially ran during the winter seasons, until 1989 when this was changed to the summer season. In 1984, the league was split into two conferences (Northern and Southern) to introduce more teams into the competition; the league returned to a single division in 1987. The competition was known by various names through sponsorships; these names included the Philips Soccer League, the Quit National Soccer League, Olympic Airways Soccer League, Coca-Cola S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League (NSL) was the top-level soccer league in Australia, run by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL, the A-League's predecessor, spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977 until its demise in 2004, when it was succeeded by the A-League competition run by Football Federation Australia, the successor to the Australian Soccer Association. During the history of the NSL the league was contested by a total of 42 teams; 41 based in Australia and one based in New Zealand. Seasons initially ran during the winter seasons, until 1989 when this was changed to the summer season. In 1984, the league was split into two conferences (Northern and Southern) to introduce more teams into the competition; the league returned to a single division in 1987. The competition was known by various names through sponsorships; these names included the Philips Soccer League, the Quit National Soccer League, Olympic Airways Soccer League, Coca-Cola S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dennis Ibrahim
Dennis Ibrahim (born 24 December 1974) is a German former professional footballer who played as a forward. Career Born in Hamburg, Germany, Ibrahim began playing football in the youth system of Werder Bremen, before turning professional with Fortuna Düsseldorf, making a handful of substitute's appearances in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga. After a spell with Alemannia Aachen in the Regionalliga, Ibrahim made some further appearances in the 2. Bundesliga with Fortuna Köln. He finished his career playing abroad in New Zealand, Austria and Portugal, making two appearances in the Primeira Liga with Estrela da Amadora. Spotted by then Football Kingz coach Wynton Rufer during his days with Werder Bremen, Ibrahim transferred to Football Kingz FC The Football Kingz were New Zealand's first professional football club. They played in the Australian National Soccer League from 1999 until their disestablishment in 2004, when they were replaced by the New Zealand Knights as an inaugu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michael Theoklitos
Michael Theo (formerly Theoklitos) (born 11 February 1981) is an Australian goalkeeper who is the goalkeeping coach at A-League club Western United FC. Career Early career Theoklitos began his career as a young lad playing in the Victorian Premier League (VPL) for Bulleen Zebras. He was then picked up by South Melbourne FC but failed to make an impact ahead of number 1 Eugene Galekovic. After 5 appearances for Hellas, he was sold to the Football Kingz FC for the 2001–2002 season where he became a fan favourite making 20 appearances in the National Soccer League. During his time with the Kingz he was scouted by Blackpool FC who signed him in 2002. Due to injury he only played in three games, only two of which counted as full representation for Blackpool. He returned to Australia where he rejoined Bulleen. While playing for them in the 2004 VPL final, he saved three of four penalties to help Bulleen to victory. Melbourne Victory He joined Melbourne Victory FC for their ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jeremy Christie
Jeremy John Christie (born 22 May 1983) is a New Zealand international association football, footballer who most recently played for FC Tampa Bay in the North American Soccer League (2011), North American Soccer League. Christie specialises in Midfielder (association football), central midfield and as a Defender (association football), defender. Christie was part of the selected All Whites squad which competed at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Career Club Christie has played for a number of teams since making his professional debut in 1999. He has played with Barnsley FC, Football Kingz, New Zealand Knights, Perth Glory and Wellington Phoenix. Christie signed with A-league expansion club Wellington Phoenix from Perth Glory for the start of the A-League 2007-08, 2007–08 season and joined up with fellow All Whites Shane Smeltz, Glen Moss, Tim Brown (footballer), Tim Brown and Mark Paston. He made 27 appearances in two seasons with the Phoenix before leaving at the conclusion of the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Raf De Gregorio
Raf de Gregorio (born 20 May 1977 in Wellington) is a New Zealand former professional association football player. Club career De Gregorio began his senior club career with Wellington United in 1997 before spending time in Europe with Bohemians, FC Dordrecht and Clyde. He returned to New Zealand in 2003 where he was a regular with the Football Kingz. A short spell with Finnish side FC Jokerit followed, before once again returning to New Zealand with Team Wellington. In 2005 de Gregorio again returned to Europe for a short spell with HJK Helsinki, but later rejoined Team Wellington. International career He has also played for the New Zealand national football team, the All Whites, collecting 23 caps (scoring 2 goals) since making his debut in 2000 against China. De Gregorio was included in the New Zealand 2003 Confederations Cup squad. He scored New Zealand's only goal of the tournament in a 1–3 loss against Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mt Smart Stadium
Mount Smart Stadium (formerly known as Ericsson Stadium) is a multipurpose stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the main home ground of the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League, and occasionally hosts rugby union and international rugby league matches. Built within the quarried remnants of the Mount Smart, Rarotonga / Mount Smart volcanic cone, it is located 10 kilometres south of the city centre, in the suburb of Penrose, New Zealand, Penrose. History The Mount Smart Domain Board was established in 1943 with the purpose of transforming the former quarry site into a public reserve. In 1953, a plan was approved for a sports stadium which was officially opened in 1967. In 1978, it hosted 3 matches of the World Series Cricket tour of New Zealand. The stadium hosted track and field events including the highly successful Pan Am series during the early 1980s. During the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour the Auckland rugby league team defeated the tourists 30–14 at Mt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mike Petersen (soccer)
Michael Petersen (born 6 May 1965) is an Australian former soccer player. He is an inductee of the Football Federation Australia - Football Hall of Fame. Playing career Club career Petersen played for Heidelberg United, Brunswick and South Melbourne in Australia, as well as in the Netherlands with Roda JC and Ajax. He played nine seasons with South Melbourne between 1989 and 1997, winning the NSL Championship in 1991. International career In all Petersen represented Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ... 50 times including 32 A International matches. References 1965 births Living people Australian soccer players Australian expatriate soccer players Australia international soccer players Australia B international soccer players Australian ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
A-League
A-League Men (known as the Isuzu UTE A-League for sponsorship reasons) is the highest-level professional men's soccer league in Australia and New Zealand. At the top of the Australian league system, it is the country's premier men's competition for the sport. A-League Men was established in 2004 as the A-League by the Football Federation Australia (FFA) as a successor to the National Soccer League (NSL) and competition commenced in August 2005. The league is currently are administered by the Australian Professional Leagues (APL), contested by twelve teams; eleven based in Australia and one based in New Zealand. The men's, women's and youth leagues have now been brought together under a unified A-Leagues banner. Seasons run from October to May and include a 26-round regular season followed by a Finals Series playoff involving the six highest-placed teams, culminating in a grand final match. The winner of the regular season tournament is dubbed the 'Premier' while the winner of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
