The White Knight

Published: 2^nd Feb 12 6:57 pm

by Alan Dymock
Alan Dymock

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Witters Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Transfer markets? Forget transfer markets, let’s talk niche markets.

When Tottenham Hotspur were looking for recruits this January they were doing so in the knowledge that while they were well placed in the league and pushing for a title they had to, at the very least, purchase players able to help them consolidate a Champions League position within the English Premier League.

So they signed a guy with an unusual history. He is a 34-year-old no nonsense centre back born in New Zealand, who had a history of performance in the MLS and who was recently released from a contract due to knee problems.

Yeah. There can’t be too many of those around. You may be familiar with former DC United captain Ryan Nelsen.

There were hopes in DC that the athletic defender would make a return in their parts, looking to pick up a coaching job, maybe even to play. However he had only just been released by employers Blackburn Rovers when Harry Redknapp gave his team the green light to snap him up on a free transfer. Another one or Redknapp’s bargain deals.

He is a player that always achieved despite his habitus. He is a Kiwi and as a kid must have grown up surrounded by rugby and cricket. Few of the other kids would have seriously pursued soccer once puberty was hit. They’d rather hit each other or hit a 6.

Because of this Nelsen would not have learnt his soccer skills the traditional way. He would have had to graft. You can see this in his game: he is tough, determined in physical exchanges, but he is also best when having to clear his lines. He is a specialist in protecting a zone and thumping the ball out of his goalkeeper’s area.

From there Nelsen went to Stanford University. Stateside. A long way from the land of the long white cloud.

He shone there. He picked up his degree in political science, but it was his craft on the pitch that saw him graduate in soccer terms. He was drafted into the MLS with DC and quickly played his way into a leadership role for them. He also played his way into the league’s best XI of 2003 and 2004.

Blackburn came calling in ’05 and Nelson neatly adapted to life in the EPL. He smashed into, in fact. He sat at the heart of Rovers’ defense, batting away long balls and outmuscling wayward attackers. He was the enforcer. In ’06 when Christopher Samba joined there was a sense that only the wiliest of defenders could get past the pair. Some got clattered just for trying.

He was a leader. He captained Blackburn. He also captained his beloved New Zealand All Whites to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He was an internationally recognized centre-back.

However, at 34 and having had long periods of injury with bad hamstrings and shot knees you would have been forgiven for assuming Nelsen’s career was over. Blackburn certainly did, and let him go. April was the last time he played for Rovers. He was too old and injury prone, they reckoned. Bye, bye Ryan.

He has just became a member of the lily white squad in North London, though. What’s more he is fit to play against Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday. “I’ve just had a cup of tea with him in the canteen,” Assistant manager Kevin Bond said today. “He is looking forward to the challenge.”

He likes a challenge, Ryan. Who could honestly say this will be his last one, too? From Christchurch to California to White Heart Lane and still only 34 years young. There is longevity for you.

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