Player Profile

The veteran holding midfielder, once of Fulham, is likely to start in South Africa despite going into the tournament without a club, having been released by MLS side San Jose Earthquakes in March.

He has been a key player for the All Whites for over a decade, and was selected as one of the Kiwis’ over-age players at the 2008 Olympics. He travels to South Africa as his country’s second most capped player, behind team-mate Ivan Vicelich.

He started the away leg of the World Cup play-off against Bahrain, but a hip injury meant he was on the bench for the return game. He says his most memorable moment in an All Whites shirt was the 4-3 loss to Italy last June, when New Zealand led three times.

He forged a successful career in the USA after completing a history degree at Stanford University, playing for the LA Galaxy and Columbus Crewe. He joined Fulham in 2005 but his time in England was blighted by an Achilles injury and he was released three years later, signing for the Earthquakes.

He made 15 MLS appearances for them in the 2009 season, the last on 24 October.