Ryan William Nelsen is a head coach of Toronto FC. He was born on 18 October 1977 in Christchurch, New Zealand. The footballer has an ‘Admiral Nelsen’ nickname.
Ryan went in for football in the academy of Christchurch United, which was located in the local town of the player. In 1997 Nelsen went to the USA, where he first performed for Greensboro College, then for Stanford Cardinal (the club of Stanford University). In 2000 the defender was included in the nominal NSCAA team of the season and named the most valuable player of Stanford Cardinal. Ryan performed at the position of a defensive midfielder at that time.
In 2001 Nelsen participated in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft and drew the attention of D.C. United, which offered the footballer to pen a contract. In 2003 the New Zealand defender became a captain of the new team and helped them to lift the MLS Cup in 2004. In 2003 and 2004 Ryan was included in the MLS Best XI.
In January 2005 the footballer attracted the attention of European clubs, which gave him a chance to show his skills in the Barclays Premier League. Nelsen joined Blackburn Rovers on free transfer and soon became a regular of the club. During the second half of the 2004/2005 season, the defender made 15 appearances for the club, gradually increasing his tally to 30 appearances each following season except 2006/2007, when he was injured.
In the 2011/2012 season the footballer failed to beat off the competition for a place in the starting line-up and sealed a one-and-a-half-year deal with London side Tottenham, after the head coach of the club Harry Reknapp personally invited him to White Hart Lane in January 2012. The New Zealand player featured only in five games and usually came on as a substitute for regular centre backs (Kaboul, Gallas, Dawson and King).
On 18 June 2012, Ryan penned a contract with Queens Park Rangers. In January 2013 Ryan was invited to MLS side Toronto FC for a managerial position.
Nelsen made his début for the national team on 19 June 1999 in the friendly against Poland. He also participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The footballer took part in three matches of the 2010 World Cup group stage and came on the field as a captain of the full national squad.
Ryan was twice named the Oceania Footballer of the Year.
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