Ivan Vicelich

Ivan Robert Vicelich (, ; ; born 3 September 1976) is a New Zealand former professional footballer who played as a centre-back or defensive midfielder. He is his country's second most-capped international and the second most-capped player in Oceania history behind only Chris Wood, having earned 88 caps between 1995 and 2013, and represented his nation at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Club career Vicelich played for Waitakere City and Central United in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier before establishing himself as one of the best players for the Football Kingz, when the Auckland-based club joined the Australian National Soccer League in 1999.

Thanks to the contacts he made through his Football Kingz colleague, John Lammers, he was able to impress Roda JC Kerkrade, with whom he signed in 2001. He was a regular player for the Dutch team until May 2006 when he signed a two-year contract with fellow Eredivisie club side, RKC Waalwijk.

He returned to New Zealand and signed with Auckland City in the New Zealand Football Championship before the start of the 2008–09 season and was a key member of the Auckland squad that contested the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in 2009.

In July 2010, following the 2010 FIFA World Cup in which Vicelich started every one of New Zealand's three games, he signed a short-term deal to play for Chinese Super League club Shenzhen Ruby for four months. He returned to former club Auckland City in December 2010, following a 30-day stand-down period. Aged 38, he received the adidas Bronze Ball as the third best player at the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco – at which Auckland finished in a surprise third place – bettered only by Real Madrid duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos.

He played his last game for Auckland City in the 2015 final which they won against Team Wellington on penalty kicks, qualifying for a record six consecutive times to the FIFA Club World Cup.

International career Vicelich made his full New Zealand debut with a substitute appearance in a 7–0 loss against Uruguay on 25 June 1995.

He was included in the New Zealand side for the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup finals in Mexico where he featured in all three group games, and again for the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup finals tournament in France, playing in just two matches.

On 16 August 2008, Vicelich announced his retirement from international football, however on 22 May 2009 he answered an SOS by All Whites head coach Ricki Herbert and was recalled to the national team for the 2009 Confederations Cup tournament in South Africa as a replacement for injured captain Ryan Nelsen. Where New Zealand would go on to earn their first ever Senior Men's International point at a FIFA tournament after a 0–0 draw with Iraq.

Vicelich continued to make himself available for selection for the crucial 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bahrain as New Zealand vied for the right to join football's most prestigious tournament for the second time in their history.

Vicelich has played 96 times for the All Whites including a record 88 official full internationals in which he scored 7 goals, his appearance in the first leg against Bahrain equalling Vaughan Coveny's then record of 64 official international caps. He went one better in the second leg in Wellington as he helped his country reach the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

On 10 May 2010, Vicelich was named in New Zealand's final 23-man squad to compete at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He went on to play in New Zealand's three games there.

On 25 March 2011, Vicelich captained New Zealand in their 1–1 draw with China in Wuhan. He retired from international football in 2013 after the qualifying process for the 2014 FIFA World Cup was unsuccessful, his official last game was against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium.

Coaching career In 2016 Vicelich became assistant coach at Auckland City.

Broadcasting career From 2021, he became the analyst with fellow former New Zealand goalkeeper, Jacob Spoonley, for Sky Sports as New Zealand build up to 2022 World Cup Qualification.

Personal life Vicelich is of Croatian descent. He is a former student at Liston College and Rutherford College, having graduated in 1994. His son, Luka Vicelich, plays for Auckland FC.

Career statistics

Club

Scores and results list New Zealand's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Vicelich goal.

Honours Waitakere City Chatham Cup: 1994 New Zealand Football Championship: 1995

Central United Chatham Cup: 1997, 1998, 2012 New Zealand Football Championship: 1999

Auckland City OFC Champions League: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. FIFA Club World Cup: 2014 (Bronze medal) New Zealand Football Championship: 2008–09, 2013–14, 2014–15

New Zealand OFC Nations Cup: 1998, 2002, 2008; Runner-up, 2000; 3rd place, 2004, 2012 AFC–OFC Challenge Cup: Runner-up, 2003

Individual Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to football, 2015 New Year Honours Oceania Footballer of the Year: 2009 New Zealand Young Player of the Year: 1994 New Zealand International Player of the Year: 2002 Oceania All Stars XI 2008 Auckland Sportsman of the Year 2010 Auckland Overall Sporting Excellence Award 2010 Friends of Football Medal of Excellence 2014 FIFA Club World Cup Bronze Ball: 2014 Ivan Vicelich has the record number of consecutive participations in the FIFA Club World Cup, taking part in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 2014–15 OFC Champions League Golden Ball Jack Batty Memorial Trophy: 1994, 1997 IFFHS OFC Men's Team of the Decade 2011–2020

Halberg Awards Team of the Year 2010 Supreme Award 2010 NZs Favourite Sporting Moment 2010