Ben Old
 Old playing for Wellington Phoenix in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Benjamin Craig Old[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 13 August 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | New Zealand | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Wellington Phoenix | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2016 | Hibiscus Coast | ||
| 2017 | North Shore United | ||
| 2018–2019 | Wellington Phoenix | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2022 | Wellington Phoenix Reserves | 25 | (4) |
| 2021 | → Lower Hutt | 6 | (0) |
| 2021– | Wellington Phoenix | 66 | (7) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2018–2019 | New Zealand U-17 | 4 | (1) |
| 2023– | New Zealand U-23 | 2 | (1) |
| 2022– | New Zealand | 1 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 April 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 3 March 2023 | |||
Benjamin Craig Old (born 13 August 2002) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a attacking midfielder for the Wellington Phoenix in the Australian A-League.[2]
Early life[edit]
Old began his sports career as a golfer; he was given his first golf club when he was two.[3] Old was considered a former child golf prodigy, playing in his first international golf tournament at the age of seven. He had travelled to the United States to play against other child prodigies from around the world in Las Vegas, Pinehurst and San Diego.[3]
Club career[edit]
Wellington Phoenix[edit]
Old originally lived in Auckland before he moved to Wellington and joined the Wellington Phoenix Football Academy in 2018.[3] While not an official member of Wellington Phoenix's senior squad, Old had trained with the team before they went to Australia.[3] Old joined the team again for training when they returned, making his debut as a substitute in the Phoenix's 3–0 win over Western United and nutmegging his defender with his first touch.[4][2]
Old scored his first goal for the Wellington Phoenix during a 3–0 victory over the Brisbane Roar on 30 March 2022.[5]
International career[edit]
New Zealand U-17s[edit]
Old was part of the New Zealand U-17 team that won the 2018 OFC U-16 Championship and qualified for 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil.[6][7][8] Old played in two games at the World Cup, first coming on as a sub in New Zealand's opening 1–2 loss to Angola before getting a start in the team's 1–0 win over Canada.[9][10]
New Zealand[edit]
Old was named in the 30-man New Zealand squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Oceania qualifiers.[11] He subsequently made his international debut on 19 March 2022, coming on as a substitute in the 67th minute during New Zealand's 1–0 victory against Papua New Guinea in the group stage.[12]
Career statistics[edit]
- As of match played 22 May 2021[13]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Others | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Wellington Phoenix Reserves | 2019–20[14] | New Zealand Football Championship | 12 | 1 | — | — | 12 | 1 | ||
| 2020–21[15] | New Zealand Football Championship | 13 | 3 | — | — | 13 | 3 | |||
| Wellington Phoenix | 2020–21[16] | A-League | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 26 | 4 | — | — | 26 | 4 | ||||
References[edit]
- ^ "FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019 List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 18 October 2019. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- ^ a b Rollo, Phillip (23 May 2021). "Academy player Ben Old makes Wellington Phoenix debut in front of 24,105 people". Stuff.
- ^ a b c d Rollo, Phillip (31 January 2021). "Former child golf prodigy Ben Old striving towards Wellington Phoenix contract". Stuff.
- ^ Rollo, Phillip (25 May 2021). "Ben Old feeling more at home with Wellington Phoenix after surprise debut". Stuff.
- ^ Wellington Phoenix FC (31 March 2022). "Men's match review: Wellington Phoenix vs. Brisbane Roar" (Press release). Wellington Phoenix FC.
- ^ "FIFA U-17 World Cup 2019 - News - History for Solomons, New Zealand continue run". FIFA. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "U-17 players looking to impress". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "Figueira names quality World Cup squad". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019 - Matches - New Zealand - Angola". FIFA. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019 - Matches - Canada - New Zealand". FIFA. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "Squad named for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Oceania Qualifiers". New Zealand Football. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™". FIFA. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ Ben Old at Soccerway. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Summary - Premiership - New Zealand - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "Summary - Premiership - New Zealand - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "Benjamin Old (Wellington Phoenix) 2020-21". Ultimate A-League. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
External links[edit]
- Ben Old at Soccerway
 | ||
  | This biographical article related to a football forward from New Zealand is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 2002 births
- Living people
- New Zealand men's association footballers
- Wellington Phoenix FC players
- New Zealand Football Championship players
- Men's association football midfielders
- A-League Men players
- Footballers at the 2020 Summer Olympics
- Olympic association footballers for New Zealand
- New Zealand association football biography stubs
- Association football forward stubs