6 Ryan Nelsen
Nelsen turned his back on a promising cricket career in New Zealand and decided instead to pursue a soccer scholarship in the United States. The non-nonsense defender soon graduated to the MLS in 2001 where he shone for DC United, earning two inclusions in the MLS All-Star side.
Nelsen moved to Blackburn at the beginning of 2005 and made his debut for his new club in a 1-0 league win away at Portsmouth in January of that year. In the summer of 2007, he was handed the captain’s armband although he subsequently endured an injury-blighted campaign, although he did manage to return to the side for the final few games of the season.
On the international stage, Nelsen made his full debut for the New Zealand national team in June 1999 against Poland.
