View source for Ryan Nelsen

{{short description|New Zealand footballer (born 1977)}}
{{Redirect|Ryan Nelson|the American judge|Ryan D. Nelson}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name           = Ryan Nelsen<br>{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=NZL|ONZM|size=80%}}}}
| image          = Ryan Nelsen-Toronto FC (Cropped).jpg
| image_size     = 200
| caption        = Nelsen as head coach of [[Toronto FC]] in 2013
| fullname       = Ryan William Nelsen<ref name="Hugman2010-11">{{Cite book
 | editor-first = Barry J.
 | editor-last = Hugman
 | title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11
 | year = 2010
 | publisher = Mainstream Publishing
 | isbn = 978-1-84596-601-0
 | page = 306 }}</ref>
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|1977|10|18|df=y}}<ref name="Hugman2010-11"/>
| birth_place    = [[Christchurch]], New Zealand
| height         = 1.86 m<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.premierleague.com/page/PlayerProfile/0,,12306~32582,00.html |title=Premier League Player Profile |access-date=15 March 2011 |publisher=Premier League |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609095455/http://www.premierleague.com/page/PlayerProfile/0%2C%2C12306~32582%2C00.html |archive-date=9 June 2011 }}</ref>
| position       = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
| currentclub    = 
| collegeyears1  = 1997–1998
| college1       = [[Greensboro College|Greensboro Pride]]
| collegeyears2    = 1999–2000
| college2       = [[Stanford Cardinal men's soccer|Stanford Cardinal]]
| years1         = 1995–1998
| clubs1         = [[Christchurch United]]
| caps1          = 96
| goals1         = 12
| years2         = 2001–2005
| clubs2         = [[D.C. United]]
| caps2          = 81
| goals2         = 7
| years3         = 2005–2012
| clubs3         = [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]
| caps3          = 172
| goals3         = 8
| years4         = 2012
| clubs4         = [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]
| caps4          = 5
| goals4         = 0
| years5         = 2012–2013
| clubs5         = [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]]
| caps5          = 21
| goals5         = 1
| totalcaps      = 375
| totalgoals     = 28
| nationalyears1 = 2008
| nationalteam1  = [[New Zealand national under-23 football team|New Zealand Olympic]] ([[List of overage players in Olympic football|O.P.]])
| nationalcaps1  = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2012
| nationalteam2  = [[New Zealand national under-23 football team|New Zealand Olympic]] ([[List of overage players in Olympic football|O.P.]])
| nationalcaps2  = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 1999–2012
| nationalteam3  = [[New Zealand men's national football team|New Zealand]]
| nationalcaps3  = 49
| nationalgoals3 = 7
| manageryears1  = 2013–2014
| managerclubs1  = [[Toronto FC]]
}}
'''Ryan William Nelsen''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|ONZM|size=85%}} (born 18 October 1977) is a New Zealand former professional football player and head coach.

Nelsen commonly played as a [[Defender (association football)|defender]], and his professional career began in 1995. He notably captained the [[New Zealand men's national football team|New Zealand national team]] and started his professional football career in his native country for [[Christchurch United]]. In 2001, he joined [[Major League Soccer]] side [[D.C. United]]. In 2005, he moved to England with [[Premier League]] side [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]. 

In 2012, he made a move to [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] but only managed 5 appearances before joining [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] later that year. From January 2013 to August 2014 he was head coach of [[Toronto FC]] in MLS.

==Early life==
After attending [[Our Lady of the Assumption primary school]] and [[St Thomas of Canterbury College]], he moved to the United States to play for [[Greensboro College]] in [[North Carolina]] in 1997. After spending two years at Greensboro and leading The Pride to the [[NCAA Division III|National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III]] championship match, only to lose to [[Ohio Wesleyan University]], he transferred to [[Stanford University]] where he played his final two years of college football. He was named Stanford's Most Valuable Player as a junior and an [[List of NCAA Division I men's football First-Team All-America teams|NSCAA All-American]] as a senior while playing as a defensive midfielder. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in [[political science]].<ref name="mhallgoalnyt">[http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/kiwi-captain-learned-premier-league-defense-in-m-l-s/ Hall, Matthew. "Kiwi Captain Learned Premier League Defense in M.L.S.," (''The New York Times'' football blog), Friday, 19 March 2010.]</ref>

==Club career==
===Christchurch United===
Nelsen played for [[Christchurch United]] from 1995 to 1998. Even after he relocated to the United States, he played his last season with the club when he was home for a semester's sabbatical from his university football scholarship with [[Greensboro College]].

===DC United===
Nelsen was drafted fourth overall in the [[2001 MLS SuperDraft]] by [[D.C. United]], with whom he spent four years in [[Major League Soccer]] (MLS). After emerging as a starter in 2002, Nelsen was named team captain in 2003, replacing [[Marco Etcheverry]], as well as winning the team's Defender of the Year Award and being named to the league's [[MLS Best XI|Best XI]]. Again, in 2004 after leading United to its fourth [[MLS Cup]], he was named the Best XI. In four years in MLS, Nelsen had seven goals and five assists.

===Blackburn Rovers===
Nelsen was signed by [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] on a free transfer in January 2005, shortly after the completion of the 2004 MLS season. In the summer of 2005, after just six months at the club, Nelsen signed a new three-year contract after impressing manager [[Mark Hughes]] and helping to turn Blackburn's defence into one of the toughest in the Premiership. Nelsen was successfully awarded a [[work permit]] on appeal after the initial application had been refused due to New Zealand being ranked outside the top seventy in the [[FIFA World Rankings]].

In the 2005–06 season, Blackburn qualified for the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] with a sixth-place finish, but Nelsen missed the last few games after breaking his foot in a 2–0 win at [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]. Nevertheless, his performances since arriving in England prompted much interest from rival clubs including [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]], whose bid for Nelsen was rejected by Blackburn. On 1 February 2006, he started and played the full ninety minutes alongside [[Andy Todd (footballer born 1974)|Andy Todd]] in a 4–3 league victory over [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] at [[Ewood Park]].

[[File:Pedersen Nelson vs Man Utd.jpg|thumb|left|Nelsen and [[Morten Gamst Pedersen]] attempt to clear the ball in a match against Manchester United]]

Nelsen was dealt with another blow before the start of the 2006–07 season, with a serious hamstring injury forcing him out until the new year. On his return to the team in an [[FA Cup]] fourth round win against [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]], he was immediately made captain. In July 2007, he signed a new five-year deal with the club until the summer of 2012. He scored his first league goal for Blackburn with a header against [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] on 26 April 2009 in a 2–0 win which helped Blackburn stay in the Premier League for another season. He then scored his second Premier League goal against Portsmouth with a header from a corner taken by David Dunn on 7 November 2009, and has also scored goals against Birmingham City and Fulham. On 11 April 2010, Nelsen came on for the injured [[Christopher Samba]] against Manchester United at [[Ewood Park]] in a 0–0 draw.<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8000606.stm
|title=Blackburn 2–0 Wigan
|publisher=[[BBC]]
|date=26 April 2009 |access-date=24 October 2009}}</ref> Nelsen made his 175th appearance for Blackburn Rovers, leading the team in a 3–2 defeat to [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] at Ewood Park on 17 April 2010. In all competitions, Nelsen made a total of thirty-three appearances and scored four goals in the 2009–10 season.

On 13 November 2010, he scored against [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] at [[White Hart Lane]] for his first goal of the 2010–11 Premier League season. On 27 November, he played the full ninety minutes partnering [[Christopher Samba]], but this time in a 7–1 rout against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] at [[Old Trafford]]. He then added his second and third goals of the campaign by scoring against [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] on 4 December in a 3–0 win and against [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] on 18 December in a 1–1 draw.

With Blackburn's tenth successive Premier League season, and their seventeenth in nineteen seasons, now underway, Nelsen welcomed the club's proposed takeover by Indian owned Venky's Group who has promised up to £100 million for [[Sam Allardyce]] to spend on strengthening the squad – with Nelsen feeling that the squad could do with "freshing up." On 15 January 2011, he made his 200th appearance for Blackburn in the away game against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] at [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]].{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

Nelsen signed a two-year contract extension with Rovers in late January 2011 which would keep him at the club until the summer of 2013.<ref>{{cite news
 |url=http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~2273447,00.html
 |title=New deal for Nelsen
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110125111248/http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0%2C%2C12306~2273447%2C00.html
 |archive-date=25 January 2011
}}</ref> Under [[Steve Kean]] as manager following the sacking of Sam Allardyce, Nelsen was relieved as team captain of Blackburn in favour of [[Christopher Samba]], Nelsen moving to vice-captain. Nelsen suffered a knee injury forcing him to miss the rest of the 2010–11 season. Following the 2010–11 season, in which Blackburn avoided relegation, Nelsen recovered from the knee injury and made one appearance against Aston Villa in a 3–1 loss.

After fully recovering from his knee injury Nelsen was released from Blackburn on the transfer deadline day 31 January 2012 to sign for Tottenham Hotspur by Tottenham boss [[Harry Redknapp]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10303~2595866,00.html|title=Nelsen Leaves|date=1 February 2012|publisher=rovers.co.uk|access-date=3 February 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203230250/http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10303~2595866,00.html|archive-date=3 February 2012}}</ref>

===Tottenham Hotspur===
Nelsen was signed by [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] on a free transfer on 2 February 2012, to replace defender [[Sébastien Bassong]], who joined [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolves]] on loan. He was given the number 33 shirt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2012/0202/nelsenr.html|title=Spurs sign Nelsen from Blackburn|date=2 February 2012|work=RTÉ Sport|access-date=2 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/spurs/News/nelsen-completes-move-020212.page?|title=NELSEN COMPLETES MOVE|date=2 February 2012|publisher=Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|access-date=3 February 2012}}</ref> He made his debut for [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham]] on 11 February 2012 in the Premier League match against [[Newcastle United]], when he replaced [[Ledley King]] in the seventy-fourth minute.

Nelsen made his first starting debut on 19 February 2012 against [[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage]] in their [[FA Cup]] tie.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/74914/stevenage-fc-vs-tottenham/play-by-play |title=Stevenage FC vs Tottenham LIVE Commentary |publisher=Goal |date=19 February 2012 |access-date=21 February 2012}}</ref>

He scored his first goal for Tottenham Hotspur on 27 March 2012 in the seventy-fourth minute of an FA Cup tie against [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] in a replay of a previous game, due to Bolton midfielder [[Fabrice Muamba]] having a cardiac arrest in the first tie. [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] won the match 3–1 that day.

On 25 May 2012, he was released by Tottenham with fellow January signing [[Louis Saha]]. He made eight appearances scoring one goal.

===Queens Park Rangers===
On 18 June 2012, it was announced that Ryan Nelsen had signed a one-year deal with [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]]. He scored the first goal with Rangers against [[Wigan Athletic]] heading the ball equalising the score to 1–1.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

It was announced on 8 January 2013 that Nelsen had signed for Canadian MLS side [[Toronto FC]] as the club's new head coach.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.3news.co.nz/Ryan-Nelsen-to-quit-EPL-to-coach-in-Canada/tabid/415/articleID/282389/Default.aspx|work=3 News NZ | title= Nelsen quits EPL to coach in Canada| date=8 January 2013}}</ref> However, he remained under contract with QPR and was in negotiations with their management regarding his release to take up the Toronto position.<ref name=TFCannoucement>{{cite news|title= QPR defender Ryan Nelsen named new manager of Toronto |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20946699 |publisher= BBC Sport |date= 8 January 2013 |access-date= 8 January 2013 }}</ref>

It was announced on 22 January 2013 that Nelsen would play his last game for QPR against 
[[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] at [[Loftus Road]] on 29 January and would join Toronto FC on 1 February.<ref name="Full-time job">{{cite web|last=Millson|first=Larry|title=Full-time job: Nelsen set to take reins at TFC on Feb. 1|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/01/22/full-time-job-nelsen-set-take-reins-tfc-feb-1|publisher=Major League Soccer|access-date=23 January 2013}}</ref> He played his last match for Queens Park Rangers on 29 January in a 0–0 draw against English champions, Manchester City, and was given a guard of honour by his teammates after the game.

==International career==
Nelsen made his [[New Zealand men's national football team|New Zealand]] debut against [[Poland national football team|Poland]] on 19 June 1999.<ref name=alup>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZRepSoccer/id1559.htm|title=A-International Lineups|publisher=The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website|access-date=15 December 2009}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nzsoccer.com/page/ryan_nelsen.html Ryan Nelsen Profile at NZ Soccer] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430131316/http://www.nzsoccer.com/page/ryan_nelsen.html |date=30 April 2008 }}</ref> He was part of the All Whites' winning squad in the [[2002 OFC Nations Cup]], scoring the only goal of a 1–0 win over [[Australia–New Zealand soccer rivalry|rivals]] [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] in the [[2002 OFC Nations Cup Final|final]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=2097684|title=Soccer: All Whites $2m, Australia 0|date=16 July 2002|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] }}</ref>

Although he has been selected to play on numerous occasions, Nelsen had not represented New Zealand between his last appearance in 2004 and 2008 due largely to a recurring hamstring injury.<ref name="rrr">{{cite news
 |title=Rover Ryan Returns
 |url=http://nzsoccer.com/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=24031
 |publisher=New Zealand Football
 |access-date=2008-07-04
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080707141900/http://www.nzsoccer.com/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=24031
 |archive-date=7 July 2008
 |url-status=dead
}}</ref>
Nelsen captained the New Zealand U-23 squad for their first appearance at the [[2008 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] against [[China national football team|China]]. Although he was only available for the opening two matches as Blackburn had requested that he return in time to prepare for their opening Premier League game of the 2008–09 season against [[Everton F.C.|Everton]].<ref name="rrr" /><ref>{{cite news
 |title=Olympic Football Squads Named
 |url=http://www.olympic.org.nz/Article.aspx?Mode=1&ID=6019
 |publisher=New Zealand Olympic Committee
 |date=4 July 2008
 |access-date=2008-07-04
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705171737/http://www.olympic.org.nz/Article.aspx?Mode=1&ID=6019
 |archive-date=5 July 2008
}}</ref>
Nelsen captained the All Whites side as they qualified for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]], beating [[Bahrain national football team|Bahrain]] in a two-legged playoff in November 2009.

On 10 May 2010, Nelsen was named in New Zealand's final 23-man squad to compete at the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]].<ref name=aws2010>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-cup/3676399/All-Whites-World-Cup-squad-named|title=All Whites World Cup squad named|date=10 May 2010|publisher=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |access-date=10 May 2010}}</ref>

On 15 June, 28 years to the day after New Zealand made their second appearance in a FIFA World Cup Finals, their first since 1982, Nelsen captained New Zealand to their first ever point in a FIFA World Cup Finals match in a 1–1 draw with World Cup debutants [[Slovakia national football team|Slovakia]]. On 24 June, Nelsen again skippered the All Whites in a 0–0 draw with [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]], but New Zealand were knocked out of the group stages. However, it is surely indisputable that New Zealand's biggest honour was to draw 1–1 with [[Italy national football team|Italy]], who were the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|reigning champions]].

Nelsen was named in a football "World Cup Best XI" by American sports channel, [[ESPN]] on 10 July 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/columns/story?id=807589&cc=3436&ver=global |title=World Cup Best XI |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714030238/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/columns/story?id=807589&cc=3436&ver=global |archive-date=14 July 2010 }}</ref>

==Coaching career==
On 8 January 2013 Nelsen accepted an offer to become head coach of [[Major League Soccer]] side [[Toronto FC]].<ref name=tfcjob>{{cite news|last=Larson|first=Kurtis|title=TFC introduction of Ryan Nelsen as head coach met with skepticism|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2013/01/08/tfc-introduce-ryan-nelsen-as-head-coach|access-date=8 January 2013|newspaper=Toronto Sun|date=8 January 2013}}</ref> He started on 1 February in time for Toronto's pre-season. Nelsen won his first game as a head coach in the home opener against [[Sporting Kansas City]] in a 2–1 victory on 9 March, with both goals coming from newly acquired striker [[Robert Earnshaw]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Bottjer|first=Steve|title=Reds Beat SKC at Rogers Centre|url=http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2013/03/reds-beat-skc-rogers-centre|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313035427/http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2013/03/reds-beat-skc-rogers-centre|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 March 2013|access-date=10 March 2013|newspaper=Toronto FC|date=9 March 2013}}</ref> He was sacked, along with his assistants, on 31 August 2014<ref name="Toronto FC fires coaches, Jermain Defoe might go">{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Doug|title=Toronto FC fires coaches, Jermain Defoe might go|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/tfc/2014/08/31/toronto_fc_fires_coach_ryan_nelsen_staff.html|access-date=31 August 2014|work=Toronto Star|date=31 August 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140901021113/http://www.thestar.com/sports/tfc/2014/08/31/toronto_fc_fires_coach_ryan_nelsen_staff.html|archive-date=1 September 2014}}</ref> after winning three out of his last 13 matches.<ref name="Ryan Nelsen fired as Toronto FC coach">{{cite news|last1=McIntyre|first1=Doug|title=Ryan Nelsen fired as Toronto FC coach|url=http://www.espnfc.us/major-league-soccer/story/2014522/ryan-nelsen-fired-as-coach-of-major-league-soccer-toronto-fc|access-date=1 September 2014|publisher=ESPN FC|date=31 August 2014}}</ref>

==Writing career==
Nelsen and New Zealand author Tony Smith co-wrote the book ''Ryan Nelsen's Road to the World Cup''.<ref name="TVNZ_3577562">{{cite news |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/all-whites/ryan-nelsen-s-long-and-winding-road-3577562 |title=Ryan Nelsen's long and winding road |date=2 June 2010 |work=[[One Sport]] |access-date=6 November 2011}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
<ref>[http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/ryan-nelsen Ryan Nelsen]</ref><ref>[http://www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10303~32582,00.html Ryan Nelsen | Blackburn Rovers | Team | 1st Team Profiles<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226053215/http://www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10303~32582,00.html |date=26 February 2009 }}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup
!colspan="2"|League cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Christchurch United]]
|[[1995 New Zealand Superclub League|1995]]
|[[New Zealand Superclub League|NZ Superclub League]]
|24||2||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||24||2
|-
|1996
|rowspan=3|{{nowrap|[[Mainland Premier League]]}}
|26||4||2||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||28||5
|-
|1997
|22||1||7||2||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||29||3
|-
|1998
|24||5||4||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||28||6
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!96!!12!!13!!4!!0!!0!!0!!0!!109!!16
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[D.C. United]]
|[[2001 D.C. United season|2001]]
|rowspan=4|[[Major League Soccer]]
|19||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||19||0
|-
|[[2002 D.C. United season|2002]]
|20||4||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||20||4
|-
|[[2003 D.C. United season|2003]]
|25||1||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||27||1
|-
|[[2004 D.C. United season|2004]]
|17||2||3||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||20||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!81!!7!!5!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!86!!7
|-
|rowspan="9"|[[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]
|[[2004–05 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|2004–05]]
|rowspan=8|[[Premier League]]
|15||0||5||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||20||0
|-
|[[2005–06 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|2005–06]]
|31||0||0||0||5||0||colspan="2"|–||36||0
|-
|[[2006–07 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|2006–07]]
|12||0||5||0||0||0||2||0||19||0
|-
|[[2007–08 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|2007–08]]
|22||0||1||0||2||0||5||0||30||0
|-
|[[2008–09 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|2008–09]]
|35||1||2||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||39||1
|-
|[[2009–10 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|2009–10]]
|28||4||0||0||5||0||colspan="2"|–||33||4
|-
|[[2010–11 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|2010–11]]
|28||3||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||30||3
|-
|[[2011–12 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|2011–12]]
|1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!172!!8!!14!!0!!15!!0!!7!!0!!208!!8
|-
|[[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]
|[[2011–12 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|2011–12]]
|Premier League
|5||0||3||1||0||0||0||0||8||1
|-
|{{nowrap|[[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]]}}
|{{nowrap|[[2012–13 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|2012–13]]}}
|Premier League
|21||1||1||0||2||0|| colspan="2" |–||24||1
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!375!!28!!36!!5!!17!!0!!7!!0!!435!!33
|}

===International===
<small>New Zealand's goal tally first.</small>
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="font-size:90%"
|-
!colspan="7"|'''International appearances and goals'''
|-
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Result !! Competition !! Goal
|-
|colspan=7 align=center|'''1999'''
|-
| align=center|1
| 19 June
| [[Rajamangala Stadium]], [[Bangkok]]
| {{fb|Poland}}
| align=center|0–0
| [[Exhibition game#Association football|International Match]]
|
|-
| align=center|2
| 22 June
| [[Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex]], [[Muscat]]
| {{fb|Oman}}
| align=center|0–1
| [[Exhibition game#Association football|International Match]]
|
|-
| align=center|3
| 1 July
| [[Shah Alam Stadium]], [[Kuala Lumpur]]
| {{fb|Malaysia}}
| align=center|1–2
| [[Exhibition game#Association football|International Match]]
|
|-
| align=center|4
| 3 July
|, [[Kuala Lumpur]]
| {{fb|Malaysia}}
| align=center|5–1
| [[Exhibition game#Association football|International Match]]
|
|-
| align=center|5
| 10 July
|, [[Mexico City]]
| {{fb|Egypt}}
| align=center|1–1
| [[Exhibition game#Association football|International Match]]
|
|-
| align=center|6
| 15 July
|, [[Guadalajara]]
| {{fb|Egypt}}
| align=center|0–1
| [[Exhibition game#Association football|International Match]]
|
|-
| align=center|7
| 24 July
| [[Estadio Jalisco]], [[Guadalajara]]
| {{fb|United States}}
| align=center|1–2
| [[1999 FIFA Confederations Cup#Group B|1999 FIFA Confederations Cup]]
|
|-
| align=center|8
| 28 July
| [[Estadio Jalisco]], [[Guadalajara]]
| {{fb|Germany}}
| align=center|0–2
| [[1999 FIFA Confederations Cup#Group B|1999 FIFA Confederations Cup]]
|
|-
| align=center|9
| 30 July
| [[Estadio Jalisco]], [[Guadalajara]]
| {{fb|Brazil}}
| align=center|0–2
| [[1999 FIFA Confederations Cup#Group B|1999 FIFA Confederations Cup]]
|
|-
|colspan=7 align=center|'''2000'''
|-
| align=center|10
| 13 August
| [[Stadium Merdeka]], [[Kuala Lumpur]]
| {{fb|Malaysia}}
| align=center|0–0
| [[2000 Merdeka Tournament]]
|
|-
| align=center|11
| 17 August
| [[Stadium Merdeka]], [[Kuala Lumpur]]
| {{fb|Oman}}
| align=center|1–0
| [[2000 Merdeka Tournament]]
|
|-
| align=center|12
| 19 August
| [[Stadium Merdeka]], [[Kuala Lumpur]]
| {{fb|Malaysia}}
| align=center|2–0
| [[2000 Merdeka Tournament]]
| 1 (1)
|-
!colspan="7"|'''2001'''
|-
| align=center|13
| 6 June
| [[North Harbour Stadium]], [[Auckland]]
| {{fb|Tahiti}}
| align=center|5–0
| [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)#Group 2|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|
|-
| align=center|14
| 8 June
| [[North Harbour Stadium]], [[Auckland]]
| {{fb|Cook Islands}}
| align=center|2–0
| [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)#Group 2|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|
|-
| align=center|15
| 11 June
| [[North Harbour Stadium]], [[Auckland]]
| {{fb|Solomon Islands}}
| align=center|5–1
| [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)#Group 2|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|
|-
| align=center|16
| 13 June
| [[North Harbour Stadium]], [[Auckland]]
| {{fb|Vanuatu}}
| align=center|7–0
| [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)#Group 2|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|
|-
| align=center|17
| 20 June
| [[Westpac Stadium]], [[Wellington]]
| {{fb|Australia}}
| align=center|0–2
| [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)#Final round|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|
|-
| align=center|18
| 24 June
| [[Stadium Australia]], Sydney
| {{fb|Australia}}
| align=center|1–4
| [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)#Final round|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|
|-
!colspan="7"|'''2002'''
|-
| align=center|19
| 5 July
| [[North Harbour Stadium]], [[Auckland]]
| {{fb|Tahiti}}
| align=center|4–0
| [[2002 OFC Nations Cup#Group B|2002 OFC Nations Cup]]
| 1 (2)
|-
| align=center|20
| 7 July
| [[North Harbour Stadium]], [[Auckland]]
| {{fb|Papua New Guinea}}
| align=center|9–1
| [[2002 OFC Nations Cup#Group B|2002 OFC Nations Cup]]
| 1 (3)
|-
| align=center|21
| 9 July
| [[North Harbour Stadium]], [[Auckland]]
| {{fb|Solomon Islands}}
| align=center|6–1
| [[2002 OFC Nations Cup#Group B|2002 OFC Nations Cup]]
|
|-
| align=center|22
| 12 July
| [[Mount Smart Stadium]], [[Auckland]]
| {{fb|Vanuatu}}
| align=center|3–0
| [[2002 OFC Nations Cup#Knockout Rounds|2002 OFC Nations Cup]]
|
|-
| align=center|23
| 14 July
| [[Mount Smart Stadium]], [[Auckland]]
| {{fb|Australia}}
| align=center|1–0
| [[2002 OFC Nations Cup Final]]
| 1 (4)
|-
!colspan="7"|'''2003'''
|-
| align=center|24
| 27 May
| [[Tynecastle Stadium]], Edinburgh
| {{fb|Scotland}}
| align=center|1–1
| [[Exhibition game#Association football|Friendly]]
| 1 (5)
|-
| align=center|25
| 8 June
| [[City Stadium (Richmond)|City Stadium]], [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]]
| {{fb|United States}}
| align=center|1–2
| [[Exhibition game#Association football|Friendly]]
|
|-
| align=center|26
| 18 June
| [[Stade de France]], Paris
| {{fb|Japan}}
| align=center|0–3
| [[2003 FIFA Confederations Cup#Group A|2003 FIFA Confederations Cup]]
|
|-
| align=center|27
| 20 June
| [[Stade de Gerland]], [[Lyon]]
| {{fb|Colombia}}
| align=center|1–3
| [[2003 FIFA Confederations Cup#Group A|2003 FIFA Confederations Cup]]
|
|-
| align=center|28
| 22 June
| [[Stade de France]], Paris
| {{fb|France}}
| align=center|0–5
| [[2003 FIFA Confederations Cup#Group A|2003 FIFA Confederations Cup]]
|
|-
| align=center|29
| 12 October
| [[Azadi Stadium]], [[Tehran]]
| {{fb|Iran}}
| align=center|0–3
| [[AFC – OFC Challenge Cup#2003|AFC – OFC Challenge Cup]]
|
|-
!colspan="7"|'''2004'''
|-
| align=center|30
| 2 June
| [[Hindmarsh Stadium]], [[Adelaide]]
| {{fb|Vanuatu}}
| align=center|2–4
| [[2004 OFC Nations Cup]]
|
|-
| align=center|31
| 4 June
| [[Marden Sports Complex]], [[Adelaide]]
| {{fb|Tahiti}}
| align=center|10–0
| [[2004 OFC Nations Cup]]
| 2 (7)
|-
| align=center|32
| 6 June
| [[Hindmarsh Stadium]], [[Adelaide]]
| {{fb|Fiji}}
| align=center|2–0
| [[2004 OFC Nations Cup]]
|
|-
!colspan="7"|'''2008'''
|-
| align=center|33
| 6 September
| [[Stade Numa-Daly Magenta]], [[Nouméa]]
| {{fb|New Caledonia}}
| align=center|3–1
| [[2008 OFC Nations Cup]]
|
|-
| align=center|34
| 10 September
| [[North Harbour Stadium]], [[Auckland]]
| {{fb|New Caledonia}}
| align=center|3–0
| [[2008 OFC Nations Cup]]
|
|-
!colspan="7"|'''2009'''
|-
| align=center|35
| 21 March
| [[Suphachalasai Stadium]], [[Bangkok]]
| {{fb|Thailand}}
| align=center|1–3
| [[Exhibition game#Association football|International Match]]
|
|-
| align=center|36
| 9 September
| [[King Abdullah Stadium]], [[Amman]]
| {{fb|Jordan}}
| align=center|3–1
| [[Exhibition game#Association football|International Match]]
|
|-
| align=center|37
| 10 October
| [[Bahrain National Stadium]], [[Riffa]]
| {{fb|Bahrain}}
| align=center|0–0
| [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC – OFC play-off)|2010 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|
|-
| align=center|38
| 14 November
| [[Westpac Stadium]], [[Wellington]]
| {{fb|Bahrain}}
| align=center|1–0
| [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC – OFC play-off)|2010 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|
|-
!colspan="7"|'''2010'''
|-
| align=center|39
| 24 May
| [[Melbourne Cricket Ground|MCG]], [[Melbourne]]
| {{fb|Australia}}
| align=center|1–2
| [[Exhibition game#Association football|International Match]]
|
|-
| align=center|40
| 29 May
| [[Hypo-Arena]], [[Klagenfurt]]
| {{fb|Serbia}}
| align=center|1–0
| [[Exhibition game#Association football|International Match]]
|
|-
| align=center|41
| 1 June
| [[Ljudski vrt]], [[Maribor]]
| {{fb|Slovenia}}
| align=center|1–3
| [[Exhibition game#Association football|International Match]]
|
|-
| align=center|42
| 15 June
| [[Royal Bafokeng Stadium]], [[Rustenburg]]
| {{fb|Slovakia}}
| align=center|1–1
| [[2010 FIFA World Cup Group F#New Zealand vs Slovakia|2010 FIFA World Cup]]
|
|-
| align=center|43
| 21 June
| [[Mbombela Stadium]], [[Nelspruit]]
| {{fb|Italy}}
| align=center|1–1
| [[2010 FIFA World Cup Group F#Italy vs New Zealand|2010 FIFA World Cup]]
|
|-
| align=center|44
| 25 June
| [[Peter Mokaba Stadium]], [[Polokwane]]
| {{fb|Paraguay}}
| align=center|0–0
| [[2010 FIFA World Cup Group F#Paraguay vs New Zealand|2010 FIFA World Cup]]
|
|-
| align=center|45
| 9 October
| [[North Harbour Stadium]], [[Auckland]]
| {{fb|Honduras}}
| align=center|1–1
| [[Exhibition game#Association football|International Match]]
|
|-
!colspan="7"|'''2012'''
|-
| align=center|46
| 29 February
| [[Mount Smart Stadium]], [[Auckland]]
| {{fb|Jamaica}}
| align=center|2–3
| [[Exhibition game#Association football|International Match]]
|
|-
| align=center|47
| 7 September
| [[Stade Numa-Daly Magenta]], [[Nouméa]]
| {{fb|New Caledonia}}
| align=center|2–0
| [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – OFC third round|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|
|-
| align=center|48
| 11 September
| [[North Harbour Stadium]], [[Auckland]]
| {{fb|Solomon Islands}}
| align=center|6–1
| [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – OFC third round|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|
|-
| align=center|49
| 16 October
| [[Rugby League Park|AMI Stadium]], [[Christchurch]]
| {{fb|Tahiti}}
| align=center|3–0
| [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – OFC third round|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|
|-
|}

==Managerial statistics==
{{updated|31 August 2014.}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Team
!rowspan="2"| From
!rowspan="2"| To
!colspan="8"|Record
|-
!G
!W
!D
!L
!GF
!GA
!GD
!Win %
|-
| [[Toronto FC]]
| 8 January 2013<ref name=tfcjob/>
| 31 August 2014<ref name="Toronto FC fires coaches, Jermain Defoe might go"/>
{{WDL|64|17|18|29|for=71|against=97|diff=yes}}
|}

==Honours==
In the [[2011 New Year Honours (New Zealand)|2011 New Year Honours]], Nelsen was appointed an [[New Zealand Order of Merit|Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit]] for services to football.<ref name="onzm-tvnz">{{cite web |url= http://tvnz.co.nz/football-news/football-heroes-congratulated-honours-3989606 |title = Football heroes congratulated on honours – tvnz.co.nz |work= Television New Zealand |date= 31 December 2010 |access-date= 31 December 2010}}</ref><ref name="onzm-nzh">{{cite web |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10697143 |title= New Years Honours: Full 2011 list – nzherald.co.nz |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date= 31 December 2010 |access-date= 31 December 2010}}</ref>

'''D.C. United'''
*[[MLS Cup]]: [[2004 Major League Soccer season|2004]]

'''Blackburn Rovers'''
*[[UEFA Intertoto Cup]]: [[2007 UEFA Intertoto Cup|2007]]

'''New Zealand'''
*[[OFC Nations Cup]]: [[2002 OFC Nations Cup|2002]], [[2008 OFC Nations Cup|2008]]
*[[Merdeka Cup]]: [[2000 Merdeka Tournament|2000]]

'''Individual'''
*[[MLS Best XI]] 2003, 2004
*[[IFFHS World Team#Men Team of the Decade (2011–2020)|IFFHS OFC Men's Team of the Decade]] 2011–2020<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iffhs.com/index.php/posts/934 |title=IFFHS MAN TEAM – OFC – OF THE DECADE 2011-2020 |work=IFFHS |date=31 January 2021 }}</ref>
*[[International Federation of Football History & Statistics|IFFHS]] Oceania Men's Team of All Time: 2021<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1150 |title=IFFHS ALL TIME OCEANIA MEN'S DREAM TEAM |publisher=IFFHS |date=14 June 2021 |access-date=23 December 2021}}</ref>
*[[Oceania Footballer of the Year]]: 2006, 2010

==See also==
* [[New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup]]
* [[List of New Zealand international footballers]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{FIFA player}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120508211013/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=304 NZ Football Profile]
*{{Soccerbase}}
*{{MLS player}}
*{{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813232928/http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0%2C%2C10303~32582%2C00.html |date=13 August 2010 |title=Ryan Nelsen at rovers.co.uk }}
*[http://www.qpr.co.uk/team/player-profile/index.aspx?playerid=227665&tcmuri=209798 Qpr Profile]

{{Navboxes
| title= Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| bordercolor = black
| list1 = 
{{Pac-12 Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Year navbox}}
{{2003 MLS Best XI}}
{{2004 MLS Best XI}}
{{Oceania Footballer of the Year}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = New Zealand squads
| bg = black
| fg = white
| bordercolor = black
| list1 = 
{{New Zealand squad 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{New Zealand squad 2002 OFC Nations Cup}}
{{New Zealand squad 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{New Zealand squad 2004 OFC Nations Cup}}
{{New Zealand squad 2008 OFC Nations Cup}}
{{New Zealand squad 2008 Summer Olympics}}
{{2008 New Zealand Olympic team}}
{{New Zealand squad 2010 FIFA World Cup}}
{{New Zealand squad 2012 Summer Olympics}}
{{2012 New Zealand Olympic team}}
}}
{{Toronto FC managers}}
{{DCUnitedFirstPick}}
{{2001 MLS SuperDraft}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelsen, Ryan}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:All-American college men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Association footballers from Christchurch]]
[[Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. players]]
[[Category:D.C. United draft picks]]
[[Category:D.C. United players]]
[[Category:Greensboro College alumni]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer All-Stars]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer players]]
[[Category:New Zealand men's association footballers]]
[[Category:New Zealand expatriate men's association footballers]]
[[Category:New Zealand sportsmen]]
[[Category:New Zealand writers]]
[[Category:Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit]]
[[Category:Olympic association footballers for New Zealand]]
[[Category:People educated at St Thomas of Canterbury College]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Stanford Cardinal men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players]]
[[Category:Toronto FC head coaches]]
[[Category:Expatriate soccer coaches in Canada]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
[[Category:New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in Canada]]
[[Category:New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:New Zealand men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1999 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:2002 OFC Nations Cup players]]
[[Category:2003 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:2004 OFC Nations Cup players]]
[[Category:2008 OFC Nations Cup players]]
[[Category:OFC Nations Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:New Zealand association football managers]]