Ben Sigmund Explained

Ben Sigmund
Fullname:Benjamin Robert Sigmund
Birth Date:3 February 1981
Birth Place:Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand
Height:1.87 m
Position:Centre Back
Youthyears1:–1998
Youthclubs1:Christchurch United
Years1:1998–2002
Clubs1:Christchurch United[1]
Caps1:76
Goals1:14
Years2:2003–2004
Clubs2:Football Kingz
Caps2:1
Goals2:0
Years3:2004–2006
Clubs3:Canterbury United
Caps3:83
Goals3:7
Years4:2006
Clubs4:Fawkner Blues
Caps4:11
Goals4:1
Years5:2006–2008
Clubs5:Auckland City
Caps5:43
Goals5:5
Years6:2008–2016
Caps6:181
Goals6:7
Years7:2016
Caps7:1
Goals7:0
Years8:2016
Clubs8:Cashmere Technical
Nationalyears1:1999
Nationalyears3:2000–2014
Nationalteam1:New Zealand U17
Nationalteam2:New Zealand U20
Nationalteam3:New Zealand
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalcaps2:12
Nationalcaps3:31
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalgoals3:2

Benjamin Robert Sigmund (born 3 February 1981) is a New Zealand former international footballer. He represented New Zealand at under-17, under-20 and senior level.

Club career

Born in Blenheim, Sigmund spent his early career with Football Kingz, Canterbury United, Fawkner Blues and Auckland City. He signed for the Wellington Phoenix in 2008.[2] On 9 July 2012 he signed a two-year contract extension keep him with the club until 2015.[3]

On 18 December 2015, Sigmund announced that he would retire from professional football at the end of the season.[4] [5]

He subsequently joined amateur side Cashmere Technical in 2016.[6]

International career

Sigmund made his senior international debut as a substitute in August 2000 against Oman, but did not earn a second cap until 2007,[7] where he earned a call up to play Wales in Wrexham after nearly seven years in the football wilderness.On 6 September 2008 Sigmund scored his first international goal in a 3–1 win over New Caledonia with a header from a corner.

Sigmund was named as part of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup New Zealand squad to travel to South Africa,[8] [9] and was more recently in the side the beat Bahrain in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match on 14 November 2009.

On 10 May 2010, Sigmund was named in New Zealand's final 23-man squad to compete at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[10]

On 29 September 2014, Sigmund retired from international football citing his desire to spend more time with his family.[11]

Honours

Personal Honours:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: All Whites pair united by Christchurch . Smith, Tony . 13 November 2009 . . 19 September 2011.
  2. Web site: Phoenix Sign Sigmund As Final Defender . 8 April 2008 . 4 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131104055729/http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/73487,phoenix-sign-sigmund-as-final-defender.aspx . dead .
  3. Web site: Sigmund extends Phoenix stay : A League : The World Game on SBS . https://archive.today/20121230232424/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/news/1112586/Sigmund-extends-Phoenix-stay . 30 December 2012 . dead.
  4. News: Wellington Phoenix defender Ben Sigmund to retire at end of A-League season. Stuff. Hamish. Bidwell. 18 December 2015.
  5. News: Ben Sigmund's colourful professional football career comes to an end. Stuff. Liam. Hyslop. 8 April 2016.
  6. News: Sigmund looks to sign off with cup glory. Football New Zealand. 24 June 2016. 24 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160626111823/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/sigmund-looks-to-sign-off-with-cup-glory/. 26 June 2016. dead.
  7. Web site: A-International Lineups. The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. 12 February 2009.
  8. Web site: New Zealand – All Whites name Confederations Cup squad. Oceania Football confederation. 7 May 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090624071249/http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofcnewsdetails/new-zealand---all-whites-name-squad-for-fifa-confederations-cup. 24 June 2009. dead.
  9. Web site: 2009 Confederations Cup – New Zealand squad. FIFA. 9 June 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090613002745/http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/teams/team%3D43978/squadlist.html. 13 June 2009. dead.
  10. News: All Whites World Cup squad named. Stuff. 10 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100603071055/http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-cup/3676399/All-Whites-World-Cup-squad-named. 3 June 2010. live.
  11. Web site: Sigmund Calls Time on All Whites Career. Russell. Gray. Football Federation Australia. 29 September 2014.
  12. Web site: News Display . 2009-08-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110301024959/http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/default.aspx?s=aleague_newsdisplay&id=26606 . 1 March 2011 .