Joe Bell (footballer) explained

Joe Bell
Fullname:Joe Zen Robert Bell[1]
Birth Date:27 April 1999
Birth Place:Bristol, England
Height:1.82 m
Position:Defensive midfielder
Currentclub:Viking
Clubnumber:8
Youthclubs1:Ferrymead Bays
Youthyears1:2007–2012
Youthclubs2:Nomads United
Youthyears2:2013
Youthclubs3:Miramar Rangers
Youthyears3:2014
College1:Virginia Cavaliers
Collegeyears1:2017–2019
Collegecaps1:60
Collegegoals1:10
Clubs1:Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Years1:2014–2017
Caps1:34
Goals1:0
Clubs2:Charlottesville Alliance
Years2:2018
Caps2:3
Goals2:1
Clubs3:Viking
Years3:2020–2022
Caps3:56
Goals3:3
Years4:2022–2023
Clubs4:Brøndby IF
Caps4:34
Goals4:0
Years5:2023–
Clubs5:Viking
Caps5:17
Goals5:0
Nationalyears1:2015
Nationalteam1:New Zealand U17
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2016–2019
Nationalteam2:New Zealand U20
Nationalcaps2:15
Nationalgoals2:3
Nationalyears3:2024
Nationalteam3:New Zealand Olympic (O.P.)
Nationalcaps3:3
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2019–
Nationalteam4:New Zealand
Nationalcaps4:16
Nationalgoals4:1
Club-Update:5 May 2024
Nationalteam-Update:30 July 2024

Joe Zen Robert Bell (born 27 April 1999) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Eliteserien club Viking and the New Zealand national team.

Early and personal life

Bell was born in Bristol, England but holds dual citizenship. He was raised in Wānaka[2] and Christchurch, attending Medbury School[3] and Christ's College, Christchurch[4] before moving aged 15 to Wellington to attend Scots College[5] and play for the Phoenix.[6]

He started playing football as an eight-year-old for Ferrymead Bays.[7]

Club career

Wellington Phoenix Reserves

Bell moved to Wellington to join the Wellington Phoenix Academy under the guidance of Jess Ibrom where he started playing for the Wellington Phoenix Reserves in the New Zealand Football Championship for the 2014–15 season, playing 12 games with four starts. He played for the reserves for another two seasons, appearing 14 times in the 2015–16 season with 10 starts and eight times with six starts in the 2016–17 season. With the New Zealand football championship played over the summer, Bell played for Wellington United in the Central League during the winter.[8]

Virginia Cavaliers

Bell joined the Virginia Cavaliers who play in the NCAA Division I in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Bell started 55 straight games since joining the University.[9] He scored six goals and had ten assists across three seasons, while also spending time with amateur club Charlottesville Alliance during the 2018 NPSL season.[10]

Following his successful FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign, Bell drew the interest of several European sides, trialing with Eliteserien side Viking and eventually being offered a contract. However, with the University of Virginia offering him a full scholarship at year's end, Bell decided to delay going professional to get his degree.[11]

Bell had a successful 2019 season with the Cavaliers as co-captain of the team which won the ACC Coastal Division and won the ACC men's tournament for the first time since 2009. The team ended the season winning 21 games, which was one shy of a school record.[12] The Cavaliers entered the 2019 NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed. After wins over Campbell, St. John's, SMU and Wake Forest, Virginia lost in the final to Georgetown finishing runner up for the second time in school history.[13] Bell ended the season playing 21 games of which he started all 21 of them, only missing two games during the ACC tournament while on International duty. He scored seven goals, of which four came during the NCAA tournament, as well as had four assists.[14]

Bell also won a number of awards both on the field and academic, including United Soccer Coaches Scholar Player of the Year, First Team Scholar All-American,[15] ACC First Team and ACC Midfielder of the Year[16] He was also one of three finalists for the MAC Hermann Trophy for best player in the country.[17]

Viking

On 10 January 2020, Bell signed a three-year contract with Viking in the Norwegian Eliteserien.[18] [19]

Brøndby IF

On transfer-deadline day, 31 January 2022, Bell signed a 4½-year contract with reigning Danish Superliga champions Brøndby IF.[20]

Return to Viking

On 29 August 2023, Bell returned to Viking, signing a four-year contract with the club.[21]

International career

U17

Bell was selected for the New Zealand U17 national team that played in the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.[22] He played in two of the group games, a 0–0 draw with Syria[23] and a 2–1 win over Paraguay.[24] As well as their loss to Brazil in the Round of 16 with a stoppage-time penalty seeing them eliminated from the competition.[25]

U20

Bell has played for and captained the New Zealand U20 national team. Playing in the 2018 OFC U-19 Championship where he was the tournament MVP and they qualified for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland. He has also played and captained the team at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea.

Senior

Bell made his team debut for the New Zealand senior national team in a friendly against Ireland, starting in a 3–1 loss.[26]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2014–15NZFC120120
2015–16140140
2016–178080
Total340340
Viking2020Eliteserien2920010302
202127110281
Total5631010583
Brøndby2021–2215000150
1801040230
2023–24100010
Total3401040390
Viking2023Eliteserien11000110
2024602080
Total1702000190
Career total141340501503

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
New Zealand201920
202130
202271
202340
Total161

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

Honours

New Zealand U19

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: New Zealand . FIFA . 11 . 13 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200206013743/https://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2019/pdf/FWYC_2019_SquadLists.pdf . 6 February 2020.
  2. News: Rollo . Phillip . Norwegian club Viking FK makes play for New Zealand under-20 captain Joe Bell . 15 November 2019 . . 17 June 2019.
  3. Web site: "Play the Game" Medbury Magazine. 26 August 2021 .
  4. Web site: "In Black and White" Christ's College Magazine . 26 August 2021 .
  5. Web site: Player Testimonials . . 15 November 2019.
  6. Web site: Joe Bell Profile . . 15 November 2019.
  7. News: Rattue . Chris . World Cup dream only one step away . Star News . Star Media Network . 15 April 2022 . 28–29.
  8. Web site: Wellington Phoenix Academy Players Shine In Capital Premier . . 4 April 2015 . 15 November 2019.
  9. Web site: Bell Called into New Zealand Full National Team for International Friendlies . . 13 November 2019 . 15 November 2019.
  10. Web site: Charlottesville's semi-pro soccer team is a winning endeavor.
  11. News: New Zealand under-20 captain Joe Bell turns down Viking FK's offer . 15 November 2019 . . 26 June 2019.
  12. Web site: Curtain Falls on Extraordinary Season . University of Virginia Athletics . 16 December 2019 . 17 December 2019 . en.
  13. News: College Cup soccer: Georgetown outlasts Virginia in penalty kicks to win its first NCAA title . Goff . Steven . 15 December 2019 . The Washington Post . 16 December 2019 .
  14. Web site: Joe Bell – Men's Soccer . University of Virginia Athletics . 17 December 2019 . en.
  15. Web site: Bell Named United Soccer Coaches Scholar Player of the Year . University of Virginia Athletics . 18 December 2019 . 19 December 2019 . en.
  16. Web site: Bell Collects Scholar All-Region Honors . University of Virginia Athletics . 16 December 2019 . 17 December 2019 . en.
  17. Web site: Bell Named a Finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy . University of Virginia Athletics . 12 December 2019 . 17 December 2019 . en.
  18. News: All Whites midfielder Joe Bell to join Norwegian club Viking FK . Stuff (website) . 8 January 2020 . en.
  19. Web site: Her er Vikings nysignering Joe Bell på plass. www.aftenbladet.no. Stavanger Aftenblad. 10 January 2020. no. 10 January 2020.
  20. Web site: Brøndby IF skriver kontrakt med Joe Bell . Brøndby IF (website) . 1 February 2022 . da.
  21. Web site: 29 August 2023 . Joe Bell returnerer til klubben: – Fantastisk å være tilbake . Joe Bell returns to the club – Fantastic to be back . 29 August 2023 . Viking FK . nb-no.
  22. Web site: FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 List of Players . FIFA . 15 November 2019.
  23. Web site: New Zealand, Syria left to settle for point . https://web.archive.org/web/20190628215352/https://static.fifa.com/u17worldcup/matches/round=271783/match=300298368/match-report.html . dead . 28 June 2019 . . 15 November 2019.
  24. Web site: New Zealand leave it late against ten-man Paraguay . https://web.archive.org/web/20191115022425/https://static.fifa.com/u17worldcup/matches/round%3D271783/match%3D300298363/match-report.html . dead . 15 November 2019 . FIFA . 15 November 2019.
  25. Web site: Brazil edge past resolute New Zealand . https://web.archive.org/web/20190628215412/https://static.fifa.com/u17worldcup/matches/round=271781/match=300298408/match-report.html . dead . 28 June 2019 . FIFA . 15 November 2019.
  26. News: Voerman . Andrew . Callum McCowatt scores on debut as new-look All Whites lose to Republic of Ireland . 15 November 2019 . Stuff.
  27. News: Sport: NZ defend OFC U19 title . 20 August 2018.