Ben Sigmund
New Zealand footballer
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Benjamin Robert Sigmund (born 3 February 1981[1]) is a New Zealand former international footballer. He represented New Zealand at under-17, under-20 and senior level.
|
Sigmund playing for Wellington Phoenix in 2008 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Benjamin Robert Sigmund | ||
| Date of birth | 3 February 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Centre back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –1998 | Christchurch United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–2002 | Christchurch United[2] | 76 | (14) |
| 2003–2004 | Football Kingz | 1 | (0) |
| 2004–2006 | Canterbury United | 83 | (7) |
| 2006 | Fawkner Blues | 11 | (1) |
| 2006–2008 | Auckland City | 43 | (5) |
| 2008–2016 | Wellington Phoenix | 181 | (7) |
| 2016 | Wellington Phoenix Reserves | 1 | (0) |
| 2016 | Cashmere Technical | ||
| International career | |||
| 1999 | New Zealand U17 | 3 | (0) |
| New Zealand U20 | 12 | (0) | |
| 2000–2014 | New Zealand | 31 | (2) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
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.[3] On 9 July 2012 he signed a two-year contract extension keep him with the club until 2015.[4]
On 18 December 2015, Sigmund announced that he would retire from professional football at the end of the season.[5][6]
He subsequently joined amateur side Cashmere Technical in 2016.[7]
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,[8] 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.[8]
Sigmund was named as part of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup New Zealand squad to travel to South Africa,[9][10] 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.[11]
On 29 September 2014, Sigmund retired from international football citing his desire to spend more time with his family.[12]
Honours
Personal Honours:
- Wellington Phoenix Member's Player of the Year: 2008–2009[13]