Midfielder Alex Rufer has become the first homegrown player in Wellington Phoenix’s history to be named captain.
The 25-year-old Palmerston North product was named skipper on Friday ahead of the club’s A-League Men season-opener against Macarthur FC in two days’ time.
It’s the first time a New Zealand-raised player has led the club with Australian-born Ross Aloisi and Andrew Durante, Englishman Steven Taylor and Mexican Ulises Davila the past captains.
Rufer is the nephew of Oceania Player of the Century Wynton Rufer, widely acknowledged as the greatest footballer New Zealand has ever produced.
“I’m very, very proud,” said Rufer, who debuted with the Phoenix in 2014 as a 17-year-old.
“I’ve been here for a long time and it means a lot to me to be named captain.”
A Phoenix academy product, Rufer said his elevation to the leadership was the latest evidence of the club’s impact on New Zealand football following the European moves of Sapreet Singh and Liberato Cacace.
“The last few years especially there’s been more and more Kiwis coming through, especially through the academy, and we’ve seen Cacace and Sarpreet the last two that have been sold and I’m sure the club would love to do that every year,” Rufer said.
“The more Kiwis, the better.
“We’ve got a lot of good players here and they’re all very hungry and all eager to show what they can do.”
Goalkeeper Oli Sail has been named vice-captain having broken through to become the club’s No.1 last season ahead of All White Stefan Marinovic.
“Alex has been at the club for a long time. I think he knows the club’s values and expectations and I think he understands quite well my expectations and values that we have within the group,” coach Ufuk Talay said.
“It’s a great opportunity for Oli to also step up and play a leadership role.”
