He might be only 18, but it would be fair to say Steven Old has a more appropriate surname than most.
It's not that he's going bald and wearing slippers, more the fact the All Whites defender epitomises the adage about an old head on young shoulders.
It's part of
the reason why Old was earmarked from an early age as not only an international player of the future, but also one that has the potential to follow in the footsteps of Ryan Nelsen, who joined English Premier League side Blackburn Rovers last week. If Nelsen plays for the first team, he will become only the third Kiwi to appear in the English top flight behind Lee Norfolk (Ipswich) and Danny Hay (Leeds).
The comparisons between Old and Nelsen are clear for all to see. Old has taken up a college scholarship at St John's University in New York (Nelsen went to Stanford and Greensboro universities), he hopes to be drafted into America's MLS (Nelsen played for DC United for four seasons and captained them to the 2004 MLS Cup) before trying his luck in Europe. He also replaced Nelsen in the All Whites' defence for last year's World Cup qualifier against Australia when Nelsen withdrew because of injury.
Old says, however, that it is unfair to draw those comparisons.
"The path he's taken with college, the MLS and Europe could be an option for me but Ryan is a very good player," he says. "I still have a long way to go and I need to develop physically and as a player. But it's certainly an inspiration for me and other young guys.
"I still have three-and-a-half years at college before even thinking about the MLS. In the back of my mind is the path that Ryan took and, while I'm at the start of that path, I try not to think about it too much."
In many ways, Old is used to expectation as the son of former All Blacks loose forward Geoff Old, who played three tests in the early 1980s.
His older brother actually switched from rugby to soccer as a seven-year-old because of the pressures of being an All Black's son and keeping up with his brother was a main reason for Steven pursuing the round-ball code.
New Zealand Soccer technical director and former All Whites defender Ricki Herbert has kept a keen eye on Old for the past three years and holds high hopes for him. "Back then the potential was very visible and I believed he would be an international, which he's already achieved," Herbert says.
"Given the right care and attention, he could follow Ryan into the MLS and English Premier League. The next 24 months are going to be crucial for him, but his chances are better than most."
New Zealand Soccer has played a big role in his development and introduced Old to the academy system before appointing him captain of both the New Zealand U-17 and U-23 sides. He then became one of the youngest ever All Whites last year when he played in their ill-fated World Cup qualifying campaign and, to complete the set of playing at every level, he will this week lead the U-20s in their Oceania qualifying tournament in the Solomon Islands. Add the fact he spent eight weeks with Italian Serie A club Parma last year and Old has achieved more in three years than most could hope for in a career.
"It was awesome playing with the top footballers in the world for my age at Parma," he says, displaying a rare touch of youthful exuberance.
Ultimately, Old would like to play professionally in the US or Europe, "but I don't want to rush into things, get swept aside and then be forgotten".
It's a considered opinion from a mature young man but, the way things have gone so far in his 18 years, being swept aside is an unlikely prospect.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
He might be only 18, but it would be fair to say Steven Old has a more appropriate surname than most.
It's not that he's going bald and wearing slippers, more the fact the All Whites defender epitomises the adage about an old head on young shoulders.
It's part of
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