Wynton Rufer (L), Chris Wood (C) and Ryan Nelsen all made the greatest All Whites XI. Photo / Getty Images.
Wynton Rufer (L), Chris Wood (C) and Ryan Nelsen all made the greatest All Whites XI. Photo / Getty Images.
The mission: to name the Greatest All Whites XI.
The idea for this project arose after the announcement of a match between New Zealand and England which was scheduled for Wembley Stadium last month.
After the match was cancelled, we went ahead anyway with the plan to find the bestNew Zealand football side ever.
A panel of 10 was formed, which included the 1982 World Cup coach Kevin Fallon, former All White Harry Ngata, former All Whites mentor and longtime football luminary Allan Jones, the legendary mother/daughter combo of Barbara and Michele Cox, Football Ferns striker Amber Hearn, and members of the media.
Each panel member was asked to name their team with some substitutes if they wished, and provide comments on the players.
History maker as famed assistant coach of the 1982 All Whites, forming the legendary yin and yang partnership with coach John Adshead.
Harry Ngata
Football commentator, former All White and Football Kingz stalwart who also experienced English second division football with Hull City.
Allan Jones
All Whites coach in the 1980s, who guided Auckland City, numerous overseas clubs and the Football Ferns.
Barbara & Michele Cox
The mother/daughter legends of New Zealand football. Dr. Michele Cox has also worked as a consultant for FIFA and is chief executive of the New Zealand Football Foundation. They produced a combined selection for this project.
The recently retired Hearn holds the Football Ferns goal scoring record – 54 in 125 games – and had an extensive overseas club career.
Martin Devlin
Sports broadcaster and football fanatic who has anchored TVNZ's coverage of FIFA World Cups.
Terry Maddaford
Former New Zealand Herald sports journalist who covered the history-making 1982 All Whites on their long World Cup campaign.
Jason Pine
NewstalkZB sports broadcaster and football commentator, who covered the All Whites at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
Miles Davis
Sports broadcaster and football fanatic – of the West Ham variety – who covered the 2010 World Cup finals.
Simon Kay
NZME sports journalist, football aficionado and writer/columnist, and longtime boss of the national football media awards.
Greatest All Whites XI (3-1-4-2)
Mark Paston (36 games, 1997 – 2013)
Mark Paston of New Zealand directs his defence during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group F match between Paraguay and New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images.
What a story. Glen Moss would have been coach Ricki Herbert's first choice goalkeeper for the 2010 World Cup campaign, but for a suspension.
Up stepped Paston, saving a penalty against Bahrain to help get the All Whites to the finals. Apart from a dodgy moment against Slovakia, he was superb in South Africa, particularly in the shock draw against world champions Italy.
Paston was the overwhelming choice for goalkeeper among our selectors.
Martin Devlin said: "It's really hard separating our best 'keepers – no one is head and shoulders above the rest. For his penalty save against Bahrain and standout displays in South Africa, it's Patsy."
Harry Ngata described Paston as "such a humble soul who took everything in his stride".
Kevin Fallon also plumped for Paston, over his 1982 qualifying stalwart Richard Wilson, and World Cup finals custodian Frank van Hattum.
"Paston had a great World Cup – as simple as that," Fallon said.
"Wilson was too temperamental. He pulled a hamstring walking up the tunnel for one match. Van Hattum wasn't big enough."
Simon Kay calls Paston's playoff penalty stop against Bahrain "the most important save in All Whites history".
Miles Davis said Paston's heroics in the first qualifying leg in Bahrain resonated most.
"It could have been 6 – 0 and ended 0 – 0."
Ivan Vicelich (88 games, 1995 - 2013)
Ivan Vicelich playing against Vanuata in 2002. Photo / Photosport.co.nz
The judges struggled to find genuine fullbacks. So we've used a formation a la the one coach Ricki Herbert's used for the 2010 World Cup, with a back three.
Vicelich was a poised and elegant player who could also have been a holding midfielder in this team.
He made his major mark on the world stage as a calming influence central to the 2010 World Cup campaign.
The Auckland City fulcrum also shared a podium with Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo when awarded the FIFA Club World Cup bronze ball in 2014.
Jason Pine said Vicelich "held huge mana and sway in the dressing room."
Harry Ngata described him as "the Godfather who has contributed so much to the national team spanning nearly two decades…one of our greats."
Vicelich was also, as Simon Kay put it, "one of the few All Whites to crack European football".
Martin Devlin - among the judges who preferred him for a midfield role - reckoned: "Big Ivan had more farewell tours than the Rolling Stones. This guy was the Cal Ripken Jr. of New Zealand footballers."
Vicelich and Ryan Nelsen were the first players picked by Barbara/Michele Cox because "they have the character a team should be based around".
Ryan Nelsen (49 games, 1999 - 2012)
Ryan Nelsen of New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images.
The central defender was among the handful of absolute certainties for our Greatest XI.
Few countries have headed to a World Cup finals with a more important player than Nelsen. He was way more than just an average leader and the results were testament to his greatness.
"Hands down the best leader and performer we have had…the absolute reason we did so well in 2010," is how Team Cox put it.
Allan Jones said Nelsen had the best spatial awareness of any player he coached.
"He demonstrated this from the age of 15, showing great football intelligence. He had excellent interception and tackling ability while his distribution from the back was always measured and safe," Jones said.
Terry Maddaford said: "No one ever wanted to play for his country more than captain Nelsen. Made his mark in the US before a distinguished career with Blackburn Rovers."
Jason Pine reckoned: "True English Premier League pedigree and an absolute rock in the 2010 World Cup side. His massive influence spread well beyond the grass."
Harry Ngata said Nelsen was "mentally one of, if not the, toughest player we have produced."
Winston Reid (25 games, 2010 -)
New Zealand captain Winston Reid playing in the FIFA World Cup Intercontinental play-off match against Peru. Photo / Getty Images.
As with Paston, fate called as Reid became a belated and unforgettable part of the 2010 finals in South Africa.
It led, quickly, to a long career with English Premier League club West Ham, and an almost automatic position in an all-time All Whites selection.
A journalist revealed just three months before the World Cup that the Auckland-raised Reid, who had moved with his family to Denmark at the age of 10, was available.
The rest is history, the big, athletic defender's last gasp goal to secure a draw in the opening game against Slovakia in Rustenburg changing his life, and laying the for New Zealand's extraordinary unbeaten run in Group F. Only one of our selectors left him out.
West Ham fan Miles Davis believed Reid's elevation into the EPL ranks "probably occurred a bit too soon and he was found wanting…he went on to give a decade of top service to the club."
Allan Jones rated Reid as a centre-back with "good pace who listens and reacts to calls immediately. He has good pace for covering with careful distribution. He attacks the space in front of strikers well and can be effective jumping forward into the midfield."
Simon Kay said: "Not the most committed - just 17 caps since 2010 - but a key figure in South Africa."
Simon Elliott (69 games, 95 - 2011)
Simon Elliott in action for the All Whites. Photo / Photosport.co.nz