Ben Old

Ben Old
Old playing for Wellington Phoenix in 2022
Personal information
Full name Benjamin Craig Old[1]
Date of birth (2002-08-13) 13 August 2002 (age 22)[1]
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Saint-Étienne
Number 11
Youth career
0000–2016 Hibiscus Coast
2017 North Shore United
2018–2019 Wellington Phoenix
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Wellington Phoenix Reserves 25 (4)
2021 → Lower Hutt 6 (0)
2021–2024 Wellington Phoenix 71 (7)
2024– Saint-Étienne 4 (0)
International career‡
2018–2019 New Zealand U-17 4 (1)
2023– New Zealand U-23 2 (1)
2022– New Zealand 12 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  New Zealand
OFC Nations Cup
Winner 2024 Fiji/Vanuatu
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:25, 20 September 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 November 2024

Benjamin Craig Old (born 13 August 2002) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a attacking midfielder for Ligue 1 club Saint-Étienne and the New Zealand national team.[2]

Early life

Old began his sports career as a golfer; he was given his first golf club when he was two.[3] Old was considered a former child golf prodigy, playing in his first international golf tournament at the age of seven. He had travelled to the United States to play against other child prodigies from around the world in Las Vegas, Pinehurst and San Diego.[3]

Club career

Wellington Phoenix

Old originally lived in Auckland before he moved to Wellington and joined the Wellington Phoenix Football Academy in 2018.[3] While not an official member of Wellington Phoenix's senior squad, Old had trained with the team before they went to Australia.[3] Old joined the team again for training when they returned, making his debut as a substitute in the Phoenix's 3–0 win over Western United and nutmegging his defender with his first touch.[4][2]

Old scored his first goal for the Wellington Phoenix during a 3–0 victory over the Brisbane Roar on 30 March 2022.[5]

Saint-Étienne

On 9 July 2024, Old signed for Ligue 1 club Saint-Étienne on a four-year contract with an option for a fifth year.[6]

International career

New Zealand U-17s

Old was part of the New Zealand U-17 team that won the 2018 OFC U-16 Championship and qualified for 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil.[7][8][9] Old played in two games at the World Cup, first coming on as a sub in New Zealand's opening 1–2 loss to Angola before getting a start in the team's 1–0 win over Canada.[10][11]

Olympic Games

On 25 June 2021, he was named in New Zealand reserve squad for the 2020 Olympics.[12] Though he was actually travelled to Japan, he didn’t play any game.

New Zealand

Old was named in the 30-man New Zealand squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Oceania qualifiers.[13] He subsequently made his international debut on 19 March 2022, coming on as a substitute in the 67th minute during New Zealand's 1–0 victory against Papua New Guinea in the group stage.[14]

Career statistics

As of match played 20 September 2024[15]
Club Season League Cup Others Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Wellington Phoenix Reserves 2019–20[16] NZFC 12 1 — — 12 1
2020–21[17] 13 3 — — 13 3
Total 25 4 – – 25 4
Lower Hutt (loan) 2021 Central League 6 0 – – 6 0
Wellington Phoenix 2020–21[18] A-League 1 0 — — 1 0
2021–22[19] A-League Men 24 1 3[a] 0 — 27 1
2022–23[19] 17 1 – – 17 1
2023–24[19] 29 5 – – 29 5
Total 71 7 – – 71 7
AS Saint-Étienne 2024–25 Ligue 1 4 0 – – 4 0
Career total 106 11 — — 106 11

International goals

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 21 June 2024 VFF Freshwater Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu  Vanuatu 4–0 4–0 2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup

Honours

New Zealand
Individual

Notes

  1. ^ includes appearances from both 2021 and 2022 Australia Cups

References

  1. ^ a b c "Men's Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024: Squad list" (PDF). FIFA. 24 July 2024. p. 11. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b Rollo, Phillip (23 May 2021). "Academy player Ben Old makes Wellington Phoenix debut in front of 24,105 people". Stuff.
  3. ^ a b c d Rollo, Phillip (31 January 2021). "Former child golf prodigy Ben Old striving towards Wellington Phoenix contract". Stuff.
  4. ^ Rollo, Phillip (25 May 2021). "Ben Old feeling more at home with Wellington Phoenix after surprise debut". Stuff.
  5. ^ Wellington Phoenix FC (31 March 2022). "Men's match review: Wellington Phoenix vs. Brisbane Roar" (Press release). Wellington Phoenix FC.
  6. ^ "Ben Old rejoint l'AS Saint-Étienne !" (in French). AS Saint-Étienne. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  7. ^ "FIFA U-17 World Cup 2019 - News - History for Solomons, New Zealand continue run". FIFA. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  8. ^ "U-17 players looking to impress". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Figueira names quality World Cup squad". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  10. ^ "FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019 - Matches - New Zealand - Angola". FIFA. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  11. ^ "FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019 - Matches - Canada - New Zealand". FIFA. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Squads named for Tokyo 2020". NZ Football. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Squad named for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Oceania Qualifiers". New Zealand Football. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  14. ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™". FIFA. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  15. ^ Ben Old at Soccerway. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Summary - Premiership - New Zealand - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Summary - Premiership - New Zealand - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Benjamin Old (Wellington Phoenix) 2020-21". Ultimate A-League. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  19. ^ a b c "Benjamin Old (Midfielder), Wellington Phoenix". Ultimate A League. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  20. ^ "A-League All Stars Men lock in final 21-player squad to take on Newcastle United this Friday". A-League Men. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.