Alex Rufer

Alex Rufer
Rufer playing for the Wellington Phoenix in 2024.
Personal information
Full name Alex Arthur Rufer[1]
Date of birth (1996-06-12) 12 June 1996 (age 28)[1]
Place of birth Geneva, Switzerland
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Wellington Phoenix
Number 14
Youth career
–2013 YoungHeart Manawatu
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013 YoungHeart Manawatu 5 (0)
2013 Wairarapa United 1 (1)
2014–2022 Wellington Phoenix Reserves 28 (3)
2013– Wellington Phoenix 147 (5)
International career‡
2013–2014 New Zealand U17 13 (3)
2015 New Zealand U20 1 (1)
2015–2020 New Zealand U23 4 (1)
2015– New Zealand 18 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  New Zealand
OFC Nations Cup
Winner 2024 Fiji/Vanuatu
OFC U-17 Championship
Winner 2013 Samoa/Vanuatu
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 November2024

Alex Arthur Rufer (born 12 June 1996) is a New Zealand professional footballer who captains and plays as a defensive midfielder for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League.

Personal life

Rufer is the son of former international New Zealand player Shane Rufer, and the nephew of Oceania Player of the Century Wynton Rufer. He also attended Palmerston North Boys' High School.[2]

Club career

Rufer started his career with YoungHeart Manawatu.

In February 2013, Rufer joined Wairarapa United.[3]

In August 2013, ahead of the A-League season, Rufer signed a three-year contract with Wellington Phoenix.[4] Rufer made his debut for the Wellington Phoenix in the 3–2 away win against Newcastle Jets on 9 February 2014.[5]

In a 2–1 loss against Brisbane Roar on 12 March 2022, Rufer suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. He was expected to return from injury 12 months later.[6]

International career

Rufer made his international debut for the All Whites in a friendly match against Myanmar on 7 September 2015, coming on for Jeremy Brockie in the 72nd minute.[7]

Career statistics

As of match played on 29 April 2023[8]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
YoungHeart Manawatu 2012–13 NZFC 5 0 — — 5 0
Wellington Phoenix 2013–14 A-League 1 0 — — 1 0
2014–15 3 0 0 0 — 3 0
2015–16 4 0 1 0 — 5 0
2016–17 3 0 0 0 — 3 0
2017–18 11 0 1 0 — 12 0
2018–19 24 0 1 0 1[a] 0 26 0
2019–20 19 0 1 0 1[a] 0 21 0
2020–21 21 0 0 0 — 21 0
2021–22 A-League Men 14 0 3 0 — 17 0
2022–23 18 2 0 0 1[a] 0 19 2
2023–24 24 3 2 0 2[a] 0 28 3
2024–25 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 118 2 7 0 3 0 128 2
Wellington Phoenix Reserves 2014–15 NZFC 13 1 — — 13 1
2015–16 2 0 — — 2 0
2016–17 7 1 — — 7 1
2017–18 4 1 — — 4 1
2019–20 1 0 — — 1 0
2020–21 1 0 — — 1 0
2021 National League 0 0 — — 0 0
2022 1 0 — — 1 0
Total 29 3 0 0 0 0 29 3
Career total 152 5 7 0 3 0 162 5
  1. ^ a b c d Appearance in the A-League final series

Honours

New Zealand
Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c "FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 30 May 2015. p. 14. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  2. ^ Worthington, Sam (5 August 2013). "Young Alex Rufer hopes to keep name in lights". Stuff.co.nz.
  3. ^ Caffell, Gary (21 February 2013). "Rufer to join United". Wairarapa Times-Age.
  4. ^ "Rufer signs three-year deal with Phoenix". The New Zealand Herald. 2 August 2013.
  5. ^ Barclay, Chris (9 February 2014). "Hicks the man for Phoenix in win over Newcastle". Stuff. Archived from the original on 10 February 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  6. ^ Rollo, Phillip (15 March 2022). "Wellington Phoenix captain Alex Rufer out for a year with ACL injury". Stuff. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Myanmar fight back earns draw". nzfootball.co.nz. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  8. ^ Alex Rufer at Soccerway
  9. ^ Rollo, Phillip (16 May 2024). "Wellington Phoenix dominate PFA A-League Men team of the season". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 May 2024.