Bill Tuiloma
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Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Bill Poni Tuiloma | ||
Date of birth | 27 March 1995 | ||
Place of birth | Otahuhu, New Zealand | ||
Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
Position(s) | Right back, left back, defensive midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Marseille | ||
Number | 18 | ||
Youth career | |||
2011 | Birkenhead United | ||
2011 | Asia–Pacific FA | ||
2011–2012 | Waitakere United | ||
2012–2013 | Birkenhead United | ||
2012–2013 | LA Galaxy | ||
2013– | Marseille | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2011–2012 | Waitakere United | 1 | (0) |
2013– | Marseille II | 20 | (2) |
2015– | Marseille | 2 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2011 | New Zealand U-17 | 6 | (1) |
2013– | New Zealand U-20 | 6 | (0) |
2013– | New Zealand | 7 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 February 2015 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 February 2015 |
Bill Tuiloma is a New Zealand footballer who plays as a left or right fullback or defensive midfielder for Marseille.[1] Tuiloma has represented New Zealand since 2013 and is the first New Zealander to play in the top division of French football.[2]
Personal life
Tuiloma is of Samoan descent. His preferred position is defensive midfielder. He attended Lincoln High School.
Professional career
He has trialled with the LA Galaxy and Queens Park Rangers, as well as spending time with the Asia–Pacific Football Academy in Christchurch.
Tuiloma signed a deal with Marseille in July 2013.[3] In a 2013 interview[4] Tuiloma was questioned about his journey from somewhat football obscurity to his eventual move to Olympique de Marseille. He stated: "I went to QPR and trialled there for a week and somehow, I think they have a connection with Marseille, because Joey Barton was with Marseille for a little while, so I think that’s where they have the connection… So I went there for a week, trialled, played a game as well, came back and got some good feedback from them, and then a few months later they wanted to sign me. I was over the moon, I was speechless, it was really good news for me". He also admitted that he had little knowledge about the club before signing, stating: "To be honest, I only knew Joey Barton played there, that was pretty much it, I didn’t know much about Marseille or who played for them, I had a little bit of info there but that was pretty much it". He also admitted that Queens Park Rangers and Wellington Phoenix were also interested in signing him if the Marseille deal fell through.
Tuiloma made his first-team debut for Marseille on February 7, 2015, when he came on as a late substitute against Rennes.[5]
International career
Tuiloma represented New Zealand under-17 at the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup and New Zealand under-20 at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.Also for the New Zealand under-20 ((2015 FIFA U-20 World cup))
Tuiloma made his senior international debut on October 15, 2013 as a substitute against Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain.[6]
References
- ^ http://www.ligue1.com/joueur/tuiloma-bill-poni
- ^ "Football: Tuiloma's heady journey". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ^ http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/8973081/Oui-oui-Kiwi-teen-Tuiloma-signs-for-Marseille/
- ^ http://in-the-back-of-the.net/2013/12/29/an-interview-with-bill-tuiloma/
- ^ http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/tuiloma-makes-marseille-debut/
- ^ http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9291179/Tuiloma-impresses-on-debut-earns-playoff-spot
External links
- 1995 births
- Living people
- New Zealand association footballers
- New Zealand international footballers
- Association football defenders
- New Zealand expatriates in the United States
- Expatriate soccer players in the United States
- Waitakere United players
- LA Galaxy players
- Olympique de Marseille players
- Ligue 1 players
- New Zealand expatriates in France
- Expatriate footballers in France
- New Zealand people of Samoan descent
- New Zealand under-20 international footballers
- Association football stubs