Bill Tuiloma

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Liam E. Bekker (talk | contribs) at 13:53, 4 August 2017 (completion of previous edit). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Bill Tuiloma
New Zealand All Whites defender Bill Tuiloma playing at 2017 Confederations Cup against Mexico in June 2017
Personal information
Full name Bill Poni Tuiloma
Date of birth (1995-03-27) 27 March 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Otahuhu, New Zealand
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Defender
Team information
Current team
 Portland Timbers
Number 25
Youth career
2011 Birkenhead United
2011 Asia–Pacific FA
2011–2012 Waitakere United
2012–2013 Birkenhead United
2012–2013 LA Galaxy
2013–2015 Marseille
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Waitakere United 1 (0)
2013–2017 Marseille B 35 (3)
2015–2017 Marseille 2 (0)
2015–2016 → Strasbourg (loan) 9 (0)
2017– Portland Timbers 0 (0)
International career‡
2011 New Zealand U17 6 (1)
2013–2015 New Zealand U20 9 (1)
2015 New Zealand U23 3 (1)
2013– New Zealand 21 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 December 2016
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 November 2016

Bill Poni Tuiloma is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a left or right fullback or defensive midfielder for the Portland Timbers. Tuiloma has represented New Zealand since 2013 and was the first New Zealander to play in the top division of French football.

Early life

Tuiloma is of Samoan descent. He attended Lincoln High School.

Club career

Marseille

Tuiloma signed a deal with French side Olympique de Marseille in July 2013.[1] In a 2013 interview, he was questioned about his journey from relative football obscurity to his eventual move to Marseille. He stated: "I went to QPR and trialed 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, trialed, 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.[2]

Tuiloma made his first-team debut for the club on 7 February 2015, when he came on as a late substitute for Florian Thauvin in a 2–2 draw with Rennes.[3] Upon making his debut he became the first New Zealander ever to play in Ligue 1.[4] It was one of only two senior appearances he made, however, before signing for Portland Timbers in 2017.[5]

Portland Timbers

On 25 July 2017, Tuiloma officially signed with MLS side Portland Timbers.[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 and 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cups.

Tuiloma made his senior international debut on 15 October 2013 at the age of 18 when he came on as a substitute against Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain.[6][7]

Honours

Club

Strasbourg[8]

Country

New Zealand[9]

References

  1. ^ Kilgallon, Steve (27 July 2013). "Oui, oui: Kiwi teen Tuiloma signs for Marseille". Stuff. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  2. ^ Giordani, Enzo (29 December 2013). "An interview with Bill Tuiloma". In the Back of the Net. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  3. ^ "Tuiloma makes Marseille debut". New Zealand Football. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  4. ^ West, Aaron (15 June 2017). "5 things to know about New Zealand at the Confederations Cup". FOX Sports. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  5. ^ a b Stejskal, Sam (26 July 2017). "Portland Timbers sign New Zealand international Bill Tuiloma". MLS. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  6. ^ http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9291179/Tuiloma-impresses-on-debut-earns-playoff-spot
  7. ^ "FIFA Confederations Cup Russia: Player Profile - Bill Tuiloma". FIFA. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  8. ^ Bill Tuiloma at Soccerway
  9. ^ Bill Tuiloma at Soccerway

External links

Template:New Zealand Squad 2015 Pacific Games

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bill_Tuiloma&oldid=793875655"