Tommy Smith #26

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Only Smith and captain Chris Wood remain from the 2010 squad that went to the World Cup in South Africa. Now the fifth-choice centre back, coach Darren Bazeley rates his values and leadership: “Tommy has been very strong in that space.” Smith, meanwhile, told The Unused Subs podcast: “The centre-backs who are ahead of me in the pecking order [for the All Whites] are playing at a fantastic level, and my minutes are probably going to be limited, and that’s fine. I’ve come to terms with that.” It has been a distinguished career for a man once told by Manchester United legend Roy Keane: “My nan could have run faster than you and she’s dead.” The pair crossed swords at Ipswich when Keane was an “intimidating” manager. However, it was Keane who encouraged English-born Smith to switch his allegiance to NZ and he says he has never regretted it. Former All Whites skipper Ryan Nelsen believes it was only bad luck that stopped Smith from signing for a Premier League club. “I played alongside players who weren’t as good as Tommy,” he says. After a successful season with Auckland, Smith is playing in the English fifth tier for family reasons.

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