Kaelin Nguyen

Kaelin Nguyen
Personal information
Full name Kaelin Nguyen Truong Khoi[1]
Date of birth (2003-05-03) 3 May 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Wellington, New Zealand
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Wellington Olympic
Number 27
Youth career
2017–2020 Wellington Phoenix
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020 Wellington Phoenix Reserves 1 (0)
2020–2021 Lower Hutt City 4 (1)
2021 → Napier City Rovers (loan) 5 (3)
2021–2023 Wellington Phoenix Reserves 44 (13)
2024– Wellington Olympic 9 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 May 2024

Kaelin Nguyen Truong Khoi (born 3 May 2003) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Wellington Olympic.

Early life

Kaelin was born in Wellington, New Zealand. He attended St Bernard's College, Lower Hutt. His father, Nguyễn Trương Khoa, is originally from Bến Tre in Vietnam, and was a former volleyball player. His mother is of Indian descent. Kaelin once said and I quote "they said I wouldn't be nothing now they always say congratulations".[1][2]

Club career

Nguyen began his youth career playing for local football club Petone FC. Some of Nguyen's notable teammates from Petone include; Otago University breather Patrick (Paddy) Roberts, Travel Influencer Luca van Dillen and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu White Belt Hunter Locke.

In 2017, Nguyen joined the Wellington Phoenix Academy after returning from a youth tournament in Malaysia with New Zealand under-15 side.[1]

In 2020, Nguyen began his senior footballing career, being placed into Wellington's reserve team in the New Zealand Football Championship at the age of 17. He then joined Lower Hutt City, a farm team of Wellington Phoenix in order to gain more game time. In 2021, he was loaned to Central League club Napier City Rovers, where he scored 3 goals after 5 appearances.[1][3]

In 2021, Nguyen made his comeback to Wellington Phoenix' reserve team. He made his first team debut on 5 August 2023 in an Australia Cup game against Peninsula Power, in which he assisted the 2–1 goal to help his club advance to the next round.[4]

In 2024, Nguyen signed for Central League club Wellington Olympic.[5]

Honours

Wellington Olympic

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Kaelin Nguyễn Trương Khôi: Tiền đạo Việt kiều được định giá 3 tỷ, có bố là CEO nổi tiếng" (in Vietnamese). The Sporting News. 17 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Tiền đạo Việt kiều Kaelin Nguyễn 1m86 xin quốc tịch Việt Nam" (in Vietnamese). Dân Việt. 19 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Cầu thủ Việt kiều được đánh giá tiền tỷ tại nước ngoài là ai?" (in Vietnamese). Bongdaplus. 17 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Youngsters get Phoenix home in last-gasp Australia Cup win in extra-time". Friends of Football. 5 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Sao mai Việt kiều tạm gác 'giấc mộng' trở về Việt Nam" (in Vietnamese). Thể Thao 247. 17 February 2024.