- Michael Utting
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Michael Utting Personal information Date of birth May 26, 1970 Place of birth Wellington, New Zealand Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in) Playing position Goalkeeper Club information Current club unattached Number 19 Youth career Rongotai College – Onslow Wellington Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1992 Miramar Rangers 1993 Sunshine George Cross 1993–1994 South Melbourne FC 1994–1996 Miramar Rangers 1997–1999 Wits University 15 (0) 1999–2000 Football Kingz 14 (0) 2000–2002 Supersport United 62 (0) 2002–2004 Football Kingz 34 (0) 2004–2005 Waikato FC 2005–2006 YoungHeart Manawatu 2006–2007 Waitakere United 16 (0) 2007–2008 YoungHeart Manawatu 9 (0) National team‡ 1993–2003 New Zealand 14 (0) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16 April 2008.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 April 2008Michael Utting (born 26 May 1970 in Wellington) is a New Zealand soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper.
Contents
Early years
Utting grew up in Ngaio, Wellington, the youngest of four children. His father is a civil engineer, his mother a nurse; they separated when he was 10. He went to Ngaio School and Nelson College. He played cricket and volleyball, but football was always his number one passion. By the time he reached the final year of high school, Utting was keeping for both the Nelson College first-XI and national league side Miramar Rangers.
Club career
A much-travelled player, Utting served clubs in his native New Zealand, as well as in Australia and South Africa.
During his New Zealand years, he also played for winter clubs Gisborne City and Waitakere City.
International career
Utting has played for the New Zealand national soccer team, the All Whites. Since making his debut for the All Whites in 1991, he had rarely been a substitute goalkeeper, until 1999, when his career was marred by alcoholism.
He was included in the New Zealand side for the 1999 Confederations Cup finals tournament in Mexico where he was an unused substitute.[1] He fared better in 2003 as he was recalled for the 2003 Confederations Cup finals tournament in France, playing in all three group games before New Zealand were eliminated.[2]
One for the Road - Utting's alcoholism
He had been into trouble with alcoholism, and his problem became public in 1999. He was axed in 1999, and again in 2002 after a botched initial attempt to quit the booze (a problem he had since 1992).[3] He was recalled again in 2003, but by then, he had taken up a contract to play in Brunei [4]
Currently Utting is back in New Zealand to see out the rest of his football career, but an international recall is seen as unlikely.
References
- ^ "Federations Cup Mexico 1999 - New Zealand squad". FIFA. http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=101/edition=4356/teams/team=43978.html. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
- ^ "Federations Cup France 2003 - New Zealand squad". FIFA. http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=101/edition=6489/teams/team=43978.html. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
- ^ Utting recalled
- ^ Brown, Michael (18 February 2007). "Soccer: The greatest save of his life". Herald on Sunday. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=10424503&pnum=2. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
External links
- Michael Utting – FIFA competition record
- Player profile - Waitakere Utd
- Player profile - Youngheart Manawatu
- 2007/2008 season stats - NZFC
- Career stats - National Football Teams
New Zealand squad – 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup New Zealand squad – 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup Categories:- 1970 births
- Living people
- Association football goalkeepers
- New Zealand association footballers
- New Zealand international footballers
- 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup players
- 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup players
- National Soccer League (Australia) players
- South Melbourne FC players
- Football Kingz F.C. players
- SuperSport United F.C. players
- Waitakere United players
- Former students of Nelson College
- Expatriate association footballers in South Africa
- Waitakere City F.C. players
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