The playing career of one of the country’s best domestic-based players has come to an end after former All Whites midfielder Aaron Clapham confirmed his retirement.

The 33-year-old played in 13 full internationals and was a member of the New Zealand squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

But it was at club level in which he truly shone, starring in the ISPS Handa Premiership for the Canterbury United Dragons and appearing at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2018 during a stint with Team Wellington.

Clapham announced his retirement via social media, describing his career as: ‘A lifetimes’ worth of highs and lows. Experiences money can’t buy. Friends for life’. 

He will now look to concentrate on his Director of Football role at Christchurch club Cashmere Technical and is in the midst of earning his OFC/NZF ‘A’ Coaching Licence. 

Aaron Clapham ends his career as Canterbury's top scorer (Photosport)

He felt the time was right to retire as he has a young family and is keen to progress his coaching career.

“I love playing football and, physically, I feel I could keep playing for a few more years,” he says.

“But it’s all the other things that accompany it, especially in the national league, which take up a lot of time.”

The technically-gifted Clapham ends his career as one of the finest players in the history of the ISPS Handa Premiership and goes down in the record books as Canterbury United’s record scorer with 69 goals in nearly 150 games – a remarkable strike rate for a midfielder.

He made his debut for the All Whites against Honduras in Auckland in 2010, just after the team’s ground-breaking World Cup campaign in South Africa. With a talented set of midfielders for coach Ricki Herbert to pick from, he was restricted mainly to cameo appearances from the bench but made three starts for his country.

Aaron Clapham celebrates finding the net at the FIFA Club World Cup (Photosport)

The most memorable moment of his club career arrived two years ago at the Club World Cup, Clapham getting on the scoresheet in a thrilling 3-3 draw with United Arab Emirates champions Al-Ain before Team Wellington suffered a heart-breaking loss on penalties.

“That was a pretty amazing moment, to score a goal on the world stage,” he says.

“As a child, if you had told me I would have the opportunity to go to an U-20 World Cup, a senior World Cup and a Club World Cup, as well as playing for my country, I would have snatched that out of your hand.” 

Article added: Wednesday 03 June 2020