Full name Bill Poni Tuiloma Name Bill Tuiloma Role Footballer | 2011 Birkenhead United Height 1.82 m 2011 Asia–Pacific FA Weight 78 kg | |
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Date of birth (1995-03-27) 27 March 1995 (age 20) Playing position Current teams RC Strasbourg Alsace (#4 / Midfielder), New Zealand national football team (Defender, Midfielder) Profiles | ||
Place of birth Otahuhu, New Zealand | ||
Bill tuiloma the samoan connection in french pro football
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.
Contents
- Bill tuiloma the samoan connection in french pro football
- Bill tuiloma 2010 2012
- Early life
- Marseille
- Portland Timbers
- International career
- Club
- Country
- References
Bill tuiloma 2010 2012
Early life
Born in Beach Haven, New Zealand, Tuiloma is of Samoan descent. He attended Lincoln High School.
Marseille
Following trials with LA Galaxy and Queens Park Rangers, Tuiloma signed a deal with French side Olympique de Marseille in July 2013. 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.
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. Upon making his debut he became the first New Zealander ever to play in Ligue 1. It was one of only two senior appearances he made, however, before signing on loan for Strasbourg for the 2015–16 season, and then permanently for Portland Timbers in 2017.
Portland Timbers
On 25 July 2017, Tuiloma officially signed with MLS side Portland Timbers.
International career
Tuiloma represented New Zealand under-17 at the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup and New Zealand under-20, for whom he was also the captain, at the 2013 and 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cups.
He made his senior international debut for New Zealand on 15 October 2013, at the age of 18, when he came on as a substitute in a 0–0 draw with Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain.