Alexander Noah Paulsen (born 4 July 2002) is a New Zealand footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Bournemouth.
 Paulsen playing for the Wellington Phoenix in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alexander Noah Paulsen[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 4 July 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Bournemouth | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2017 | Onehunga Sports | ||
| 2018 | Wellington Phoenix | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2023 | Wellington Phoenix Reserves | 21 | (0) |
| 2018 | → Wellington United | 2 | (0) |
| 2019–2021 | → Lower Hutt City | 39 | (0) |
| 2021–2024 | Wellington Phoenix | 33 | (0) |
| 2024– | Bournemouth | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2018–2019 | New Zealand U-17 | 8 | (0) |
| 2019– | New Zealand U-23 | 4 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 June 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 September 2023 | |||
Paulsen was part of the New Zealand team in the football competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[2][3] Following a standout debut season as starting goalkeeper for Wellington Phoenix, Paulsen signed for Bournemouth in June 2024.[4]
Early life edit
Paulsen was born in Auckland to a South African father and Namibian mother.[5][6] He played futsal throughout his childhood, and only committed to playing football as a goalkeeper at the age of 13 after beginning as an outfielder.[7] Paulsen initially played in the youth ranks of Onehunga Sports under the tutelage of noted youth development coach Hiroshi Miyazawa. In 2018, aged 15, Paulsen moved to Wellington to join the Wellington Phoenix academy through their affiliation with Onehunga Sports.[7]
Club career edit
Wellington Phoenix edit
After progressing through the Wellington Phoenix age-grade sides, Paulsen was regularly named as a substitute for Wellington Phoenix Reserves throughout the 2018–19 and 2019–20 New Zealand Football Championship seasons, but did not make an appearance. During this time, Paulsen played for Wellington Phoenix affiliate clubs Wellington United and Lower Hutt City in the Central League. On 14 November 2020, Paulsen finally made his reserves debut, starting in a 1–0 loss to Team Wellington in the opening game of the 2020–21 season. Paulsen remained a consistent starter throughout the season, and despite the team finishing last, Paulsen was named the league's Most Valuable Player.[8] His performances for the reserves culminated in his first professional contract, signing for the senior team on a three-year deal alongside fellow reserve standout Ben Old.[9]
Paulsen entered the 2021–22 A-League Men season as second choice to Oliver Sail. On 19 December 2021, following an injury to Sail, Paulsen made his A-League debut as a substitute in a 2–1 loss against Sydney FC.[10] Paulsen would remain starter in Sail's absence; in an FFA Cup quarterfinal match against Melbourne City on 5 January 2022, Paulsen made three saves in a 0–0 (4–3) penalty shootout extra time win to secure the Phoenix's maiden semifinal appearance in the competition.[11] Upon Sail's return from injury, however, Paulsen returned to a bench role, and he did not make an appearance the following season.
Sail departed the club to sign with Perth Glory prior to the start of the 2023–24 season.[12] Paulsen became starting goalkeeper under new head coach Giancarlo Italiano, and played every minute as the Wellington Phoenix finished second, achieving their highest ever finish while conceding the lowest number of goals in club history.[13] Paulsen was named the Wellington Phoenix Members' Player of the Year, Players' Player of the Year and Under–23 Player of the Year.[14] He was named A-League Men Goalkeeper of the Year, and shared the Young Footballer of the Year award with Nestory Irankunda; this marked the first ever time a Wellington Phoenix player had won the award.[15] He was also named in the A-League Men Team of the Season, receiving the most votes out of any player.[16]
On 20 May 2024, Paulsen was called up to the A-League All Stars for a friendly match against Newcastle United; Paulsen started the match as the All Stars won 8–0.[17][18]
Bournemouth edit
In June 2024, Paulsen signed for Premier League club AFC Bournemouth for a reported initial fee of £850,000, rising up to £2 million.[4]
International career edit
In September 2018, Paulsen was called up for New Zealand to compete in the 2018 OFC U-16 Championship. Paulsen made three competition appearances, and was presented the Golden Glove award. In the final against the Solomon Islands, Paulsen saved two penalties – one in regular time, one in the penalty shootout – as New Zealand prevailed to win their eighth title, qualifying for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the process.[19]
Paulsen played in all three of New Zealand's games in the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup, being eliminated in the group stage. Despite making a high-profile error in a 3–0 loss to Brazil, Paulsen recovered to keep a clean sheet in a 1–0 win over Canada.[20]
Aged just 17, Paulsen was called up by Des Buckingham to the New Zealand under-23 squad for the 2019 OFC Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Paulsen made one appearance, as a late substitute in a 6–1 win over Samoa, as New Zealand won the title and qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[21] Paulsen was named in the Olympic squad as a traveling reserve, but did not make an appearance as New Zealand reached the quarter-finals.[22]
Personal life edit
Paulsen attended Selwyn College in Auckland and, upon joining the Wellington Phoenix academy in 2018, moved to Scots College in Wellington.[23]
Paulsen's brother, Adam, represents the New Zealand national futsal team.[24] The brothers played futsal regularly growing up, and Paulsen attributes this as a major influence on his ball-playing ability as a goalkeeper.[7]
Career statistics edit
- As of match played 18 May 2024
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Wellington Phoenix Reserves | 2018–19 | New Zealand Football Championship | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2019–20 | New Zealand National League | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2020–21 | New Zealand National League | 13 | 0 | — | — | — | 13 | 0 | ||||
| 2022 | New Zealand National League | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||||
| 2023 | New Zealand National League | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 21 | 0 | — | — | — | 21 | 0 | |||||
| Wellington United | 2018 | New Zealand Central League | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||||
| Lower Hutt City | 2019 | New Zealand Central League | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| 2020 | New Zealand Central League | 17 | 0 | — | — | — | 17 | 0 | ||||
| 2021 | New Zealand Central League | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 | |||
| Total | 39 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 0 | ||||
| Wellington Phoenix | 2021–22 | A-League Men | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | A-League Men | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2023–24 | A-League Men | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 0 | |||
| Total | 33 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 0 | ||||
| Bournemouth | 2024–25 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| Career total | 95 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 103 | 0 | ||
Honours edit
Individual
References edit
- ^ "Olympedia – Alex Paulsen". www.olympedia.org.
- ^ Ben Grounds (15 July 2021). "Football at Olympics Tokyo 2020: Which Premier League stars are heading to the Games?". SkySports. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ Andrew Voerman (2 November 2019). "Fifa Under-17 World Cup: New Zealand stay alive thanks to Alex Paulsen's saves". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Cherries complete signing of goalkeeper Paulsen". AFC Bournemouth. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ^ "Meet the 21yo goalkeeper taking the A-Leagues by storm: 'There will be clubs after him'". 28 November 2023.
- ^ "Paulsen Bounces Back at First Opportunity". FIFA. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ a b c "Match Programme Feature - Alex Paulsen". 4 December 2023.
- ^ https://ispsgolf.com/team-wellington-crowned-2020-21-isps-handa-mens-premiership-champions/
- ^ "Wellington Phoenix Sign Academy Players Ben Old and Alex Paulsen". 13 September 2021.
- ^ Rollo, Phillip (19 December 2021). "'Not up to standard': Wellington Phoenix lose third A-League Men game in a row". Stuff.
- ^ Rollo, Phillip (6 January 2022). "Alex Paulsen saves the day to send Wellington Phoenix into FFA Cup final four". Stuff. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- ^ "Glory swoop to bring Sail on board". 9 March 2023.
- ^ "Phoenix celebrate recordbreaking A-League season before 'weird' wait for premiership fate" – via www.newshub.co.nz.
- ^ "Barry and Barbarouses crowned players of the year". 30 April 2024.
- ^ "Every Isuzu UTE A-League award winner: Johnny Warren Medalist, Goal of the Year & more". 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Five Nix named to PFA team of the season". 16 May 2024.
- ^ "Five Nix men named to A-League All Stars". 20 May 2024.
- ^ "A-Leagues icon says what everyone is thinking after All Stars demolish Newcastle United". 24 May 2024.
- ^ https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/367135/sport-nz-seal-seventh-ofc-u16-title
- ^ https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/301039178/keeper-calm-and-carrying-on-how-alex-paulsen-bounced-back-from-unfortunate-error
- ^ https://www.oceaniafootball.com/new-zealand-u-23-secure-olympic-qualification/
- ^ https://www.oceaniafootball.com/new-zealand-u-23-secure-olympic-qualification/
- ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com.
- ^ "Five Things to Know About AFF Flanker Adam Paulsen".
- ^ Rollo, Phillip (16 May 2024). "Wellington Phoenix dominate PFA A-League Men team of the season". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "A-League All Stars Men lock in final 21-player squad to take on Newcastle United this Friday". A-League Men. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
External links edit
- Alex Paulsen at Soccerway