Wynton Rufer

 Wynton Alan Whai Rufer, CNZM is the most celebrated New Zealand professional soccer player.

His first contract was at the age of 18 years old for Norwich City, England.

He then went onto play for 7 years in the Swiss Pro League with FC Zurich. He played for the FC Aarau and Grasshoppers Zurich who won the Swiss Cup in 1989.

For 6 years Wynton played in the German Bundesliga with Werder Bremen and FC Kaiserslautern. In 1991 & 1994 Werder Bremen were the German Cup winners where Wynton scored 1 goal in each match.

Wynton went onto play for two years in the Japanese Pro League (J-League) with JEF Utd and then returned to New Zealand to join New Zealand's first professional team playing in the Australian National Soccer League the NZ Football Kingz from 1999 to 2001 as player/coach.

Wynton has also set up the Wynton Rufer School of Excellence in New Zealand which is a scoccer skills programme and resources for young players to be inspired and challenged and improve their football skills.

Wynton lives in Auckland and is married to Lisa. They have two sons Caleb and Joshua.
Career Highlights
All Whites Record - 10 caps NZ U-19's, 39 caps NZ All Whites. Spain 1982 World Cup member v Scotland, Russia and Brazil.

International Honours - Oceania Player of the Century, Player of the Decade 1990's. FIFA World XI team Tokyo, May 1995 & Sydney, June 1999. Top 20 all time leading goal scorers list in European Cup competition. Swiss Cup winner with Grasshoppers 1989. German Cup Winner with Werder Bremen 1991 (1 goal), 1994 (1 goal). European Cup Winners Cup winner with Werder Bremen v Monaco 1992 (1 assist, 1 goal). Bundesliga Champion with Werder Bremen 1993 (2nd top scorer in the league). German Super Cup Winner 1994, 1995 with Werder Bremen. European Super Cup finalist 1993 v Barcelona (1 goal). Elected to the 19 member FIFA players committee October 1998 (alongside Pele, Beckenbauer, Charlton, Platini, Weah)