Jordan Calls it a Day
Photograph - Marc Peretic-Wilson
Auckland City Football Club’s South African striker, Keryn Jordan, has announced his playing retirement from football at all levels.
Jordan, aged 34, has struggled with a chronic knee injury for the past year and has only managed to make a handful of appearances for the club this season.
His last match was at the FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi last December where Auckland City surprised many onlookers around the world with their 5th place finish.
A bitterly disappointed Jordan said it was one of the toughest decisions he has ever had to make.
“I have worked extremely hard on rehabilitating my knee over the past four months. Unfortunately it has not responded to treatment in the way we had hoped for.”
“I have now come to terms with the fact, that due to the severity of the injury, I am no longer able to perform at a level that I am happy with. With that being the case I feel the time is right for me to call it a day.”
A former South African international, Jordan and his young family moved to New Zealand in 2004.
Initial plans were to play for the now-defunct New Zealand Knights in Australia’s A-League after signing for Waitakere United in the New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC).
When those plans fell over he signed for cross-town rivals Auckland City at the start of the 2005/6 season and has since experienced a huge amount of success with the Sandringham-based club, establishing himself as one of the best imports and deadliest strikers to ever play football in this country.
A cult hero at Kiwitea Street he has scored 61 goals in 79 matches for the club across all competitions (NZFC, Oceania Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup).
He has won three NZFC and two O-League titles with the club and will be remembered as a big-game player who always delivered when it mattered most.
He scored memorable hat-tricks for Auckland in the finals of the O-League in both 2006 & 2009 as the club qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup and scored crucial goals in NZFC finals in 2005/6 and 2008/9 as Auckland once again lifted the domestic showpiece.
He also holds the record for most goals scored in the NZFC – 62 in only 69 matches, (including 18 for Waitakere United in the 2004/05 season) and has twice won the Golden Boot for top goal scorer in the competition (2004/5 & 2005/6).
“My fondest memories of my career are those at the beginning - as a youngster in South Africa embarking on a professional career and ultimately fulfilling the dream of playing for my country - and ironically those at the end of it all – the great friendships I have made and the success I have shared with Auckland City.”
“Auckland City is for me the greatest club in the world - talk about passion! The amount of work that gets put in by the loyal volunteers and supporters is something I will never forget. The support my family and I have received from so many people at the club has been immense and we are extremely grateful for this.”
“The boys are doing fantastically well on the pitch again this year and I wish them all the very best for the remainder of the season.”
Auckland City’s chairman Ivan Vuksich was quick to pay tribute to Jordan’s contribution to the club’s success over the past five seasons.
“Keryn has been a wonderful, wonderful player for the club. His goal scoring record speaks for itself, it is second to none in terms of domestic football in this country.”
“He has been a huge part of the reason we have done so well over the past few years and we will miss him immensely...how do you replace a Keryn Jordan? The answer is you can’t...he is one in a million!”
“He will always hold a very special place in the hearts of our supporters and on behalf of everyone at the club we wish him and his family well and thank him for his fine contribution to Auckland City FC.”
Keryn Jordan – Biography
Date of Birth: 1 November 1975
Birthplace: Pretoria, South Africa
Position: Striker
International Caps: 2 – South Africa
Previous Professional Clubs: Supersport United, Manning Rangers & Moroka Swallows (all South Africa)
Honours:
NZFC Champions 2005/06, 2006/07 & 2008/09
Oceania Champions 2006 & 2009
South African Premier League Champions 1996/97
FIFA Club World Cup 2006 (6th place) & 2009 (5th place)
NZFC Golden Boot 2004/05 & 2005/06
South African Premier League Golden Boot 1997/98
African Champions League Golden Boot 1998
ACFC Players Player of the Year 2005/06
ACFC Supporters Player of the Year 2007/08
ACFC Golden Boot 2005/06 & 2008/09
ACFC Personality of the Year 2007/08
Chatham Cup Winner 2007
For Keryn’s full biographical profile please click on the link below:
Keryn Jordan Profile
Contacts:
Keryn Jordan 021 940 047
Ivan Vuksich, Chairman - Auckland City FC - 021 387 956
Steve Vuksich, Media Liaison – Auckland City FC – 021 137 6106
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