Chris Killen
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| Chris Killen | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Christopher John Killen | |
| Date of birth | October 8, 1981 | |
| Place of birth | Wellington, New Zealand | |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | |
| Playing position | Striker | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Celtic | |
| Number | 33 | |
| Youth clubs | ||
1998–99 |
Miramar Rangers Manchester City |
|
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1999–2002 2000 2001 2002–2006 2006–2007 2007–present |
Manchester City → Wrexham (loan) → Port Vale (loan) Oldham Athletic Hibernian Celtic |
3 (0) 12 (3) 9 (6) 78 (17) 25 (16) 27 (1) |
| National team2 | ||
| 2000–present | New Zealand | 26 (15) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Christopher John "Chris" Killen (born October 8, 1981 in Wellington) is a New Zealand international football player, currently playing for Scottish Premier League side Celtic.
Contents |
[edit] Club career
[edit] Early career
Killen grew up in the Wellington suburb of Island Bay. As a youth he played for Miramar Rangers, whose coach arranged a trial with Manchester City.[1] The trial was successful, and the 17 year old Killen joined City's youth academy. His first senior club appearances came during a loan spell at Wrexham in September 2000. He scored his first league goal on 9 September 2000 against Oldham,[2] and in total scored three goals in nine appearances for the Welsh club. The following season he was loaned to Port Vale, scoring six goals in nine league games. In November 2001 he was recalled from loan as a number of Manchester City strikers were injured, and was a substitute in a 2–1 win against Rotherham United.[3] he made two further substitute appearances that season, and finished as top goalscorer for the reserves.[4]
He joined Oldham Athletic in July 2002[5] for £250,000. He remained with Oldham for 3 and a half years, scoring 24 goals in 78 league appearances. Failing to match his price tag and seemingly high wage through continuous injury, Oldham no longer required his services and released him on a free transfer.
[edit] Hibernian
In January 2006, Killen joined Hibernian on a free transfer.[6] He scored on his debut as he netted the third goal of Hibs' 3-0 defeat of Rangers at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup 4th round in February 2006.[7] His first home goal was the opener in a 7-0 win against Livingston four days later. [8] Despite arriving in January, he had scored five goals for Hibs by the end of the season. He also scored the opening goal of Hibs 5-0 defeat of Latvia's Dinaburg in the Intertoto Cup second round game at Easter Road on July 2, 2006.[9].
Following the departure of strikers Garry O'Connor and Derek Riordan, Killen was expected to be an important player for Hibs in season 2006-07. By December 2006 he had scored 11 goals, including two in a 2-1 win over Rangers,[10] however a ruptured Achilles suffered in a 2-2 draw with Aberdeen in a Scottish Cup tie prematurely ended his season in January 2007.
Killen's contract with Hibernian expired in mid-2007. He rejected the offer of a one-year extension from the Edinburgh club and was expected to sign for Cardiff City before Celtic's intervention.[11]
[edit] Celtic
On May 30, 2007 Killen was confirmed a Celtic player.[12]. He signed on a free transfer and committed to a three years contract with Celtic.
Killen made his UEFA Champions League debut for Celtic at the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica against SL Benfica on October 24, 2007.
[edit] Honours
- Scottish Premier League Winner: 1
[edit] See also
[edit] International career
Killen made his international debut for New Zealand during the 2000 OFC Nations Cup against Tahiti,[13] three months before his first senior appearance at club level. He collected his 20th cap (8 goals) against Brazil on June 4, 2006.
[edit] References
- ^ "Killen striking the right notes", Scotland on Sunday. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
- ^ "Wrexham 3-1 Oldham", BBC. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
- ^ "Man City 2 Rotherham 1", Manchester Evening News. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
- ^ "Killen a chart topper", Manchester Evening News. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
- ^ "Killen for Oldham", BBC Sport website, 30 July, 2002.
- ^ "All White signs for Hibs", TVNZ ONE Sport, January 27, 2006.
- ^ "Rangers 0-3 Hibernian", BBC Sport website, 4 February 2006.
- ^ "Hibernian 7-0 Livingston", BBC Sport website, 8 February 2006.
- ^ "Hibernian 5-0 Dinaburg Daugavpils", BBC Sport website, 2 July 2006.
- ^ "Hibernian 2-1 Rangers", BBC Sport website, 17 September 2006.
- ^ "Killen closes on Bluebirds move", BBC Sport website, 28 May 2007.
- ^ "Celtic in surprise Killen swoop", BBC Sport website, 30 May 2007.
- ^ "Kill tug of war", Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
[edit] External links
- Chris Killen FIFA competition record
- Chris Killen career stats at Soccerbase
- Player profile on NZ Soccer official site
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