View source for Chris Zoricich

{{short description|New Zealand footballer}}
{{distinguish|Chris Zorich}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Chris Zoricich
| image =
| fullname = Christopher Vincent Zoricich
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1969|05|03|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]]
| height = {{height|m=1.79}}
| currentclub  = 
| clubnumber =
| position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1988
| years2 = 1989–1994
| years3 = 1994
| years4 = 1994–1996
| years5 = 1996
| years6 = 1996–1997
| years7 = 1997–1999
| years8 = 1999–2000
| years9 = 2000–2003
| years10 = 2003–2004
| years11 = 2004–2005
| years12 = 2005
| years13 = 2005
| years14 = 2005
| years15 = 2005–2006
| years16 = 2010
| clubs1 = [[Papatoetoe AFC|Papatoetoe]]
| clubs2 = [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]]
| clubs3 = [[Central United F.C.|Central United]]
| clubs4 = [[Brisbane Strikers FC|Brisbane Strikers]]
| clubs5 = [[Welling United F.C.|Welling United]]
| clubs6 = [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
| clubs7 = [[Brisbane Strikers FC|Brisbane Strikers]]
| clubs8 = [[Sydney Olympic FC|Sydney Olympic]]
| clubs9 = [[Newcastle Jets FC|Newcastle Jets]]
| clubs10 = [[Margate F.C.|Margate]]
| clubs11 = [[St Albans City F.C.|St Albans City]]
| clubs12 = [[Harlow Town F.C.|Harlow Town]]
| clubs13 = [[Boreham Wood F.C.|Boreham Wood]]
| clubs14 = [[Heybridge Swifts F.C.|Heybridge Swifts]]
| clubs15 = [[Wealdstone F.C.|Wealdstone]]
| clubs16 = [[Central United F.C.|Central United]]
| caps1 = 0
| caps2 = 62
| caps3 =
| caps4 = 51
| caps5 = 1
| caps6 = 0
| caps7 = 42
| caps8 = 25
| caps9 = 50
| caps10 = 11
| caps11 = 39
| goals1 = 0
| goals2 = 1
| goals3 =
| goals4 = 6
| goals5 = 0
| goals6 = 0
| goals7 = 2
| goals8 = 0
| goals9 = 0
| goals10 = 0
| goals11 = 2
| nationalyears1 = 1988–2003
| nationalteam1 = [[New Zealand national football team|New Zealand]]
| nationalcaps1 = 57
| nationalgoals1 = 1
|manageryears1  = 2018–2022
|managerclubs1  = [[Western Springs AFC|Western Springs]]
|manageryears2  = 2023–
|managerclubs2  = [[Cooks Hill United FC|Cooks Hill United]]
}}

'''Chris''' "'''Zorro'''" '''Zoricich''' ({{langx|hr|Zoričić}}, {{IPA|hr|zor̩itʃitɕ}}; born 3 May 1969) is a [[New Zealand]] [[association football]] player who represented the [[New Zealand national football team]] in the 1980s and 1990s. Born to [[Croatia|Croat]] parents, he began playing football in his native Auckland for Blockhouse Bay Under-7's and went on to play over 50 times for his country.

== Club career ==
Zoricich, nicknamed "Zorro",<ref name="herald">{{cite news | title=Soccer: Coaching next for Zoricich | newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] | author=Michael Brown | date=31 July 2010 |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football/all-whites/soccer-coaching-next-for-zoricich/HL3HW4NJUKCIW45K5VDILO7EHI/}}</ref> began his senior career with [[Papatoetoe AFC|Papatoetoe]] in Auckland before moving to [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] in England between 1990 and 1993. He made 59 first team appearances there, and 12 as a substitute during his time at the club, before work permit restrictions forced him to return home. A group of Orient fans protested outside the [[Home Office]] to try to keep him in the country.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

In 1994, Zoricich returned to New Zealand to play for [[Central United]], a Croatian-influenced team. His brother, Michael (who played [[Davis Cup]] tennis for New Zealand), and his father, Ivan, also turned out for Central at various points. However it was not long before Zoricich was on the move again, this time to [[Brisbane Strikers]] in the Australian [[National Soccer League]]. He spent two seasons in Australia before heading to England to try his luck again. He made one appearance for [[Welling United F.C.|Welling United]] in the Vauxhall Conference and also had a trial spell with [[Chelsea FC|Chelsea]], at that time managed by [[Ruud Gullit]]. During his time at [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]], Zoricich never made the first team but was a regular in the reserve side's defence.

Zoricich returned to Australia to re-sign for the [[Brisbane Strikers]] in 1997, after the club had won the NSL championship on their home ground. He then ended his NSL career by playing for [[Newcastle Breakers]] and [[Newcastle United Jets FC|Newcastle United]], before returning to England as his English wife was homesick. After trialling with League Two side, [[Mansfield Town]], he signed for [[Margate F.C.|Margate]] in the Nationwide Conference<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/margate/3202331.stm|title=Margate sign International Skipper|publisher=BBC|date=2 September 2003|accessdate=2008-07-25}}</ref> and then moved on to St Albans City in the Conference South Division.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/margate/3399765.stm|title=Kinnear in the Dark|publisher=BBC|date=15 January 2004|accessdate=2008-07-25}}</ref> This was followed by short spells at [[Harlow Town]], [[Boreham Wood F.C.|Boreham Wood]], [[Heybridge Swifts]] and [[Wealdstone F.C.|Wealdstone]].

== International career ==

Zoricich made his international debut against [[Israel national football team|Israel]] on 27 March 1988.<ref name="alup">{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZRepSoccer/id1559.htm|title=A-International Lineups|publisher=The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website|accessdate=12 February 2009}}</ref> He went on to win 57 caps in full 'A' internationals,<ref name="aapp">{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZRepSoccer/id1708.htm |title=A-International Appearances - Overall |publisher=The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website |accessdate=12 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501185855/http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZRepSoccer/id1708.htm |archivedate=1 May 2009}}</ref> including captaining the [[New Zealand national football team|All Whites]] at the [[1999 Confederations Cup]] in [[Mexico]] and the [[2003 Confederations Cup]] in [[France]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/3009894.stm|title=France thrash Kiwis|publisher=BBC|date=23 June 2003|accessdate=2008-07-25}}</ref> His only international goal was in a 1–2 loss to [[United States men's national soccer team|USA]] in June 1999 at the [[FIFA Confederations Cup|Confederations Cup]].<ref name="agoal">{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZRepSoccer/id1842.htm |title=A-International Scorers - Overall |publisher=The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website |accessdate=12 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616123344/http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZRepSoccer/id1842.htm |archivedate=16 June 2009}}</ref>

===International goals===
:''Scores and results list New Zealand's goal tally first.''<ref name="NFT">{{cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/4726/Chris_Zoricich.html|title=Zoricich, Chris|publisher=National Football Teams|accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;"
! No !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1. || 24 July 1999 || [[Estadio Jalisco]], [[Guadalajara]], [[Mexico]] || {{fb|USA}} || align=center | '''1'''–2 || align=center | 1–2 || [[1999 FIFA Confederations Cup]]
|}

== After International football ==
Zoricich as of 2014 is the premier football coach a Saint Kentigern College in Auckland.

Since 2022 Zoricich has been Head Coach of Cooks Hill United FC<ref>{{Cite web |last=friendsoffootballnz_irqgpj |date=2022-11-23 |title=Chris Zoricich moves to Australia for coaching role at National Premier League club |url=https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2022/11/24/chris-zoricich-moves-to-australia-for-coaching-role-at-national-premier-league-club/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=Friends of Football |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{FIFA player|95790|Chris Zoricich}}

{{Navboxes
|title = New Zealand Squads
|bg = white
|fg = black
|list1 =
{{New Zealand squad 1996 OFC Nations Cup}}
{{New Zealand squad 1998 OFC Nations Cup}}
{{New Zealand squad 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{New Zealand squad 2000 OFC Nations Cup}}
{{New Zealand squad 2002 OFC Nations Cup}}
{{New Zealand squad 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zoricich, Chris}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Association footballers from Auckland]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:New Zealand men's association footballers]]
[[Category:New Zealand people of Croatian descent]]
[[Category:New Zealand men's international footballers]]
[[Category:National Soccer League (Australia) players]]
[[Category:Papatoetoe AFC players]]
[[Category:Leyton Orient F.C. players]]
[[Category:Central United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Brisbane Strikers FC players]]
[[Category:Welling United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Chelsea F.C. players]]
[[Category:Sydney Olympic FC players]]
[[Category:Newcastle Jets FC players]]
[[Category:Margate F.C. players]]
[[Category:St Albans City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Harlow Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Boreham Wood F.C. players]]
[[Category:Wealdstone F.C. players]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:1996 OFC Nations Cup players]]
[[Category:1998 OFC Nations Cup players]]
[[Category:1999 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:2000 OFC Nations Cup players]]
[[Category:2002 OFC Nations Cup players]]
[[Category:OFC Nations Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:2003 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:20th-century New Zealand sportsmen]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]