View source for Vaughan Coveny

{{Short description|New Zealand footballer}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Vaughan Coveny
| image = Coveny1.jpg
| caption = Coveny with [[Wellington Phoenix FC|Wellington Phoenix]]
| full_name = Vaughan Barry Coveny
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|12|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Wellington]], New Zealand
| height = 1.91 m
| position = [[Striker (association football)|Striker]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 
| youthyears2 = 
| youthclubs1 = [[Newlands United]]
| youthclubs2 = [[Porirua Viard]]
| years1 = 1990
| years2 = 1991–1992
| years3 = 1992–1993
| years4 = 1993–1995
| years5 = 1995–2004
| years6 = 2004
| years7 = 2005–2006
| years8 = 2005–2006
| years9 = 2006–2007
| years10 = 2007–2009
| years11 = 2009
| years12 = 2011
| clubs1 = [[Waterside Karori]]
| clubs2 = [[Miramar Rangers]]
| clubs3 = [[Melbourne Knights]]
| clubs4 = [[Wollongong Wolves]]
| clubs5 = [[South Melbourne FC]]
| clubs6 = [[Essendon Royals SC|Essendon Royals]]
| clubs7 = [[South Melbourne FC]]
| clubs8 = → [[Newcastle Jets FC|Newcastle Jets]] (loan)
| clubs9 = [[Newcastle Jets FC|Newcastle Jets]]
| clubs10 = [[Wellington Phoenix FC|Wellington Phoenix]]
| clubs11 = [[South Melbourne FC]]
| clubs12 = [[Essendon United FC]]
| caps1 = 17
| caps2 = ?
| caps3 = 22
| caps4 = 24
| caps5 = 251
| caps6 = 5
| caps7 = 36
| caps8 = 10
| caps9 = 21
| caps10 = 27
| caps11 = 14
| caps12 = 4
| goals1 = 4
| goals2 = ?
| goals3 = 4
| goals4 = 12
| goals5 = 98
| goals6 = 2
| goals7 = 14
| goals8 = 4
| goals9 = 5
| goals10 = 1
| goals11 = 4
| goals12 = 5
| totalcaps = 418
| totalgoals = 135
| nationalyears1 = 
| nationalyears2 = 1992–2006
| nationalteam1 = [[New Zealand national under-23 football team|New Zealand U23]]
| nationalteam2 = [[New Zealand national football team|New Zealand]]
| nationalcaps1 = 
| nationalcaps2 = 64  <!-- A-internationals only recorded here -->
| nationalgoals1 = 
| nationalgoals2 = 29
| manageryears1 = 2010–2011
| managerclubs1 = [[South Melbourne FC|South Melbourne]]
| manageryears2 = 2011–2014
| managerclubs2 = [[Melbourne Victory FC Youth|Melbourne Victory Youth]] (assistant)
| manageryears3 = 2021–2024
| managerclubs3 = [[Western United FC Youth|Western United U21]] 
}}

'''Vaughan Coveny''' (born 13 December 1971) is a retired professional [[association football|football]] player from New Zealand. Coveny's senior club career spanned 20 years, mostly in Australia, with his most notable stint being at [[South Melbourne FC|South Melbourne]] during their [[National Soccer League]] era. He was primarily a [[Forward (association football)|striker]] although he also played as a [[Midfielder#Winger|winger]]. After retiring from playing, he pursued a coaching career. He was recently the head coach of the [[Western United FC|Western United]] under 21's side.<ref>{{cite web |last1=United |first1=Western |title=Western United announces senior academy coaching structure |url=https://wufc.com.au/news/western-united-announces-senior-academy-coaching-structure/ |website=Western United official website |date=3 November 2022 |publisher=Western United |access-date=11 January 2024}}</ref> 

==Club career==
Coveny began his NSL career at the [[Melbourne Knights]], then moved to [[Wollongong Wolves|Wollongong City]].

===South Melbourne FC===
The majority of Coveny's career was spent at South Melbourne in the NSL, and later on, [[Victorian Premier League]].

Coveny, affectionately known by fans as ''Horsey'' due to his speed primarily played as a striker for South Melbourne. Coveny would dominate the NSL with his pace and would capture two NSL Championships under [[Ange Postecoglou]] in 1997–98 and 1998–99. Additionally, his goalscoring form in the OFC Championship in 1999 fired South to claim the title as Oceania's best and qualify them for the 2000 FIFA Club World Cup. Here, Coveny would put in respectable performances including hitting the post twice against the treble winning Manchester United squad.

Following the disbanding of the back-to back winning squad, Coveny would stay at South and lead the new era in the new century. Coveny would once again reach a grand final for South in 2001 but ultimately lose.

The disbanding of the NSL was a premature end to Coveny's first stint as South.

Coveny would return to Lakeside in 2009 helping South to capture the Hellenic cup.  On [[Anzac Day]] 2009 Coveny scored his 100th goal for South Melbourne FC away at [[John Ilhan Memorial Reserve]] against [[Hume City FC]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Australian Player Database |url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/C/COM.html |access-date=3 September 2008 |publisher=OzFootball}}</ref> He retired at the end of the 2009 season.becoming only the third player to score 100 goals for South.

Overall, Coveny made 265 appearances for Hellas scoring 104 goals.

===Later career===
He also spent some time in the [[A-League]] following the collapse of the NSL, playing for the [[Newcastle Jets]] and [[Wellington Phoenix]].

==International career==
Coveny made his full [[New Zealand national football team|New Zealand]] debut in a 0–0 draw with [[Fiji national football team|Fiji]] on 19 September 1992. He was included in the New Zealand side for both the [[1999 FIFA Confederations Cup]] finals tournament,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzsoccer.com/page/1999_confederation_cup_players.html|title=1999 Confederation Cup Squad|publisher=NZ Football|access-date=3 September 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080723163859/http://www.nzsoccer.com/page/1999_confederation_cup_players.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 23 July 2008}}</ref> and the [[2003 FIFA Confederations Cup]] finals tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_worldcup.asp?HeroID=23535|title=Vaughan Coveny|publisher=Sporting Heroes|access-date=19 September 2008}}</ref>
He ended his international playing career with 64 A-international caps to his credit, his final cap gained in a 1–1 draw with [[Estonia national football team|Estonia]] on 31 May 2006.<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|access-date=25 July 2008|archive-date=1 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501185855/http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZRepSoccer/id1708.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Coveny became New Zealand's highest goal scorer on 27 May 2006, when he scored twice in the "All Whites" 3–1 victory over [[Georgia national football team|Georgia]], bringing his total A-international goal tally to 29.<ref name="agoal">{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZRepSoccer/the_dozen_club.htm|title=The Dozen Club|publisher=The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website|access-date=31 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzsoccer.com/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=12801|title=Coveny becomes All Whites greatest scorer|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604011825/http://www.nzsoccer.com/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=12801|archive-date=4 June 2010}}</ref> and his total including unofficial games to 30 in 71 games, surpassing [[Jock Newall]]'s long standing record of 28 from only 17 games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZRepSoccer/id1841.htm|title=2004|website=ultimatenzsoccer.com}}</ref><ref name=vcctoc>{{cite web|url=http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofcnewsdetails/new-zealand---vaughan-coveney-calls-time-on-career|title=Vaughan Coveny calls time on career|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204005738/http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofcnewsdetails/new-zealand---vaughan-coveney-calls-time-on-career|archive-date=4 February 2009}}</ref> Coveny record was officially overtaken by [[Chris Wood (footballer, born 1991)|Chris Wood]] on 21 March 2022 when Wood scored his 30th goal.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rollo |first1=Phillip |title=Chris Wood becomes All Whites' all-time leading scorer with brace against Fiji |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/128124188/chris-wood-becomes-all-whites-alltime-leading-scorer-with-brace-against-fiji |access-date=21 March 2022 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Burgess |first1=Michael |title=Football: Chris Wood makes history as All Whites dominate Fiji |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football-chris-wood-makes-history-as-all-whites-dominate-fiji/D42MIAVFEJZ45QYAVRXGXOMHIA/ |access-date=21 March 2022 |work=The New Zealand Herald |language=en}}</ref> In January 2009, Coveny announced his retirement from international football.<ref name=vcctoc /> He was also the games record holder for the All Whites, until [[Ivan Vicelich]] passed him in 2009. He is currently ranked third in appearances for the All Whites, behind [[Simon Elliott]] and Vicelich.

==Managerial career==
After retiring, Coveny was announced as South Melbourne's manager for the Victorian Premier League 2010 season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.smfc.com.au/news/793/vaughan-coveny-appointed-coach-of-smfc/ |title=Vaughan Coveny Appointed Coach of SMFC – South Melbourne FC – Australia's most successful football club in history, including 4 times national champions, 8 times Victorian champions, participants in the Inaugural FIFA Club World Championships, and Oceania Champions |access-date=30 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220211616/http://www.smfc.com.au/news/793/vaughan-coveny-appointed-coach-of-smfc/ |archive-date=20 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After the team failed to make the finals, his contract was not renewed.

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National Cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
|}

===Inrernational===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{NFT player|4722}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="15"|[[New Zealand national football team|New Zealand]]
|1992||3||0
|-
|1993||4||0
|-
|1994||0||0
|-
|1995||8||1
|-
|1996||4||0
|-
|1997||8||5
|-
|1998||6||4
|-
|1999||10||1
|-
|2000||0||0
|-
|2001||5||9
|-
|2002||1||0
|-
|2003||5||1
|-
|2004||5||6
|-
|2005||1||0
|-
|2006||4||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!64!!29
|}

:''Scores and results list New Zealand’s goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Coveny goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Vaughan Coveny
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
|style="text-align:center"|1
|20 June 1995
|[[Estadio Municipal Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso]], [[Coquimbo]], Chile
|{{fb|Turkey}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|style="text-align:center"|1–2
|Copa Centenario del Fútbol Chileno
|-
|style="text-align:center"|2
|25 January 1997
|[[Sydney Football Stadium (1988)|Sydney Football Stadium]], [[Sydney]], Australia
|{{fb|South Korea}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|style="text-align:center"|1–3
|Four Nations Tournament
|-
|style="text-align:center"|3
|rowspan="3"|11 June 1997
|rowspan="3"|[[North Harbour Stadium]], [[Auckland]], New Zealand
|rowspan="3"|{{fb|PNG}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|rowspan="3" style="text-align:center"|7–0
|rowspan="4"|[[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
|style="text-align:center"|4
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|5
|style="text-align:center"|6–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|6
|18 June 1997
|North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
|{{fb|Fiji}}
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|style="text-align:center"|5–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|7
|rowspan=4|28 September 1998
|rowspan=4|[[Lang Park]], [[Brisbane]], Australia
|rowspan=4|{{fb|VAN}}
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|rowspan=4 style="text-align:center"|8–1
|rowspan="4"|[[1998 OFC Nations Cup]]
|-
|style="text-align:center"|8
|style="text-align:center"|3–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|9
|style="text-align:center"|5–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|10
|style="text-align:center"|6–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|11
|29 June 1999
|[[National Stadium, Singapore]]
|{{fb|SIN}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|[[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|-
|style="text-align:center"|12
|rowspan="3"|6 June 2001
|rowspan="3"|North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
|rowspan="3"|{{fb|Tahiti}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|rowspan="3" style="text-align:center"|5–0
|rowspan="9"|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
|style="text-align:center"|13
|style="text-align:center"|3–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|14
|style="text-align:center"|4–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|15
|rowspan="2"|11 June 2001
|rowspan="2"|North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|SOL}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|5–1
|-
|style="text-align:center"|16
|style="text-align:center"|3–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|17
|rowspan="3"|13 June 2001
|rowspan="3"|North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
|rowspan="3"|{{fb|VAN}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|rowspan="3" style="text-align:center"|7–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|18
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|19
|style="text-align:center"|5–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|20
|24 June 2001
|[[Stadium Australia]], Sydney, Australia
|{{fb|Australia}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–2
|style="text-align:center"|1–4
|-
|style="text-align:center"|21
|9 June 2003
|[[City Stadium (Richmond)|University of Richmond Stadium]], [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], United States
|{{fb|USA}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–1
|style="text-align:center"|1–2
|Friendly
|-
|style="text-align:center"|22
|rowspan="2"|2 June 2004
|rowspan="2"|[[Hindmarsh Stadium]], [[Adelaide]], Australia
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|VAN}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–1
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|2–4
|rowspan="6"|[[2004 OFC Nations Cup]]
|-
|style="text-align:center"|23
|style="text-align:center"|2–3
|-
|style="text-align:center"|24
|rowspan="3"|4 June 2004
|rowspan="3"|[[Marden Sports Complex]], [[Adelaide]], Australia
|rowspan="3"|{{fb|Tahiti}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|rowspan="3" style="text-align:center"|10–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|25
|style="text-align:center"|4–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|26
|style="text-align:center"|5–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|27
|6 June 2004
|Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia
|{{fb|Fiji}}
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|28
|rowspan="2"|25 May 2006
|rowspan="2"|[[Stadion Altenkirchen]], [[Altenkirchen]], Germany
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|Georgia}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|rowspan="2" align=center|3–1
|rowspan="2"|Friendly
|-
|style="text-align:center"|29
|style="text-align:center"|3–1
|}

==Honours==
'''South Melbourne FC'''
* NSL Championship: 1997/1998, 1998/1999
* NSL Premiership 1997/1998, 2000,2001
* NSL Cup: 1995/1996
* Dockerty Cup: 1995
* OFC Championship: 1999
* Hellenic Cup: 2009

'''Individual'''
New Zealand Young Player of the Year: 1992<ref name="nzhon">{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZRepSoccer/id170.htm|title=Honours List|publisher=The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website|access-date=25 July 2008}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{FIFA player|95777}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110718025306/http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/default.aspx?s=wellfc_playerprofile_item&pid=820 Wellington Phoenix profile]
* [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/C/COM.html Oz Football profile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080327095247/http://www.nzsoccer.com/page/vaughan_coveny.html NZF – All White profile]
* [https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/coveny-intlg.html RSSSF Profile]
{{Navboxes
|title = New Zealand Squads
|bg = white
|fg = black
|list1 =
{{New Zealand squad 1998 OFC Nations Cup}}
{{New Zealand squad 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{New Zealand squad 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{New Zealand squad 2004 OFC Nations Cup}}
}}
{{South Melbourne FC managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coveny, Vaughan}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Association footballers from Wellington City]]
[[Category:New Zealand men's association footballers]]
[[Category:Melbourne Knights FC players]]
[[Category:South Melbourne FC players]]
[[Category:Newcastle Jets FC players]]
[[Category:New Zealand men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Wellington Phoenix FC players]]
[[Category:A-League Men players]]
[[Category:National Soccer League (Australia) players]]
[[Category:Wollongong Wolves FC players]]
[[Category:Miramar Rangers AFC players]]
[[Category:New Zealand association football managers]]
[[Category:South Melbourne FC managers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Waterside Karori players]]
[[Category:1996 OFC Nations Cup players]]
[[Category:1998 OFC Nations Cup players]]
[[Category:1999 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:2003 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:2004 OFC Nations Cup players]]
[[Category:People educated at Newlands College]]