Chris Zoricich

{{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

| 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

| clubs2 = Leyton Orient

| clubs3 = Central United

| clubs4 = Brisbane Strikers

| clubs5 = Welling United

| clubs6 = Chelsea

| clubs7 = Brisbane Strikers

| clubs8 = Sydney Olympic

| clubs9 = Newcastle Jets

| clubs10 = Margate

| clubs11 = St Albans City

| clubs12 = Harlow Town

| clubs13 = Boreham Wood

| clubs14 = Heybridge Swifts

| clubs15 = Wealdstone

| clubs16 = 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

| nationalcaps1 = 57

| nationalgoals1 = 1

|manageryears1 = 2018–2022

|managerclubs1 = Western Springs

|manageryears2 = 2023–

|managerclubs2 = 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 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",{{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/}} began his senior career with Papatoetoe in Auckland before moving to 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 in the Vauxhall Conference and also had a trial spell with Chelsea, at that time managed by Ruud Gullit. During his time at 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, before returning to England as his English wife was homesick. After trialling with League Two side, Mansfield Town, he signed for Margate in the Nationwide Conference{{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}} and then moved on to St Albans City in the Conference South Division.{{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}} This was followed by short spells at Harlow Town, Boreham Wood, Heybridge Swifts and Wealdstone.

International career

Zoricich made his international debut against Israel on 27 March 1988.{{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}} He went on to win 57 caps in full 'A' internationals,{{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}} including captaining the All Whites at the 1999 Confederations Cup in Mexico and the 2003 Confederations Cup in France.{{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}} His only international goal was in a 1–2 loss to USA in June 1999 at the Confederations Cup.{{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}}

=International goals=

:Scores and results list New Zealand's goal tally first.{{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}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;"

! No !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition

24 July 1999

Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico

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{{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}}