Nick Ansell
{{Short description|Australian professional soccer player|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Nick Ansell
| fullname = Nicolas Clive Ansell
| image = Nick Ansell Training.jpg
| caption = Ansell with Melbourne Victory in 2013.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|2|2|df=yes}}
| birth_place = {{nowrap|Melbourne, Victoria, Australia}}
| position = Central defender
| currentclub = Nakhon Ratchasima
| clubnumber = 29
| youthyears1 = 2009
| youthclubs1 = VIS
| youthyears2 = 2010–2012
| youthclubs2 = Melbourne Victory
| years1 = 2012–2017
| caps1 = 71
| goals1 = 1
| clubs1 = Melbourne Victory
| years2 = 2011
| caps2 = 9
| goals2 = 0
| clubs2 = → FFV NTC (loan)
| years3 = 2012
| caps3 = 20
| goals3 = 0
| clubs3 = → Bentleigh Greens (loan)
| years4 = 2017–2018
| caps4 = 8
| goals4 = 0
| clubs4 = Tondela
| years5 = 2018–2019
| caps5 = 7
| goals5 = 0
| clubs5 = Melbourne Victory
| years6 = 2019
| caps6 = 15
| goals6 = 0
| clubs6 = Jeonnam Dragons
| years7 = 2020
| caps7 = 5
| goals7 = 0
| clubs7 = Gyeongnam
| years8 = 2020–2021
| caps8 = 14
| goals8 = 0
| clubs8 = Melbourne Victory
| years9 = 2021–2024
| caps9 = 28
| goals9 = 1
| clubs9 = Adelaide United
| years10 = 2024–
| caps10 = 22
| goals10 = 0
| clubs10 = Nakhon Ratchasima
| nationalyears1 = 2010
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalteam1 = Australia U17
| nationalyears2 = 2011
| nationalcaps2 = 1
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalteam2 = Australia U20
| nationalyears3 = 2014
| nationalcaps3 = 2
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalteam3 = Australia U23
| club-update = 29 March 2025
| ntupdate = 20 June 2017
}}
Nicolas Clive Ansell (born 2 February 1994) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a centre back for Nakhon Ratchasima in Thai League 1.
Early and personal life
Ansell was born on 2 February 1994 in Melbourne to Warren and Andree Ansell.{{cite web |title=Journey to Victory: Nick Ansell |url=https://melbournevictory.com.au/news/journey-victory-nick-ansell |publisher=Melbourne Victory |access-date=11 November 2023 |date=2 June 2016}}{{cite web |last1=Davutovic |first1=David |title=Nick Ansell lands three-year Melbourne Victory contract after rocky road |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/nick-ansell-lands-three-year-melbourne-victory-contract-after-rocky-road/news-story/d0ba95aa692e377c3b7ac975204f23bd |website=news.com.au |access-date=11 November 2023 |date=2 February 2013}} His mother was a former ballet dancer. Raised in Doncaster East, Victoria Ansell grew up in an Australian rules football family. He piqued interest in both Aussie rules and soccer growing up, playing until he was 12 when he decided to focus on soccer after receiving too many injuries from football.{{cite web |last1=Hogan |first1=Jesse |title=Melbourne Victory defender Nick Ansell savouring grand final chance |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/melbourne-victory-defender-nick-ansell-savouring-grand-final-chance-20150513-gh12fs.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=11 November 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231110233142/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/melbourne-victory-defender-nick-ansell-savouring-grand-final-chance-20150513-gh12fs.html |archive-date=10 November 2023 |language=en |date=14 May 2015}} He began playing soccer with Doncaster Rovers, Box Hill United, and Bulleen Lions before joining the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS).{{cite web |title=My first club: Nick Ansell, football champion |url=https://www.insidesport.com.au/news/my-first-club-nick-ansell-football-champion-515779 |website=Inside Sport |access-date=11 November 2023 |date=19 November 2019}} Despite choosing soccer, Ansell claimed in an interview to have excelled in football, winning numerous awards including the best-and-fairest league award.
Ansell attended Carey Baptist Grammar School where he played futsal and football. He is close friends with Jack Viney, Kristian Jaksch, Jason Ashby, Nathan Hrovat and Jackson Macrae, all of whom became professional football players. Ansell is married to Nadene Ansell, whom he tied the knot with in July 2022. The couple was engaged in November 2020. Their wedding was located in South Melbourne where over 150 guests were present. Numerous professional soccer players also attended the ceremony, including former football player and close friend Kristian Jaksch.{{cite web |last1=Epstein |first1=Jackie |title=Nick Ansell married partner Nadene at fairytale Luminare nuptials |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/confidential/nick-ansell-married-partner-nadene-at-fairytale-luminare-nuptials/news-story/2dca4f418c2e367b9365b3a4cb8d1ec1?amp&nk=83197d4aa9e4fc97243652b88bacead9-1679331329 |website=Herald Sun |access-date=11 November 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230320165522/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/confidential/nick-ansell-married-partner-nadene-at-fairytale-luminare-nuptials/news-story/2dca4f418c2e367b9365b3a4cb8d1ec1?amp&nk=83197d4aa9e4fc97243652b88bacead9-1679331329 |archive-date=20 March 2023 |date=12 July 2022}} Outside of soccer, Ansell studied property development and real estate at Deakin University.
Club career
Ansell spent several years in the Melbourne Victory youth squad before a breakout 2012–13 season, which saw him rewarded with a senior A-League contract. Considered an upcoming future star, he made an immediate impact as a commanding centre back, playing a key role in Melbourne Victory's 2014/15 Premiership-Championship double.
In June 2017, Ansell signed with Portuguese Primeira Liga side Tondela.{{cite news|url=http://outside90.com/former-melbourne-victory-defender-finds-a-european-home-159/|title=Former Melbourne Victory defender finds a European home|publisher=Outside90.com|date=20 June 2017|access-date=20 June 2017|author=Fruci, Joel|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623032014/http://outside90.com/former-melbourne-victory-defender-finds-a-european-home-159/|archive-date=23 June 2017|df=dmy-all}}
In July 2018, Ansell returned to Melbourne to re-join Melbourne Victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournevictory.com.au/news/victory-signs-championship-winner-nick-ansell|title=Victory signs Championship-winner Nick Ansell|publisher=Melbourne Victory|date=20 July 2018}}
On 31 January 2019, Ansell departed the Victory a second time, joining K League 2 team Jeonnam Dragons{{cite web |title=VICTORY CONFIRM ANSELL-DONACHIE SWITCH |url=https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/victory-confirm-ansell-donachie-switch-518680 |publisher=FourFourTwo |access-date=1 February 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Seroukas |first1=John |title=Signing news: Familiar face returns to Melbourne Victory while defender departs |url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/melbourne-victory-sign-familiar-face-while-defender-departs |website=A-League |date=31 January 2019 |access-date=1 February 2019}}
In October 2020, Ansell returned to Melbourne Victory for a third time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.melbournevictory.com.au/news/melbourne-victory-signs-nick-ansell|title = Nick Ansell returns home|date = 22 October 2020}} He was released on 11 June 2021.{{cite web |title=Players depart Victory first team |url=https://www.melbournevictory.com.au/news/players-depart-victory-first-team |website=Melbourne Victory FC |date=11 June 2021 |access-date=12 June 2021}}
In July 2021, Ansell joined Adelaide United for the 2021–22 A-League season.{{cite web|url=https://www.adelaideunited.com.au/news/reds-sign-ansell-upcoming-season|title=Reds sign Ansell for upcoming season|website=Adelaide United|date=30 July 2021}}
In May 2024, he was released from Adelaide United after his contract expired.{{Cite web |first=Laura |last=Bates |date=17 May 2024|title=Reds Farewell Three Defenders From A-league Men’s Side |url=https://adelaideunited.com.au/news/reds-farewell-three-defenders-from-a-league-mens-side/ |access-date=17 May 2024 |publisher=Adelaide United}}
Career statistics
{{updated|16 March 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://au.soccerway.com/players/nicholas-ansell/178657/|title=N. Ansell|access-date=16 March 2025|website=Soccerway}}{{cite web|url=https://aleaguestats.com/A-League_25Players_725.html|title=Nicholas Ansell|website=ALeagueStats.com|access-date=14 June 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes FFA/Australia Cup, Taça de Portugal, Korean FA Cup, and Thai FA Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Taça da Liga and Thai League Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| |FFV NTC
|2011{{cite web|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/States/VIC/2011PLR.html|title=2011 Victorian Men's Premier League Results|first=John|last=Punshon|access-date=14 June 2023|website=OzFootball.net}} |rowspan="2"|Victorian Premier League |9 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 9 | 0 | ||||
| Bentleigh Greens
|2012{{cite web|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/States/VIC/2012PLR.html|title=2012 Victorian Men's Premier League Results|first=John|last=Punshon|access-date=14 June 2023|website=OzFootball.net}} |15 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 15 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan=6|Melbourne Victory
|rowspan="5"|A-League |8 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 8 | 0 | ||||
| 2013–14
|14 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 4 | 1 | 18 | 1 | |||
| 2014–15
|22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 22 | 1 | |||
| 2015–16
|8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 7 | 1 | 15 | 1 | ||
| 2016–17
|19 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 23 | 0 | |||
| colspan=2|Total | 71 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 86 | 3 |
| Tondela
|8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 10 | 0 | ||
| Melbourne Victory
|A-League |7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Jeonnam Dragons
|2019 |rowspan="2"|K League 2 |15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 15 | 0 | |||
| Gyeongnam
|2020 |5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 6 | 0 | |||
| Melbourne Victory
|rowspan="4"|A-League Men |14 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 5 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |||
| rowspan=4|Adelaide United
|2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23
|7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 7 | 0 | |||
| 2023–24
|19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 19 | 1 | |||
| colspan=2|Total | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 1 |
| Nakhon Ratchasima
|2024–25 |22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 23 | 0 | ||
| colspan=3|Career total | 194 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 219 | 4 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{K League player|20190098}}
{{Nakhon Ratchasima F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ansell, Nicolas}}
Category:Australian men's soccer players
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Australia men's under-20 international soccer players
Category:Australia men's youth international soccer players
Category:Victorian Premier League players
Category:Melbourne Victory FC players
Category:Bentleigh Greens SC players
Category:Jeonnam Dragons players
Category:Adelaide United FC players
Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Portugal
Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in South Korea
Category:Australian expatriate men's soccer players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in South Korea
Category:People educated at Carey Baptist Grammar School