Alex Rufer

Alex Rufer is the embodiment of one-club loyalty in New Zealand football, having spent his entire senior career at Wellington Phoenix since 2013. A box-to-box midfielder known for his engine and leadership, Rufer has become one of the most capped players in the All Whites setup and a trusted voice in the dressing room. His decade-plus of A-League experience gives him a reading of the game that younger squad members lean on. At 30, he is entering the final chapter of his international career but remains a reliable, experienced presence in the centre of the park.