Nigel Boogaard

Nigel Boogaard (/ˈboʊɡɑːrd/ BOH-gard; born 14 August 1986) is a former Australian professional footballer who played as a central defender in the A-League. Boogaard currently plays for Charlestown Azzurri in the Northern NSW Football National Premier Leagues competition.^[1]

Nigel Boogaard

Boogaard with the Central Coast Mariners in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Nigel Boogaard
Date of birth	(1986-08-14) 14 August 1986 (age 39)
Place of birth	Newcastle, Australia
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Centre Back
Team information
Current team	Charlestown Azzurri
Number	4
Youth career
	Newcastle Breakers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2004	Newcastle United	1	(0)
2004–2005	Central Coast Lightning	8	(0)
2005–2010	Central Coast Mariners	55	(2)
2010–2015	Adelaide United	98	(2)
2015–2021	Newcastle Jets	122	(5)
2021–	Charlestown Azzurri	60	(8)
International career‡
2002–2003	Australia U-17	6	(0)
2008	Australia U-23	6	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10 September 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 23 May 2008

Club career

Central Coast Mariners

Coming from the Weston Workers Bears, Boogaard has had a rollercoaster career. He scored his first A-League goal for the Mariners in a match against bitter rivals Newcastle Jets on 14 August 2009 (also his 23rd birthday). It was a miscued header off the shoulder after poor defending and the keeper dropped it over the line.

Adelaide United

Boogaard signed with Adelaide United on 6 November 2009 and joined them for their upcoming AFC Champions League campaign.^[2][3]

On 8 May 2012, it was announced that Boogaard had signed for a further two years with Adelaide United.^[4]

On 20 July 2013, Boogaard started for the A-League All Stars in the inaugural A-League All Stars Game against Manchester United, a match in which the A-League All Stars were thrashed 5-1, courtesy of goals from Danny Welbeck, Jesse Lingard and Robin van Persie. Boogaard, along with Brisbane Roar forward Besart Berisha, were the only players to play out the full match.

Newcastle Jets

Boogaard signed a three-year deal with his hometown club, the Newcastle Jets, on 16 February 2015.

Retirement

On the 11th of June, 2021, Boogaard announced that he would retire, ending his sixteen-year playing career. As of this date, Boogaard is currently completing "his coaching badges", stating his plans to "give back to the game in some way".^[5]

Charlestown Azzurri

Nigel joined Charlestown Azzurri for the 2022 National Premier Leagues Northern NSW season, alongside another former A-League Men's player in Jacob Melling. Fellow former Newcastle Jets player, Taylor Regan, joined Nigel halfway through the season.

Career statistics

Club	Season	A-League		Finals		Asia		Other 1		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Central Coast Mariners	2005–06	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	2006–07	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2007–08	14	0	3	0	0	0	5	1	22	1
	2008–09	11	0	1	0	5	0	1	0	18	0
	2009–10	25	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	25	2
	Club subtotal	51	2	4	0	5	0	6	1	66	3
Adelaide United	2010–11	10	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	12	0
	2011–12	20	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	20	0
	2012–13	21	0	1	0	8	1	0	0	30	0
	2013–14	21	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	22	0
	2014-15	20	2	2	0	0	0	5	0	27	2
	Club subtotal	92	2	6	0	10	1	6	1	114	4
Newcastle Jets	2015–16	21	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	21	0
	2016–17	20	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	20	2
	2017-18	21	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	23	1
	2018-19	24	0	0	0	2	1	1	0	27	1
	2019-20	16	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	16	0
	2020-21	18	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	18	1
	Club subtotal	120	4	2	0	2	1	1	0	125	5
Charlestown Azzurri	2022	19	3	N/A		N/A		0	0	19	3
	2023	16	4					0	0	16	4
	Club subtotal	19	3	0	0	N/A		0	0	35	7
Total		311	15	12	0	17	2	13	2	353	19

₁Includes FFA Cup, A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup

Honours

Club

Adelaide United

• FFA Cup: 2014

International

Australia national football team

• OFC U-17 Championship: 2003

Individual

• A-League All Stars: 2013