| Kurt Christensen D: O: B 11/6/85 Auckland Height: 167cm (subject to change) Weight: 55kg (subject to change) Clubs: Bolton 1999-2000, Chelsea 2000- International: Jamaica 2000- Affectionately known as Kurt C (how his name appeared on the program before his debut for Bolton) Christensen set the soccer world on fire in 2000. The lightning quick 15 year old so devastated defenses some consider him Jamaica’s new target man ahead of Nibblet Jones. Christensen first came to public notice when voted player of the NZ Under 17 tournament in 1997, playing for Auckland while aged 12. The national selectors considered him to young for the under 17 matches against Poland. However Sherwin Lara, youth coordinator of Jamaican soccer visiting NZ at the time, did not. Lara invited the Christensen’s back to Jamaica where Kurt trained with the national under 19s. The Christensen’s stayed in Jamaica and in August 1998 Kurt was granted a dispensation to represent the Jamaican under 19s. Christensen surprised everyone by starring against China, even though the 13 year old was barely 5’ tall. Kurt was introduced to future teammate Nibblet Jones, and the two became unlikely friends. In 1999 Kurt went to live with Jones in England and trial for Chelsea. Chelsea said Kurt was too young for the top level, but too good for age-group football. Christensen took the hint and went to 1st division Bolton Wanderers, who were astounded by his talents. He spent the last few matches of 1998-99 in the reserves. In August 1999 Christensen again represented Jamaica U-19s, this time against Mexico. He spent 1999-2000 playing for Bolton’s top team, and was the star of the former Premier League side, playing mostly in the attacking half position. Christensen debuted for the Jamaican international side against Greece in January 2000. He has played mostly as an extremely prolific goal scoring forward for Jamaica ever since. At the start of the 2000/01 season Christensen was signed by Chelsea and has starred for them so far this season, mostly by setting up goals from the midfield like he did in Bolton. He won the hotly contested “Young Player of the Year” award from FIFA for 2000, as well as the “ Women’s Choice” Award (for his youthful looks I’m told). However, Christensen appears to be handling the attention remarkably well for his young age. |