A towering centre-back, Boyens has started to establish himself in the national team set-up and is a likely replacement if required for regular starters Ivan Vicelich or skipper Ryan Nelsen. Boyens has established his position with New York Red Bulls in USA since joining two years ago from Toronto FC helping the team to the play-offs in his first season at the club. Last season was less pleasing for the club from the Big Apple with the team propping up the Eastern Conference and Boyens featuring in less than half the matches.<\/P>
Like many compatriots Boyens spent a number of years in the USA college system and had three impressive years playing for the University of New Mexico. Has also played domestically for Dunedin Technical and briefly for Otago United in his home region in the country's far south. Boyens was also a member of New Zealand's side that was narrowly defeated by Australia in their qualification tilt for the Athens Olympics.<\/P>
Debuting for New Zealand in 2007 against Wales, Boyens featured in all three of New Zealand’s FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers that year. Boyens started in the heart of defence against Italy in last year’s friendly against Italy, with Ryan Nelsen absent through injury, and then at the FIFA Confederations Cup starting against Spain and South Africa, and off the bench against Iraq. Boyens also featured as a substitute in the All Whites 1-0 win over Bahrain in Wellington that ensured qualification.<\/P>
The 26-year-old Boyens is likely to be considered third in the Kiwis central defensive pecking order but with South Africa likely to be the international swansong for Vicelich, a defensive partnership with captain and defensive lynchpin Ryan Nelsen holds much promise.<\/P>","8084EC95B881D770":"Los Angeles Galaxy","3B9127F7BC829326":"1","7F6018B84729B122B8EE7594158DA382":"CD Chivas USA,New York Red Bulls,Toronto FC","86178E7285C328960D9569BD40C7D883":"1983-9-18","4EB8C1CDD4A86AD4B213AF7FAE87E4FE":"CD Chivas USA","A494ABC507986833":"Andrew Boyens","75B83B44A2FCDD1B4FF631FCD2E3CC16":"29","7777CB48C34672EC8F83E174F0B7EFC7":"","90579B4DEA63C3E4":"Andrew Boyens","147403B66C8CB5C7":"256","3F6EEC72E60D52B53E2E6377341938DB":"2","F52748F924D1E675":"90kg","078F3C827B475FC4":"52213","2F200EF80307E2A90BE724565D2038D0":"","0E9052569923A91555E1DAF3C456F9CD":"","816C8DE73A2D153866B49ADDE8EB04C4":"New Zealand","1BB8AF7BD3F66066":"193cm","e_index":2};