Riki van Steeden

Riki van Steeden is a former professional association football player, who played as a defender. He was part of the Auckland City team at the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup, and played five times for the New Zealand national team in 1997.

Club career

Van Steeden played for Nelson Suburbs and Christchurch Technical before he moved to Australia to join Carlton SC. In 1999, he joined the Football Kingz for their inaugural season in the National Soccer League, appearing 48 times and scoring 2 goals. Van Steeden moved to Auckland City in 2005, making 26 appearances and netting 2 goals, including the winner in Auckland City’s 3-2 FIFA Club World Cup win over 10-man African champions TP Mazembe in 2009.
Van Steeden stood in for head coach Ramon Tribulietx in Auckland's home game against Hawke's Bay United in December 2013. Van Steeden retired from playing in 2013, and joined the Auckland coaching staff as assistant to Tribulietx.

International career

Van Steeden made his full debut for the New Zealand national team in a 1–0 win over Fiji on 7 June 1997. He earned five international caps, scoring one goal. His final cap was a substitute appearance in a 5–0 loss to Indonesia on 21 September that same year.

Outside football

After retiring from football, Van Steeden worked as a television producer for Sky New Zealand. He later joined HBS as an expert live-sports director. He helps co-ordinate multiple high-profile events all over the world, including broadcasting services for FIFA tournaments and the CONCACAF Gold Cup.