Bill Tuiloma
New Zealand All Whites defender Bill Tuiloma playing in their 2014 World Cup Qualification match against Mexico in November 2013
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bill Poni Tuiloma | ||
| Date of birth | 27 March 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Otahuhu, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Playing position | Full back, defensive midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
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Current team
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Marseille | ||
| Number | 25 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2011 | Birkenhead United | ||
| 2011 | Asia–Pacific FA | ||
| 2011–2012 | Waitakere United | ||
| 2012–2013 | Birkenhead United | ||
| 2012–2013 | LA Galaxy | ||
| 2013–2015 | Marseille | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2012 | Waitakere United | 1 | (0) |
| 2013– | Marseille B | 35 | (3) |
| 2015– | Marseille | 2 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | → Strasbourg (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2011 | New Zealand U17 | 6 | (1) |
| 2013–2015 | New Zealand U20 | 9 | (1) |
| 2015 | New Zealand U23 | 3 | (1) |
| 2013– | New Zealand | 16 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 December 2016. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 November 2016 |
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Bill Poni Tuiloma is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a left or right fullback or defensive midfielder for Marseille. Tuiloma has represented New Zealand since 2013 and is the first New Zealander to play in the top division of French football. His preferred position is defensive midfielder.
Tuiloma is of Samoan descent. He attended Lincoln High School.
He has trialled with the LA Galaxy and Queens Park Rangers, as well as spending time with the Asia–Pacific Football Academy in Christchurch.
Tuiloma signed a deal with Marseille in July 2013. In a 2013 interview Tuiloma was questioned about his journey from somewhat football obscurity to his eventual move to Olympique de Marseille. He stated: "I went to QPR and trialled there for a week and somehow, I think they have a connection with Marseille, because Joey Barton was with Marseille for a little while, so I think that’s where they have the connection… So I went there for a week, trialled, played a game as well, came back and got some good feedback from them, and then a few months later they wanted to sign me. I was over the moon, I was speechless, it was really good news for me". He also admitted that he had little knowledge about the club before signing, stating: "To be honest, I only knew Joey Barton played there, that was pretty much it, I didn’t know much about Marseille or who played for them, I had a little bit of info there but that was pretty much it". He also admitted that Queens Park Rangers and Wellington Phoenix were also interested in signing him if the Marseille deal fell through.
Tuiloma made his first-team debut for Marseille on 7 February 2015, when he came on as a late substitute against Rennes.
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