Storm Roux
Storm James Roux ( ; born 13 January 1993) is a New Zealand international footballer who plays as a right back who plays for Central Coast Mariners in the A-League. He currently represents the New Zealand national team. Roux played youth football with Sorrento, Football West National Training Centre and Perth Glory youth before making his professional debut with Perth Glory. In 2013, he joined Central Coast Mariners, where he made over 100 appearances before joining Melbourne Victory in 2018. He returned to Central Coast Mariners in 2021. Roux made his debut for the New Zealand national team in  2013, having previously represented New Zealand U-20, including at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Early life. Roux was born in South Africa but moved to New Zealand aged three. He later moved again, to Australia, in his early teens. Despite his multinational childhood, Storm has stated that he considers himself to be primarily a New Zealander, but retains ties to all three nations. In New Zealand, Roux attended Mount Albert Grammar School. Club career. Early years. Roux played junior football for Sorrento after arriving in Australia, before joining Football West National Training Centre and Perth Glory youth. He played  for Football West National Training Centre in the Western Australia State League Premier Division in 2012, in which the NTC was a non-competitive team (unable to receive competition points). Perth Glory. On 26 January 2013, Roux made his A-League debut, coming on as a substitute in Perth Glory's 1–0 loss to Brisbane Roar. Roux came close to scoring with a stinging shot in the 75th minute and coach Ian Ferguson was pleased with his performance saying post match, "I thought Storm Roux did well when he came on". He was subsequently moved to the senior squad for  the remainder of the 2012–13 season, having spent the previous three seasons in the Glory's youth team. Central Coast Mariners. On 8 June 2013, Roux signed a two-year deal with reigning A-League Champions Central Coast Mariners. His competitive debut came in the Mariners' first game of the 2013–14 season, a 1–1 draw with Western Sydney Wanderers, with Roux earning praise from coach Graham Arnold for his performance. He scored his first goal for the club and the only goal of the game in a win over Wellington Phoenix in December 2013 with a calm finish from close -range. Strong performances saw Roux named the December nominee for the A-League Young Footballer of the Year award for 2013–14. The award was eventually given to Adam Taggart. Roux had a solid first season for the Mariners, becoming a regular member of the starting side under new coach Phil Moss. In July 2014, Roux signed a new contract with the Mariners until 2017. Roux was selected by fan vote to play for the A-League All Stars in 2014 against Juventus. He came on as a second-half substitute for Manny Muscat in a 3–2 loss. On 30 January  2016, Roux scored his second goal for the Mariners, again in a win over Wellington, playing a one-two with Luis García before chipping the 'keeper. On 21 February 2016, Roux fell awkwardly whilst attempting to block a shot in a game against Melbourne City, resulting in a broken fibula, damaged ligaments and a dislocated shoulder, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. He returned to training in June 2016 ahead of the 2016–17 season. Roux captained the Mariners for the first time in a draw with Western Sydney Wanderers on 29 October 2016 in the absence of  regular captain Nick Montgomery, and was named man of the match for his performance. In April 2017, he extended his contract with the club until mid-2019. Roux made his 100th A-League appearance in a draw with Adelaide United on 7 February 2018, and made his 100th league appearance for the Mariners one week later. In April 2018, Mariners coach Wayne O'Sullivan refused to comment on speculation that Roux could move to Melbourne Victory. Roux was granted a release from the club on 18 April 2018 to pursue other opportunities. Roux would later say he had felt "stale" at the  Mariners following multiple unsuccessful seasons for the club and Roux's injury issues. Melbourne Victory. Two months after his release from Central Coast Mariners, Roux signed a two-year contract with Melbourne Victory. Roux made his Victory A-League debut in October 2018, setting up a goal for Keisuke Honda in a 2–1 loss in the Melbourne Derby against Melbourne City in their opening game of the 2018–19 A-League. He scored his first goal for the Victory a week later, heading in a corner from Honda in a 3–2 loss to Perth Glory. He scored his second goal for  the Victory on 15 January 2019, again from a corner, in a 5–0 win over Brisbane Roar. Roux was a regular starter at right back in his first season with the Victory. Roux played his 150th A-League game on 25 July 2020, in the Victory's first game following postponement of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, scoring a header in a 2–1 loss to Western United. In September 2020, Roux signed an extension with the Victory to the end of the 2020–21 season. He scored his fourth A-League goal for the Victory in a  5–4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers on 23 April 2021, heading in a corner in the first half. In June 2021, the Victory announced that Roux was one of four players leaving the club at the end of the 2020–21 season. Return to Central Coast Mariners. On 1 October 2021, Central Coast Mariners announced that Roux had returned to the club on a one-year contract. International career. Youth. Storm was a member of the New Zealand U-20 side which won the 2013 OFC U-20 Championship, therefore qualifying for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey. Roux was selected  in the squad for the U-20 World Cup and played in all three of New Zealand's matches as they were eliminated in the group stage. Roux was called up to the under-23 side to play in the 2015 Pacific Games. New Zealand were eliminated in the semifinals after their win over Vanuatu was overturned by the OFC for fielding an ineligible player, causing the side to miss qualification for the 2016 Olympics. Senior. Roux was first named in the New Zealand squad for the two-legged 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification play-off against Mexico in November 2013. After  not playing the first match, Roux made his debut on 20 November 2013 in the second leg in Wellington, a 4–2 loss which, following a 5–1 loss in Mexico, saw New Zealand fail to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Roux was omitted from the New Zealand squad in mid 2015, pending the resolution of eligibility concerns raised by New Zealand's elimination from the 2015 Pacific Games for fielding fellow South Africa-born defender Deklan Wynne. In December 2015, Roux stated that any issues had been resolved and that he was looking forward to returning to the national  squad in 2016. He was absent from the squad for the 2016 OFC Nations Cup due to multiple injury issues. Roux was recalled to the New Zealand squad in May 2017, in the lead-up to the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, having not played for New Zealand since 2015. He was subsequently named in the squad for the Confederations Cup tournament. Personal life. Roux's first child, a son, was born in 2018.