The announcement leaves All Whites fans in limbo with Nelsen confirming he had not spoken to New Zealand Football to discuss his international future.
“I haven’t had a chance to talk to the coach or the chairman of New Zealand Football and I’ll be talking to them very soon,” Nelsen says.
The 35-year-old is under contract with English Premier League side Queens Park Rangers until June 30 but has requested to enter dialogue with boss Harry Redknapp to discuss when he will join up with his new club.
“Harry Redknapp and Tony Fernandes, the owner of QPR, are fantastic people. They are such nice people. I’ve got some obligations at QPR that we have just got to go through. It has been a bit of whirlwind so there are some details we have to go through.”
Nelsen says with his body struggling to cope with the demands of top-flight football he knew an end to his playing career was nearing.
“I’ve had several conversations with Harry and Tony. They understand that when I play I am playing on glass knees and glass ankles. It is a bit of a struggle.
“They know I am at the end but they also know the predicament. Getting out of the English Premier League has major financial implications and there is a lot of pressure from fans, the media and so on, so I have an obligation.
“I really want QPR to stay up and to kick on for Harry and because of the owner. They are just fantastic people. They would like me to keep playing but we have to sit down and talk. If we can get five straight wins, that would be perfect.”
In the meantime, Nelsen will be available for QPR’s fixture against Tottenham this weekend.
President and general manager Kevin Payne – who was in charge at DC United during Nelsen’s spell there from 2001 to 2005, which included an MLS title in 2004 – hailed it as a “new era” for Toronto FC and lauded Nelsen’s leadership qualities.
“From the day Ryan arrived in DC as a 23-year-old player I always knew he would be a head coach someday,” Payne says.
“I believe his leadership qualities, intelligence, preparation and character will contribute to his success as a coach. I couldn’t ask for a better person to lead our club.”
Nelsen does not currently hold any coaching badges but assistant coach Fran O’Leary has years of coaching experience at NCAA level and also has the top American coaching licence and recently completed his UEFA “A” course.
The pair already have a working relationship after Nelsen volunteered to work with O’Leary as an assistant coach at George Mason during his first season with DC United.
Nelsen currently has 49 ‘A’ international caps for the All Whites after making his debut in 1999, the last of which came against Tahiti in his hometown of Christchurch in October last year.
The All Whites’ next FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers against New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands are scheduled for March.
For more on New Zealand Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

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