'Mate, it’s time': How a haircut changed the career of All Whites star

By Michael Burgess in San Diego

For All Whites defender Finn Surman, getting a haircut helped changed the course of his career.

Sure, it sounds crazy - or even a bit bizarre, but it is actually true.

In a genuine reverse-Samson moment, there is a bit of a correlation with Surman’s rise as a footballer – which has been rapid over the last three years - and having his locks shorn.

“Honestly yes - I would say yes, a little bit,” Surman tells the Herald.

“When I cut it, [it] wasn’t like I could change my persona as such - but it does put a little bit in your mind. And maybe it puts something in someone else’s mind as well if they see me with a skinhead, they’re going to think something different, as opposed to if I have long hair.

“I know I would think that if someone has long hair on the pitch, I’m going to [think] something different of them, as opposed to having a shaved head.”

It’s a curious episode and obviously not the most important factor in Surman’s rapid rise since June 2023, where he has gone from a fringe Wellington Phoenix player to a starting All White.

A haircut in 2023 helped change the course of Finn Surman's career. Photo / Photosport

But it was important. There are urban myths around that some of his former Phoenix teammates – including ex-Manchester centre back Scott Wootton - told the youngster to lose his floppy hair if he wanted to be taken seriously as a defender, which is only partially correct.

“I can’t really remember the origin of it,” Surman says. “I remember a few different people telling me to get my hair cut and because the stories come up, people always just think it’s because someone told me to. [But] I always wanted to go short on my hair, I just never did. People telling me was the last straw and I was like, ‘why not just go shorter and get it out of my face’.

“It was pretty long - it did get in the way. I don’t know if it is about getting taken seriously but it just looks a lot more serious when you have a sharper haircut or short hair.”

So, in March 2023, Surman walked into his local barber – House of Handsome in Kilbirnie – and asked the owner Dali for a number two.

“I said ‘Mate, it’s time,’” Surman laughs. “I had talked to him about it before and now we are doing it.”

It feels like being taken seriously as a defender is important for Surman. For a young guy, he’s old school. A former All White once described him as a “defender’s defender”, while former Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano told the Herald earlier this year that Surman was “old fashioned ... in a good way”.

“He’s the kind of player that strikers hate,” Italiano said. “He reads the game well, he’s strong and he’s tough.”

The player is unequivocal.

“I want to be a player that’s relied upon to be able to defend well,” Surman says. “My biggest pet hate is defenders that aren’t good at defending. That always confuses me and annoys me.”

Finn Surman in action during the All Whites' pre-World Cup friendly against England. Photo / Photosport

For someone so young, Surman has a precocious ability to be in the right place, especially when it comes to blocks and crosses. That was shown again in the England match last Sunday in Florida, as he got in the way on numerous occasions to de-escalate dangerous situations.

“I’ve always had the willingness to get in front of the ball,” Surman explains.

“As I’ve gotten older I’ve learnt more about how to read what the attack is going to do. It’s a mix of anticipation, trying to work out what they’re thinking and then just a knack of doing it.”

Surman has learned from several mentors over the years and it’s something he continues to study, game by game, training session after training session. While getting your foot, leg or torso in the way looks simple, there is a lot more than meets the eye.

“I’m looking at a lot of different things and just trying to take in as much information as I can,” Surman said.

“There is obviously the simple stuff like what foot are they, what are they stronger with, what type of shots do they like to take. But then also if you look at someone’s face you might see what they’re thinking. You can read a bit off that and that might give you a clue.

“Then it might just be a feeling ... you think he is going to shoot on this angle or whatever and then it’s just about timing. Can you execute, move your feet fast enough and move your hips fast enough to get to wherever you think it’s gonna go.”

But back to the haircut. It was, in some small way, the start of something.

Surman performed with aplomb at the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Argentina a few months later – the captain and standout player of the New Zealand team at the tournament, which helped his confidence ahead of a strong off-season with the Phoenix. Under then-coach Italiano, he had his breakthrough campaign.

After making just four appearances in the 2022/23 A-League men’s season - for a total of 148 minutes – he was an ever-present (27 matches) in the following one, where the Phoenix managed their highest-ever points tally and were one game away from making the A-League grand final.

That led to the move to the Portland Timbers in the MLS, where he has flourished beyond all expectations, best illustrated when he was given the captain’s armband for a match in his first season, as a 21-year-old.

“That was a super special moment,” Surman recalls.

“The coach just pulled me aside and said, ‘How do you feel about being captain tomorrow? I was like, wow, that’ll be pretty special. He said, you deserve it, don’t do anything different.”

All Whites defender Finn Surman. Photo / Photosport

After taking a while to establish himself, Surman is now one of the first picked at the MLS club. He has started every game this season and been skipper on six occasions.

That progress has been reflected at All Whites level, where he is one of the most important elements of Darren Bazeley’s team. Across the last year he has started in 11 of 12 matches for the national team, only missing out for the game against the Socceroos in Canberra, Australia.

It’s quite an achievement, considering the depth in his position. Tyler Bindon has turned heads in the Championship and is signed for Nottingham Forest, while the ageless Michael Boxall (37) has been around the All Whites scene since 2011. Then there’s Nando Pijnaker, who was a first-choice player under Danny Hay and started the 2022 Intercontinental World Cup playoff against Costa Rica.

Bazeley has yet to reveal his starting XI for the Iran match on Tuesday (1pm NZT), but Surman is almost certain to be there, given the track record.

He has become a vital lieutenant for Bazeley and gave a reminder of his worth again against England in Tampa, Florida.

“I don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet, the scale of it, and just the fact that I am at a World Cup,” Surman says.

“That’ll come a little bit later down the line, but I’m super excited just for the opportunity to represent my country and be at a World Cup.”

Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.

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