Searches for “Paul Coll biography” usually land on a thin Wikipedia stub. This profile digs into Paul Coll’s career titles, height and world No.1 ranking history, plus what still keeps the “Man of Steel” inside the world top 10 as of 2026. His story pairs small-town New Zealand grit with a retrieval game that grinds champions down.
Peter Marshall (left) and Scott Handley (right) at the British Masters Open 2018 – CC CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Quick facts: Paul Coll
Detail
Information
Birthplace
Greymouth, New Zealand
Born
February 9, 1992
Height
5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) reported
Turned pro
2011
Highest ranking
World No.1 (2021-2022)
World titles
1 (2022)
Nickname
The Man of Steel
Early life
Coll grew up in Greymouth, a small town on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island where rugby dominates. He picked up squash as a child and moved to Hamilton as a teenager for better coaching, then spent his early twenties building a ranking across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Career highlights
Year
Milestone
2015
Breaks into the world top 50
2018
Enters the world top 20
2019
Reaches the world top 10
2021
Becomes the first Kiwi to reach world No.1
2022
Wins the PSA World Championship in Cairo
2023-24
Battles an Achilles injury but stays in the top 10
2025-26
Still ranked inside the world’s top 10
His 2022 World Championship final — five games against Ali Farag — remains a career-defining win and made Coll New Zealand’s first male world squash champion.
Playing style
Coll’s game runs on an almost superhuman engine and the ability to retrieve anything. Over the years he has added attack to keep rivals honest.
Shot / Skill
How it shows on court
Retrieval
Widely called the best in the men’s game
Fitness
Improves deep into five-set matches
Length
Deep drives that push rivals behind the box
Volley
Sharper since 2020; punishes loose shots
Drop
Reliable counter-drop from deep
Mentality
Thrives in tight fifth-game finishes
A court for playing squash. Photo taken in The Hague and with permission from th – CC CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rivalries
Coll’s defining rivalry is with Ali Farag: their 2022 final is a modern classic. He has also traded heavy five-setters with both ElShorbagy brothers, and his physical clashes with Mostafa Asal are among the tour’s most intense.
National team role
As New Zealand’s leading player, Coll anchors the national side at World Team Championships and the Commonwealth Games, where he has claimed singles medals. He has raised squash’s profile in a country historically obsessed with rugby.
What’s next
At 34, Coll’s fitness-first game ages well. His 2023-24 Achilles issues are managed, and he continues to reach the late rounds of major events. A second world title remains a realistic goal.
Paul Coll was born in Greymouth, a small town on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. He moved to Hamilton as a teenager and has represented New Zealand throughout his career.
How tall is Paul Coll?
Coll stands about 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m). His compact build and low centre of gravity help him maintain the balance his retrieval game depends on.
How many world titles has Paul Coll won?
Coll won the men’s title at the 2022 PSA World Championships in Cairo, beating Ali Farag in a five-game final. He is the first New Zealand man to win the world squash championship.
Is Paul Coll still playing in 2026?
Yes. As of September 2026, Coll remains an active player on the PSA Tour, still ranked inside the world top 10 and regularly reaching the late rounds of major events.
Racquet sports player and writer covering pickleball, padel, tennis, badminton, and squash. Former collegiate tennis player turned recreational pickleball enthusiast. Jackson writes beginner-friendly guides to help new players get on court faster.
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