Coaching Chat

Kiwi Coaching Diaspora

43 replies · 14,548 views
03 Jun 11:40 · edited 05 Jun 22:50 · History

Kiwis travel far and wide, so who are they and where are they?

A few starters...

Declan in Swedish lower leagues with Torslanda. 

Cameron Knowles at Portland T2.

James Vaughan, AIK Sweden.

Sean Douglas, FFA Coach Development 

Ceri Evans - whatever happened to his mental skills coaching stint at Arsenal? 

Darren Bazeley - I haven’t been following MLS lately; did he keep his job at Colorado Rapids after Hudson was booted? 

Simon Elliott, Sacramento Republic, USL

Who else?

Kotahitanga. We are one.

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03 Jun 21:15 · edited 03 Jun 21:16 · History

Edit: Posted in error, deleted it :-)

Apparently I'm apathetic, but I couldn't care less.

"Being a Partick Thistle fan sets you apart. It means youre a free thinker. It also means your team has no money." Tim Luckhurst, The Independent, 4th December 2003

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08 Jun 07:55 · edited 08 Jun 10:25 · History

Neil emblem. Colorado rapids

Stu riddle. North Kentucky U

Shane smeltz. Sydney FC U20

Ryan Faithfull. Seattle Sounders Academy

Andy Peat. Vancouver Whitecaps

Mark Holt. Purdue U, Fort Wayne

Ollie Harder. Klepp IL, Norway

Gavin Wilkinson at Timbers in a GM role

Retired?? - Vaughan Coveny, Aaron Lines

Kotahitanga. We are one.

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08 Jun 09:35 · edited 08 Jun 09:35 · History

Simon Elliot? 

Duncan Oughton?

Oops- you got Elliot 



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08 Jun 10:24

martinb wrote:

Simon Elliot? 

Duncan Oughton?

Oops- you got Elliot 

According to wiki Duncan hasn’t coached for 5 years - since being let go by Toronto when Nelsen was sacked.  

Kotahitanga. We are one.

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09 Jun 21:31

Global Game wrote:

martinb wrote:

Simon Elliot? 

Duncan Oughton?

Oops- you got Elliot 

According to wiki Duncan hasn’t coached for 5 years - since being let go by Toronto when Nelsen was sacked.  

Oughton is in business with Ryan Nelsen running a player agency, focusing on kids in the US and getting them into Europe

https://thejourneyfan.blogspot.co.nz/

New Zealand Football Media Association Website of the year 2015 & 2016

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09 Jul 01:21

Global Game wrote:

Ceri Evans - whatever happened to his mental skills coaching stint at Arsenal? 

We were too far gone for him to help unfortuntely.
E + R + O

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01 Sep 08:04

Gareth Turnbull now at Melbourne Victory. Assistant W league coach and Academy coach. 

Kotahitanga. We are one.

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06 Nov 00:16

Elliott sacked by Sacramento. Wonder where the next stop will be? US most likely?

Kotahitanga. We are one.

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29 Nov 04:58

According to The Age, Shane Smeltz has left Sydney FC U20s...to work for Clive Palmer!

Kotahitanga. We are one.

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16 Dec 08:52

Dan Keat. UEFA A Licence. Swedish citizenship. Director of Special Programs, Torslanda IK/Ole

Kotahitanga. We are one.

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04 Jan 01:29 · edited 04 Jan 01:29 · History

Leo Bertos.  Weston Bears NSW Northern NPL

From their Facebook page...

The Weston Workers Bears Football Club are very pleased to announce that Leo Bertos will be joining the Bears senior coaching squad for 2020 and beyond.

After a solid 2019 season Leo will lead our first team and will be very well supported by a great team on and off the park.

Whilst remaining with the Bears Kew Jaliens has had several offers to move to Europe to further his coaching career and we envisage that he will make the move some time in 2020.

Bears President Rod Henderson said “We are very pleased to have a high calibre coach in Leo join our team. We are excited for Kew, we always knew his desire to coach in Europe and expect our relationship with him to last for many years to come. Leo and Kew will work very closely together over the coming months to ensure a seamless transition.

Leo Bertos said, "I am thankful to Weston for giving me the opportunity to further my coach development in the NNSWF NPL. The club has a rich history in our region and I was excited to hear about where the club wants to head in the coming years. I am looking forward to meeting the staff and the playing group and working hard to continue the progress Kew and the squad have had over the last couple of years."

Bertos who has played over 250 professional games and represented New Zealand in 50 plus games including playing in all matches in the 2010 World Cup is a fantastic addition to the club and further enhances the solid foundation the Bears have put in place over the past few years.

Along with the addition of Leo the bears have strengthened their youth and SAP system with the appointment of former Emerging Jets Coach, Chris Akins, as Technical Director and club legend Trevor Morris as the Mentor for our SAP coaches.

Kotahitanga. We are one.

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10 Jan 05:05

US Soccer Pro License

Dec 24, 2019: Cameron Knowles and Simon Elliott complete USA Pro License.

Kotahitanga. We are one.

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24 Jan 04:59 · edited 24 Jan 05:01 · History

Glen Moss rumoured to be heading to Macarthur Rams (sorry, that's the NPL team) Bulls, as GK coach next season. Haven't seen it confirmed by the club yet.

Kotahitanga. We are one.

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26 Jan 05:16

Ricki Herbert now head coach at Ba in Fiji. 

Kotahitanga. We are one.

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29 Mar 05:02

Jake Gleeson.

NCAA Div 1, Saint Mary's College, California

https://smcgaels.com/news/2020/3/25/womens-soccer-wsoc-romagnolo-rounds-out-staff-with-three-hires.aspx

The final piece in the coaching trio is Jake Gleeson. Gleeson will act as the goalkeeping coach and brings nine years of professional playing experience with him. Born and raised in New Zealand, Gleeson played nearly a decade for Major League Soccer's Portland Timbers and spent 2011 to 2018 as a member of the Kiwis' national team. In 2012, he suited up for his country at the Olympic Games in England.

In 2014, Gleeson won the USL Championship while playing on a loan with the Sacramento Republic and posted a shutout in goal to claim the title. He hoisted hardware the very next year as he returned to Portland and helped the Timbers win their first MLS championship in club history.

Gleeson has previous coaching experience with FC Portland as a goalkeepers coach and served as a member of the MLS Players' Association. He is currently in the midst of completing his undergraduate degree from Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand.

"Jake is a wonderful addition to our staff with his high level playing and goalkeeping background," said Romagnolo. 

Kotahitanga. We are one.

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18 Jul 04:50

Global Game wrote:

Glen Moss rumoured to be heading to Macarthur Rams (sorry, that's the NPL team) Bulls, as GK coach next season. Haven't seen it confirmed by the club yet.

Now confirmed

Kotahitanga. We are one.

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16 Sep 09:20 · edited 16 Sep 09:20 · History

Technically not a Kiwi, but Des Buckingham has joined Melbourne City as Assistant coach. 

Kotahitanga. We are one.

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06 Oct 04:13

Darren Bazeley.  Back to NZ as Danny’s assistant and U20 coach. 
Asked the question earlier in the thread whether he was still at Colorado. Didn’t realise he was most recently at Newcastle Jets. 

Kotahitanga. We are one.

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28 Sep 23:45
Won't it be great when Danny leaves?
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01 Dec 07:25
Good signing on paper.
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18 Jan 02:40
Olli Harder (36) received his UEFA Pro Licence in Norway, according to Friends of Football. He's Head Coach at SK Brann Kvinder (women) alongside being their Director of Football, having previously been Head Coach at West Ham women's. 

Brann won the league undefeated in 2021, and in 2022 suffered just one defeat, whilst securing the league and cup gold medals. Their previous Head Coach left to take over Bayern's women's side, and Brann - at least on the men's side - has been described as the Liverpool of Norway in terms of size, pedigree and desire to win. Also worth mention Norway is one of only four countries to have won the Women's World Cup, as well as being a beaten finalist once and two further semifinals, so this is no mean feat.

Also, as it doesn't look to have posted in here, Chris Zorocich was named Head Coach at Newcastle-based, Northern NSW NPL side Cooks Hill United a couple months ago, ahead of this year's season, having left Western Springs after a few years. 
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21 Aug 00:13 · edited 05 Sep 21:09 · History
Really interesting article, for people that have the time to read.
A Kiwi guy who spent 12 years coaching overseas, including 5 years in Fulham's Academy system, and has his UEFA A badge.

Now coaching at OFC, Birkenhead and Westlake Boys. He had sonme very interesting takes on how we should be coaching young kids in NZ, and not over loading them with parental pressure. In his view only the Nix and later Auckland can really say they have proper Academies, sellinng the pro football pathway.

Parents & kids can get misled being in an academy at a amateur club, thinking they are 'elite'. This when the chances of ever being a pro footballer are so very slim. And overall we don't want the UK system with devasted young kids released from an Academy at 16. It doesn't need to be like that in NZ, no need to rush.

Also unlike say Declan, he believes kids can play club & school football in tanderm. But then yeah he does teach at Westlake Boys.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2024/08/20/special-feature-a-conversation-with-high-performance-coach-dave-wright/

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05 Sep 19:41
Nice article. Watched his westlake team lose to sacred heart at nzss nationals semis yesterday. The quality of football was excellent.
 school footy when carefully coordinated in conjunction with clubs can work well. Kids just wanna play!
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02 Oct 06:48 · edited 02 Oct 15:22 · History
Posted in the National League thread, but covering all bases by posting in here again too.
 
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For those wondering, the destination club is definitely a move out of left field, unconventional, and unexpected. Especially so when you consider the amateur status of the domestic scene here. In saying that though, it's an absolutely fantastic move and a real opportunity to develop and forge a career in the game. He's easily been one of the best going around the domestic scene here in NZ over the last few years, and he's only 27!

The formal announcement should happen over the next wee while.
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06 Oct 08:02
Not a Kiwi though tbf.

Three for me, and two for them.

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28 Nov 06:42
Steve Coleman on the move in the USL Championship. Leaves his assistant manager post at Loudoun United after just one season under Ryan Martin.

Announcement on his next move should be coming soon.
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28 Nov 07:09
YoungHeartHM
Steve Coleman on the move in the USL Championship. Leaves his assistant manager post at Loudoun United after just one season under Ryan Martin.

Announcement on his next move should be coming soon.

Hopefully doesn't affect fellow ex Nixer Riley Bidois in any way at Loudoun.


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28 Nov 07:44 · edited 28 Nov 07:44 · History
coochiee
YoungHeartHM
Steve Coleman on the move in the USL Championship. Leaves his assistant manager post at Loudoun United after just one season under Ryan Martin.

Announcement on his next move should be coming soon.

Hopefully doesn't affect fellow ex Nixer Riley Bidois in any way at Loudoun.



Think Riley will be fine. Hopefully with a full pre season under his belt, and if he can remain injury free, then he'll do well next year.
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28 Jan 20:07
Took a bit longer than I thought it would for the announcement of his new club, but it's finally been confirmed.

Joining Tampa Bay Rowdies for the 2025 USL Championship season.

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12 Apr 02:41


Doesn't give too much info does this release. But Steve Coleman has been promoted to interim Head Coach at Tampa Bay Rowdies.

They face high flying Loudoun United tomorrow - His former employer.
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02 Sep 23:27
Not Kiwis as such I presume.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/09/03/former-nz-football-coaching-staff-set-to-reunite-at-saudi-pro-league-club/

Two backroom coaching staff members with New Zealand links are leaving English Championship club Oxford United and are reportedly set to join Saudi Pro League club Al Kholood.

Joe Moore and Luke Taylor are expected to join former New Zealand U-23 coach Des Buckingham, who has recently taken over as head coach at Al Kholood.

Buckingham hired Moore and Taylor in November 2023 when he was Oxford United’s head coach.

Moore spent three years as head of performance analysis for NZ Football from 2019-2022, working with Buckingham who was the national U-23 coach at the time.

Moore has also worked for clubs, including Arsenal and Fulham, as an analyst.

Taylor worked as a strength and conditioning coach with the New Zealand men’s national team in 2019.

He also has experience with the English FA, the Wales women’s national team and a brief spell with Aston Villa.

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07 Oct 01:20
Former New Zealand captain Chris Zoricich has left his role as head coach at Australian club Cooks Hill United after being linked with a move to Brisbane.

He has been replaced by another coach from New Zealand, Hawke’s Bay’s Jamie Dunning, who will combine roles at United and at the Newcastle Jets, where he has recently been named as assistant coach of their women’s A-League squad.

Zoricich (56), who earned 58 caps for New Zealand over a 15-year period, left Northern League club Western Springs, where he was head of men’s football, to join Cooks Hill in 2023.

United were promoted to the Northern New South Wales National Premier League in 2022, the second tier of Australian football, and Zoricich took them into the last 16 of this year’s Australia Cup.

Media reports have speculated that Zoricich is close to relocating to Queensland to take a full-time coaching job.

Cook Hills United have announced Dunning will take over from Zoricich, while continuing his role with the Newcastle Jets.

Dunning will work with the Jets’ new women’s head coach, Stephen Hoyle, who previously worked for Central Football and played for Napier City Rovers.

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