Some high profile coaching appointments are being revealed as Auckland and Waikato clubs prepare for their 2022 seasons.
Recent announcements include:
Auckland United – José Figueira
Figueira (39) (main photo) joins Northern League club United after compiling an impressive coaching record with national age group teams and champion club Auckland City.
His CV includes three NZ National League titles, two Oceania Champions League titles and two campaigns in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Figueira replaces Hiroshi Miyazawa who has joined the coaching staff at India Super League club Mumbai City (click here for more details >>>>)
United Director of Football Jo Dawkins: “His success over the past decade speaks for itself and his experience will go a long way to help our club achieve its goal of being the best football club in New Zealand.”
Figueira: “I am excited to be joining an organisation that has both the ambition, people and resources to become one of New Zealand’s top clubs.”
Northern Rovers – Paul Gothard
Former All Whites and Wellington Phoenix goalkeeping coach Paul Gothard has been appointed head coach at Northern League club Northern Rovers.
Gothard (47) has multiple qualifications including OFC/NZF B, FA/UEFA Goalkeeping B, FFA L3 Advanced, AFC B and L2 Advanced Goalkeeper Licences.
After a professional career in the lower leagues of English football, and representing his country in the England C team, Gothard joined Auckland City and focussed on his coaching.
He will head up the Juniors and Men’s areas of the club and be Head Coach of the Premier Men’s team. His assistant for the Premier Men’s team will be Paul Rhodes.
Manukau United – Rudy Mozr
Manukau United have appointed Rudy Mozr as their Technical Director and head coach for the club’s Northern League first-team “for 2022, and beyond”.
Mozr joined the South Auckland club at the start of 2021, and took over the first team coaching reins from former All Whites coach Kevin Fallon during the Northern League season.
The holder of a UEFA A Licence, Mozr was previously head coach at Bucklands Beach (2019-21), after two years working with the Auckland Football Federation. He had also been head coach of Eastern Suburbs’ youth team (2015-2017).
On his appointment, Mozr said: “The long term agreement shows the commitment that both the club and I have for this project and I’m very happy for the opportunity given. I will work my hardest to get the club high in the football map here in New Zealand and hopefully beyond.”
Hibiscus Coast – Adam Dickinson
Dickinson joins Coast as its Technical Director of Football, replacing Mauricio Rojas who steps down after six years in the role.
Since moving to New Zealand from England, where he played for clubs including Tranmere Rovers, Dickinson excelled as a player winning five FIFA OFC Champions medals with Auckland City.
Since focussing on coaching, he has led Forrest Hill to promotion to the NRFL Premier Division, and was head coach at Northern Rovers in the club’s inaugural season.
Coast president Scott Beard: “We can see that his experience, passion and commitment will be a real asset to our local community, staff, supporters and volunteers, and most importantly our players and coaches at every level.”
Changes at Waikato clubs
Hamilton Wanderers head coach Kale Herbert has left to relocate to the Wellington region where he will become head coach for Wairarapa United.
Herbert: “Having previously lived and played in Wellington, I’ve always tried to keep tabs on football in the region, and it’s been great to see Wairarapa United cement themselves in the Central League. After speaking with the chairman (James Taylor) there is a really promising vision for the future of the club, and I’m really looking forward to starting my next chapter at Wairarapa United.”
Wanderers have yet to announce Herbert’s replacement.
Click here for more about Herbert’s move south >>>>
Meanwhile, Paul Richardson has left Lotto NRFL second division club Cambridge where he has been replaced by co-coaches Bradley Rea and Antony Meiklejohn.
Rea is a full-time coach with the Ricki Herbert Football Academy while Meiklejohn was previously first team coach at WaiBOP Premiership club Papamoa.
Richardson has joined Lotto NRFL second division rivals Claudelands Rovers where he teams up with head coach Mark Cossey.
