New Zealand Football is set to find an ideal candidate to move the men’s national team forward.

Chief executive Andrew Pragnell says the search will be extensive with no stone left unturned.

“Alongside the Football Ferns, the All Whites are our flagship national team,” he says.

“We are therefore committed to engaging in a very thorough search and are expecting that to take a minimum of at least three months but hope to have a coach in place for the FIFA November window when the All Whites take on Ireland.”

The recruitment will include a re-examination of all aspects of the role.

Pragnell says that it is a good opportunity to review what the position entails.

“This will give us the chance to take a close look at the job description to ensure it is fit for purpose and meets the needs of what we require,” he says.

“We’ll be looking at the scope of the role and consideration will be given to appointing someone for a longer term.”

The main on-pitch goal for the next All Whites head coach will be earning a berth at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the qualification path for which begins for New Zealand in 2020.

In the immediate term, Des Buckingham has been appointed head coach of the national U-23 men’s team through to the 2020 Toyko Olympics.

The 34-year-old recently took charge of New Zealand’s march to a Round of 16 place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland and is also an assistant coach for the All Whites.

His priority in taking the U-23 national team will be the OFC Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which is set to take place in Fiji from 21 September to 5 October. The winner will qualify for the men’s football tournament at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

As part of New Zealand’s preparations for the qualifying tournament, Buckingham will take an U-23 squad to Samoa next month to compete against senior sides from other Oceania nations in the Pacific Games. New Zealand have been drawn in Pool A and will meet Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.

A squad will be brought together for a training camp in Auckland next week prior to departure for the Pacific Games, which runs in Apia from 8 to 20 July.

The application process for the All Whites head coaching role will open shortly.

Article added: Thursday 27 June 2019