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Des Buckingham (born 7 February 1985) is an English professional
football manager ''Football Manager'', also known as ''Worldwide Soccer Manager'' in North America from 2004 to 2008, is a series of football management simulation video games developed by British developer Sports Interactive and published by Sega. The game beg ...
who was most recently the head coach of club
Oxford United Oxford United Football Club () is a professional association football, football club based in Oxford, England. The club compete in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football league system, English football. Founded as Headingto ...
. Buckingham became the youngest head coach in the history of the
A-League A-League Men, also known as the Isuzu UTE A-League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional soccer league in Australia and New Zealand and the highest level of the Australian soccer league system. Established in 2004 as the A-League by the ...
during the 2016–17 A-League season.


Playing career

Born in
Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...
, England, Buckingham had spells in the youth and reserve teams of English sides
Reading Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of symbols, often specifically those of a written language, by means of Visual perception, sight or Somatosensory system, touch. For educators and researchers, reading is a multifacete ...
and
Oxford United Oxford United Football Club () is a professional association football, football club based in Oxford, England. The club compete in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football league system, English football. Founded as Headingto ...
. He initially began coaching in his teenage years with the Oxford junior sides, and later additionally joined Oxford & Cherwell Valley College in a full-time coaching and teaching role over a four-year period.


Coaching career


Oxford United

Buckingham began his professional coaching career at
Oxford United Oxford United Football Club () is a professional association football, football club based in Oxford, England. The club compete in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football league system, English football. Founded as Headingto ...
at the age of 18, initially working through the club's age-group squads.


Wellington Phoenix

After stints as a grassroots development manager at
WaiBOP United WaiBOP United (known as Waikato FC until 2013) was a football club based in Hamilton, New Zealand. The club was founded in 2004 and disbanded in 2016 and played in the ASB Premiership. WaiBOP United played their home fixtures at John Kerkhof ...
and the Wellington region member federation of
New Zealand Football New Zealand Football () is the governing body for the sport of association football in New Zealand. It oversees the seven New Zealand Football federations, as well as the New Zealand men's national football team (nicknamed the "All Whites"), th ...
, Buckingham joined the Wellington Phoenix during the 2014–15 A-League season under head coach Ernie Merrick. His initial role was goalkeeping coach. Before the start of the 2016–17 season he was made assistant coach. Merrick resigned from the club in early December 2016 at which point Buckingham was made the interim head coach. In early 2017, after four games as interim coach, he was appointed as manager until the end of the season. At 31 years of age, he became the youngest manager in
A-League A-League Men, also known as the Isuzu UTE A-League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional soccer league in Australia and New Zealand and the highest level of the Australian soccer league system. Established in 2004 as the A-League by the ...
history and was able to lift the club off the bottom of the table, finishing one place outside the playoffs at the end of the season.


Stoke City

In July, 2017 Buckingham was granted permission to leave Wellington Phoenix and take up a role at Stoke City, then in the
Premier League The Premier League is a professional association football league in England and the highest level of the English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Football Lea ...
, as an assistant coach with their under-23 team.


New Zealand Football

A return to New Zealand in 2018 saw Buckingham appointed as head coach of the New Zealand U20 team and assistant manager of the senior national team.


New Zealand U20

In August, 2018 Buckingham led the team to the 2018 OFC U-19 Championship, qualifying for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. At the World Cup, Buckingham's New Zealand side recorded their highest ever finish at a men's FIFA tournament, eventually being knocked out by
Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...
in the round of 16 after a controversial penalty shoot-out. The team also posted New Zealand's biggest ever win at a FIFA tournament, a 5–0 win over
Honduras Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Fonseca, ...
, becoming the first New Zealand team to win back-to-back games at a FIFA event; the team also recorded their first ever win over European opposition with a 2–0 win over
Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...
. Buckingham earned plaudits for the team's quality of football and style of play. Former
All Whites The New Zealand men's national football team () represents New Zealand in men's international football competitions. The team is governed by the governing body for football in New Zealand, New Zealand Football (NZF), which is currently a memb ...
Ricki Herbert Ricki Lloyd Herbert (born 10 April 1961) is a New Zealand former footballer and manager. He is the current director of football at Hamilton Wanderers AFC. Herbert was formerly head coach of the New Zealand national team, stepping down after ...
and Wynton Rufer praised the positive and attacking approach to winning games rarely seen before in New Zealand.


New Zealand U23

Despite being linked to clubs in the
English Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional association football, football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, it is the oldest football league in Association football around the world, the w ...
and
A-League A-League Men, also known as the Isuzu UTE A-League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional soccer league in Australia and New Zealand and the highest level of the Australian soccer league system. Established in 2004 as the A-League by the ...
, Buckingham accepted the New Zealand U23 managerial position in June 2019, leading the side into the
2019 Pacific Games The 16th Pacific Games (), also known as Apia 2019, were held from 7 to 20 July 2019. The Games were held in Apia, Samoa, returning there for the first time since 2007. It was the third time overall that the Pacific Games were held in Samoa. The ...
and OFC Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Buckingham guided New Zealand to its first-ever gold medal at the
2019 Pacific Games The 16th Pacific Games (), also known as Apia 2019, were held from 7 to 20 July 2019. The Games were held in Apia, Samoa, returning there for the first time since 2007. It was the third time overall that the Pacific Games were held in Samoa. The ...
, leading an U-23 side through an otherwise senior international competition undefeated. On 5 October 2019, Buckingham led New Zealand to its third
Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games (Olympics; ) are the world's preeminent international Olympic sports, sporting events. They feature summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a Multi-s ...
, qualifying for
Tokyo 2020 The officially the and officially branded as were an international multi-sport event that was held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some of the preliminary sporting events beginning on 21 July 2021. Tokyo ...
by winning the OFC U-23 Championship. In doing so, the team became the most dominant men's side to have played in an
Oceania Football Confederation The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is one of the six continental confederations of international association football. The OFC has 13 members, 11 of which are full members and two which are associate members not affiliated with FIFA. It ...
competition by winning all five games and finishing with a goal difference of +29. The New Zealand U23 side remained unbeaten during his tenure, winning nine and drawing three of 12 games.
New Zealand Football New Zealand Football () is the governing body for the sport of association football in New Zealand. It oversees the seven New Zealand Football federations, as well as the New Zealand men's national football team (nicknamed the "All Whites"), th ...
announced that Buckingham would leave his role as coach of the under-23 side in April 2020, despite a large group of players writing to the governing body to request his retention as coach. Buckingham's contract was not extended following delays caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
and the postponement of the
2020 Summer Olympics The officially the and officially branded as were an international multi-sport event that was held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some of the preliminary sporting events beginning on 21 July 2021. Tokyo ...
and he was replaced by Danny Hay. Buckingham was named Men's Coach of the year at New Zealand Football Awards 2020.


Melbourne City

In September 2020, Buckingham joined
A-League A-League Men, also known as the Isuzu UTE A-League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional soccer league in Australia and New Zealand and the highest level of the Australian soccer league system. Established in 2004 as the A-League by the ...
club Melbourne City as Assistant Coach after being identified by the
City Football Group City Football Group Limited (CFG) is a British-based holding company that administers association football clubs. The group is owned by three organisations, of which 81% is majority-owned by Abu Dhabi United Group, 18% by the American firm Silve ...
. He managed the team on multiple occasions in the absence of Patrick Kisnorbo, when was injured or ill. In his first season, Melbourne City claimed their maiden
A-League A-League Men, also known as the Isuzu UTE A-League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional soccer league in Australia and New Zealand and the highest level of the Australian soccer league system. Established in 2004 as the A-League by the ...
trophy in the team's eleven-year history, winning the league to secure the A-League Premiers Plate. The team completed the double a month later, winning their first A-League Grand Final.


Mumbai City


2021–22 season

On 8 October 2021, Buckingham was appointed as the head coach of
Indian Super League The Indian Super League (ISL) is a professional association football league in India and the highest level of the Indian football league system. Administered by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its commercial partner Football Sport ...
club Mumbai City of the City Football Group on a two-year contract. Under his management, the club began its 2021–22 season campaign with a 3–0 win on 22 November against Goa. In Buckingham's first season in charge, Mumbai City finished the season in fifth place, amassing 31 points from 20 games. On 11 April 2022, Buckingham led City to their first win at the
AFC Champions League The AFC Champions League Elite (abbreviated as the ACL Elite) is an annual continental club association football, football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation, and contested by Asia's List of top-division football clubs i ...
, becoming the first Indian team to win a game in the competition, beating Iraqi Premier League champions
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya () is an Iraqi sports club based in Al-Rusafa, Iraq, Rusafa District, Baghdad that competes in the Iraq Stars League, the top-flight of Football in Iraq, Iraqi football. Founded in 1931, it is the oldest existing club in Iraq. ...
2–1 at the King Fahd International Stadium in Saudi Arabia. Buckingham's side became the most successful Indian Club to compete in the AFC Champions League, finishing second in Group B, with results against Al-Jazira and
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya () is an Iraqi sports club based in Al-Rusafa, Iraq, Rusafa District, Baghdad that competes in the Iraq Stars League, the top-flight of Football in Iraq, Iraqi football. Founded in 1931, it is the oldest existing club in Iraq. ...
adding to their second-round win. Mumbai City and Buckingham won praise for their fearless approach and positive playing style at the tournament.


2022–23 season

On 18 August 2022, under Buckingham, Mumbai City made their
Durand Cup The Durand Cup (also called the IndianOil Durand Cup Powered by Coal India Limited for sponsorship reasons) is an annual domestic football competition in India which was first held in 1888 in Annadale, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Hosted by the ...
debut with a 4–1 win over
Indian Navy The Indian Navy (IN) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the Navy, maritime and Amphibious warfare, amphibious branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of the Naval Staff (India), Chief ...
. The team progressed to the knockout stages, finishing top of their five-team group that included
Indian Super League The Indian Super League (ISL) is a professional association football league in India and the highest level of the Indian football league system. Administered by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its commercial partner Football Sport ...
clubs ATK Mohun Bagan and
East Bengal East Bengal (; ''Purbô Bangla/Purbôbongo'') was the eastern province of the Dominion of Pakistan, which covered the territory of modern-day Bangladesh. It consisted of the eastern portion of the Bengal region, and existed from 1947 until 195 ...
. Mumbai City advanced through the quarter-final stage, beating Chennaiyin before securing a win over Mohammedan in the semi-finals to make their first ever Durand Cup Final. Mumbai City finished as runners-up in the tournament after a 2–1 loss to
Bengaluru Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore (List of renamed places in India#Karnataka, its official name until 1 November 2014), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the southern States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kar ...
in the final on 18 September 2022. Mumbai City won the
Indian Super League The Indian Super League (ISL) is a professional association football league in India and the highest level of the Indian football league system. Administered by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its commercial partner Football Sport ...
(ISL) on 11 February 2023 after an 18-match unbeaten streak, the longest in ISL history. Buckingham's side broke fifteen records while securing the title, including the most points and goals scored in a single season, while also having the best goal difference, most league wins and longest winning streak in the history of the competition. On 4 April 2023, Buckingham's team sealed a place in the 2023 AFC Champions League group stage after defeating
Jamshedpur Jamshedpur (; ), also known as Tatanagar, is a major industrial city in eastern India. It is the List of cities in Jharkhand by population, largest city in the state of Jharkhand. With a population of 629,658 in the city limits and 1.3 million ...
3–1 in a play-off final, the first Indian Club to secure consecutive qualification to the pinnacle of Asian club football. In May 2023, Buckingham was voted Coach of the Year by the Indian Players Football Association.


2023–24 season

Buckingham began the 23–24 season with the 2023 Durand Cup, where Mumbai were drawn in a group with
Jamshedpur FC Jamshedpur Football Club (, ) is an Indian professional association football, football club based in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, that competes in the Indian Super League (ISL), the top flight of Indian football league system, Indian football. Founde ...
, Mohammedan SC, and the Indian Navy football team. Mumbai won all three games of the group stage with a +11 goal difference, but ended up losing in the quarter-final to eventual winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant. Ahead of the
Indian Super League The Indian Super League (ISL) is a professional association football league in India and the highest level of the Indian football league system. Administered by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its commercial partner Football Sport ...
season, Mumbai's next match was in the 2023-24 AFC Champions League against F.C. Nassaji Mazandaran on 18 September 2023, where Mumbai were defeated 2–0. Mumbai played their first ISL match of the season away against
NorthEast United FC NorthEast United Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in Guwahati, Assam that competes in the Indian Super League (ISL), the top flight of Indian football. The club was founded on 13 April 2014 during the inaugural sea ...
on 24 September 2023, winning 2–1 with a Jorge Pereyra Diaz brace securing the win. Buckingham's last match as Mumbai manager came on 6 November 2023, in a 2–0 loss to Saudi Arabian team Al Hilal. Ten days later, on November 16, Mumbai confirmed Buckingham's departure from the club.


Return to Oxford United

On 16 November 2023, Buckingham returned to League One club Oxford United on a long-term contract as head coach. He led Oxford to promotion to the
Championship In sport, a championship is a competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion. Championship systems Various forms of competition can be referred to by the term championship. Title match system In this sys ...
at the end of the season, defeating
Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers Football Club ( ) is a professional association football, football club based in Horwich, Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, which competes in EFL League One, League One, the third level of the Englis ...
in the play-off final at
Wembley Wembley () is a large suburbIn British English, "suburb" often refers to the secondary urban centres of a city. Wembley is not a suburb in the American sense, i.e. a single-family residential area outside of the city itself. in the London Borou ...
. After making a reasonable start in the Championship in 2024–25, he was sacked on 15 December 2024 with the club in 20th place after a run of poor results, a decision that surprised and disappointed many supporters.


Personal life

He was inducted into the 2019 edition of the High Performance Sport New Zealand Coach Accelerator Programme, a three-year programme aimed at developing and increasing New Zealand's pool of coaches.


Managerial statistics


Honours

New Zealand U20 * OFC U-20 Championship:
2018 Events January * January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency. * January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...
New Zealand U23 *
Pacific Games The Pacific Games (French: Jeux du Pacifique), is a continent, continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from Oceania. The inaugural Games took place in 1963 South Pacific Games, 1963 in Suva, Fiji, and most recently i ...
:
2019 This was the year in which the first known human case of COVID-19 was documented, preceding COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic which was declared by the World Health Organization the following year. Up to that point, 2019 had been described as ...
* OFC U-23 Championship:
2019 This was the year in which the first known human case of COVID-19 was documented, preceding COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic which was declared by the World Health Organization the following year. Up to that point, 2019 had been described as ...
Melbourne City *
A-League A-League Men, also known as the Isuzu UTE A-League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional soccer league in Australia and New Zealand and the highest level of the Australian soccer league system. Established in 2004 as the A-League by the ...
Premiership: 2020–21 *A-League Championship:
2021 Like the year 2020, 2021 was also heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the emergence of multiple Variants of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 variants. The major global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, which began at the end of 2020, continued ...
Mumbai City *
Indian Super League The Indian Super League (ISL) is a professional association football league in India and the highest level of the Indian football league system. Administered by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its commercial partner Football Sport ...
Winners' Shield: 2022–23 *
Durand Cup The Durand Cup (also called the IndianOil Durand Cup Powered by Coal India Limited for sponsorship reasons) is an annual domestic football competition in India which was first held in 1888 in Annadale, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Hosted by the ...
runner-up:
2022 The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...
Oxford United * EFL League One play-offs:
2024 The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...
Individual *New Zealand Football Men's Coach of the Year: 2020 * FPAI Coach of the Year: 2023


References


External links


Des Buckingham profile
on Soccerway's website {{DEFAULTSORT:Buckingham, Des Living people Footballers from Oxford English football managers English expatriate sportspeople in New Zealand Expatriate association football managers in New Zealand A-League Men managers Wellington Phoenix FC managers 1985 births English expatriate football managers Melbourne City FC non-playing staff Oxford United F.C. non-playing staff English football coaches Mumbai City FC managers Oxford United F.C. managers Indian Super League managers Oxford United F.C. players Reading F.C. players Stoke City F.C. non-playing staff 21st-century English educators English expatriate sportspeople in India Expatriate football managers in India English Football League managers