Des Buckingham

Desmond Buckingham (born 7 February 1985) is an English professional football manager who is currently the head coach of League One club Oxford United.

At the start of the 2013–14 Football League Two season, Buckingham progressed as a coach into the first team, under then-manager Chris Wilder.

In his time at the club, Buckingham supported the transition of 24 players from the youth ranks into their first professional contracts.

Buckingham joined the Wellington Phoenix during the 2014–15 A-League season under head coach Ernie Merrick.

Buckingham became the youngest head coach in the history of the A-League during the 2016–17 A-League season.

Born in Oxford, England, Buckingham had spells in the youth and reserve teams of English sides Reading and Oxford United.

A professional playing career did not materialise, and Buckingham subsequently joined Oxford & Cherwell Valley College in a full-time coaching and teaching role over a four-year period.

Buckingham began his professional coaching career at Oxford United at the age of 18, initially working through the club's age-group squads.

On 1 January 2017, following the resignation of Merrick, he was appointed as manager until the end of the season.

At 31 years of age, he became the youngest manager in A-League 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.

In July, 2017 Buckingham was granted permission to leave Wellington Phoenix and take up a role at Stoke City, then in the Premier League, as an assistant coach with their under-23 team.

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.

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 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, 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.

Buckingham earned plaudits for the team's quality of football and style of play.

Former All Whites Ricki Herbert and Wynton Rufer praised the positive and attacking approach to winning games rarely seen before in New Zealand.

Despite being linked to clubs in the English Football League and A-League, Buckingham accepted the New Zealand U23 managerial position in June 2019, leading the side into the 2019 Pacific Games and OFC Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Buckingham guided New Zealand to its first-ever gold medal at the 2019 Pacific Games, leading an U-23 side through an otherwise senior international competition undefeated.

In September 2019, in the lead up to the OFC Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the New Zealand U-23 side played out two draws against their Australian counterparts.

On 5 October, Buckingham led New Zealand to its third Olympic Games, qualifying for Tokyo 2020 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 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 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 and the postponement of the 2020 Summer Olympics and he was replaced by Danny Hay.

Buckingham was named Men's Coach of the year at New Zealand Football Awards 2020.

In September 2020, Buckingham joined A-League club Melbourne City as Assistant Coach after being identified by the City Football Group.

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 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.

On 8 October 2021, Buckingham was appointed as the head coach of Indian Super League 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 FC Goa.

In Buckingham's first season in charge, Mumbai City finished the season on fifth place, amassing 31 points from 20 games.

Ahead of the 2022 AFC Champions League kick-off, the club travelled to Abu Dhabi for a training camp and defeated Emirati giants Al Ain 2–1 in a friendly match.

On 11 April 2022, Buckingham led City to their first win at the AFC Champions League, becoming the first Indian team to win a game in the competition, beating Iraqi Premier League champions Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 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 adding to their second-round win.

Mumbai City and Buckingham won praise for their fearless approach and positive playing style at the tournament.

On 18 August 2022, under Buckingham, Mumbai City made their Durand Cup debut with a 4–1 win over Indian Navy.

The team progressed to the knockout stages, finishing top of their five-team group that included Indian Super League clubs ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.

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.