NZF coach appointment postponed amid family health issues

• New Zealand postpones the appointment of a permanent coach for the men’s national team.
• The full-time candidate is unable to assume the role in time for the friendly against China in March.
• Under-20s coach Darren Bazeley will fill the position temporarily.

The appointment of a chosen coach to lead the men’s national team has been postponed owing to a family health concern, New Zealand Football (NZF) announced on Wednesday.

After a review of the All Whites’ failure to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, former coach Danny Hay chose to resign rather than seek employment elsewhere, and New Zealand has been searching for a replacement.

According to NZF, their full-time candidate was unable to assume the position in time for a home friendly against China in March. As a result, Under-20s coach Darren Bazeley will fill the position temporarily.

“The leading candidate for the permanent All Whites head coach role had to be called upon to help manage a family health issue,” NZF said in a statement.

According to NZF CEO Andrew Pragnell, the federation presented a contract offer to the front-runner candidate last month and is still waiting for a response.

NZF will reevaluate the situation, though, following China matches on March 23 in Auckland and March 26 in Wellington.

“We’re still in dialogue. We’re still positive. I remain optimistic about it,” Pragnell told the Stuff news website in New Zealand.

“Having said that, we are dealing with variables that are outside of our control.”

Ufuk Talay, the Wellington Phoenix coach, applied for the position in October but was informed on Tuesday that he was no longer in the race, according to New Zealand media.

The All Whites had failed to qualify for the previous three World Cups due to losses in intercontinental playoffs, but they have great expectations for the upcoming tournament.

In the expanded 48-team World Cup in North America in 2026, Oceania has been assured one spot, and given New Zealand’s supremacy in the region, they will be heavily favored to go to the finals.

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