Former Walsall defender Darren Bazeley has been named Head Coach of the New Zealand national side as they hope to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Bazeley, who made a hundred league appearances during a two-season spell at Bescot Stadium, has an extensive history in New Zealand coaching various national team sides including underage and the first-team, as well as assistant manager and caretaker spells.
The fifty-year-old had already been in the head coach role on an interim basis since March and has overseen a win and draw against China, a defeat against Sweden, and recent fixture against Qatar, which saw the team leading before the match had to be postponed.
Also playing for the likes of Watford, Wolverhampton Wanderers, New Zealand Knights, and Waitakere United, Darren made almost five hundred league appearances over a near twenty-year playing career.