What is it with NZF’s English obsession?

There is one overriding question from the series of national coaching appointments announced by New Zealand Football: Why is NZF so obsessed with English coaches?

More than 200 countries around the world play football and at least 50 do it exceptionally well. So why does NZF limit itself to one source for its most important employees?

That’s no disrespect to the four men named to fill the New Zealand under-20 and under-17 roles, as, without knowing who the other contenders were, they may well be the best individuals for the job.

Chris Greenacre has also given years of service to this country since arriving as a Phoenix import in 2009 and seems committed to New Zealand. Jose´ Figueira has worked his way up through the grades here, as a player and coach, and Paul Temple has extensive local experience.

Des Buckingham’s input to the sport here is less pronounced, and once his brief head coaching tenure at the Phoenix ended, he returned to England almost immediately.

Their appointments continue a pattern. England has always been the primary influence in New Zealand football, but it has been particularly pronounced since 2014.

At this rate, it wouldn’t surprise if there was soon a Union Jack alongside the Silver Fern at NZF HQ, along with stocks of Irn-Bru and Bovril in the cupboard. Joking aside, the appointments raise several issues.

Firstly, for all their wonderful traditions, culture and football heritage, there are many other countries way ahead of England when it comes to producing coaches. That’s why there are almost no English coaches working in any of the big European leagues.

Secondly, regardless of the abilities of the above quartet, it’s inevitable that there will be elements of ‘group think’. When everyone has the same cultural background, it’s hard for ideas from outside the box to seep in and rare that conventional thinking is challenged, which doesn’t create an optimal high performance environment.

Thirdly, other cultural influences could benefit NZF football immensely. What about the Japanese or Korean school of thought? What could our young players learn from a South American mentality, or an Eastern European perspective?

Australia is the best, and most relevant example. They have long since abandoned England as their only point of reference, and look at their progress. They’ve been helped by immigration patterns, with large eastern European influences, but have also been more proactive and open in their thinking.