Like father, like son
Ten years after Ricki Herbert guided the All Whites to an undefeated World Cup campaign in South Africa, his son Kale Herbert is beginning to make his mark as a coach on the national stage.
The 28-year-old is into his second season with ISPS Handa Men’s Premiership club Hamilton Wanderers after succeeding his father as head coach midway through the 2019-20 season.
Hamilton Wanderers have made a fast start to the 2020-21 national league season, beating Hawke’s Bay United, Auckland City and Canterbury United to sit top of the table after the first three rounds.
‘‘It was obviously a bit of a shock that dad had decided to step away but we had spoken openly about that at some stage I’d take over, but in my mind that was always two-three years down the line,’’ Kale Herbert said.
‘‘It’s not something I thought
I’d be doing when I was at school but now that I’m in it – I’m fortunate the club is very supportive of what I’m doing – the next for me to be would be to win the national league.’’
Herbert junior said he never set out to become a professional football coach like his father, he just fell into it after helping out at the Ricki Herbert Football Academy after school and during the holidays.
He was 17 and captain of the Wellington College First XI at the time of the 2010 World Cup, but Herbert travelled to South Africa to cheer on the All Whites and to support his dad at the height of his coaching career.
Against all odds, New Zealand drew against Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay to finish as the only unbeaten team at the tournament.
Herbert said he was immensely proud of what his father had achieved on the biggest stage of them all.
‘‘Being able to go into the camp and see the players and be heavily involved, we weren’t just there to support – it really felt like you were part of the group. It was a pretty special time and one we still talk about today.’’
Herbert’s playing career was kicked into touch fairly early on and after a season at the helm of Taupo AFC in 2016 – his first head coaching gig – he was invited to join Ricki as the No 2 at Wanderers.
‘‘It was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,’’ he said. ‘‘It gave me the opportunity to work closer with dad in more of a professional environment. I was able to learn from him every day, which I never had that opportunity while he was coaching at the Phoenix or overseas.
‘‘It was pretty special. Not everyone can say that they coached with their old man in the national league.
‘‘We drew a line in the sand early doors and made sure nothing would cross over from football to family, and we had a really good working relationship.’’
Although Ricki stepped away from first team duties last summer, he is still the club’s football development manager and Kale Herbert said he still regularly seeks his father’s advice on football matters.
Herbert said he would love to follow in his father’s footsteps and coach New Zealand at a World Cup one day.
But for now his focus is solely on helping Hamilton Wanderers try to win the national league in the final season of its current format before reverting to a club-based winter competition in 2021 – a feat that eluded his old man.
‘‘I’ve always joked with my mates that I want to get one up on him.
‘‘I’d also love to take an age-group team or have the opportunity to take a national team to a World Cup and try and qualify for the next round.
‘‘That’s what is driving me. I’ve got the benchmark to beat – the only All Whites group to go unbeaten at a World Cup. It’s a tough one.’’
‘‘I’ve got the benchmark to beat – the only All Whites group to go unbeaten at a World Cup. It’s a tough one.’’ Kale Herbert on father Ricki, former All Whites coach