Oxford United are “set to appoint” Des Buckingham as their new manager, according to Tom Barclay.
Barclay adds that the U’s will sign the Oxford-born head coach after agreeing a “pretty hefty compensation package” with Mumbai City.
The 38-year-old came through the ranks as a player at Oxford but never managed a professional career before taking a coaching and teaching role at a school in the county.
During this time, Buckingham also coached at the U’s and became a part of Chris Wilder’s backroom staff.
From there, he joined Wellington Phoenix before taking a role at Stoke City as an assistant coach for their U23s.
However, he returned to New Zealand after being appointed assistant manager of the national U20 side. Buckingham led the team to the 2018 OFC U-19 Championship and qualified 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.
Buckingham then accepted the New Zealand U23 managerial position and led the side into the 2019 Pacific Games and OFC Olympic Qualifying Tournament. He guided New Zealand to its first-ever gold medal at the 2019 Pacific Games.
The following year, he joined City Football Group and moved to Australia. 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.
Buckingham remained with CFG when he moved to India to take charge of his current club, Mumbai City. He would lead City to the club’s first win at the AFC Champions League, becoming the first Indian team to win a game in the competition. He also guided them to the Indian Super League title after an 18-match unbeaten run.
