WELLINGTON: Englishman Anthony Hudson is set to be announced as the new coach of New Zealand’s national soccer team after walking out on Bahrain last week, local media reported yesterday.
The 33-year-old’s departure left Bahrain’s preparations for January’s Asian Cup in disarray and the Gulf state’s football association said on Friday they would challenge his exit through the courts.
New Zealand Football had hoped to appoint Hudson as Ricki Herbert’s successor last week but were forced to delay their announcement. They have called a news conference for Tuesday.
Herbert, who had eight years at the helm, stepped down after the ‘All Whites’ lost a two-legged playoff to Mexico 9-3 on aggregate and failed to reach this year’s World Cup finals.
Unlike neighbours Australia, who moved to the Asian Football Confederation in 2006, New Zealand have stuck with the Oceania region, which offers easier opponents but no automatic berths for the World Cup finals.
Hudson was described as a “young Jose Mourinho” by Harry Redknapp after working under the now Queens Park Rangers boss at Tottenham.
AFP
