Ricki Herbert

Football player infobox
playername = Ricki Herbert


fullname = Ricki Lloyd Herbert
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1961|4|10|df=y
cityofbirth = Auckland
countryofbirth = New Zealand
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height = height|ft=5|in=11
nickname =
position =
currentclub = retired
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1978 1979 1980–1982
1983
1984
1984–1986
1986–1989
clubs = Mt Wellington AFC
Nelson United Mt Wellington AFC Sydney Olympic FC
Auckland University AFC
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Mt Wellington AFC
caps(goals) = 00- 0 (-)
00- 0 (-)
00- 0 (-)
023 0(0)
00- 0 (-)
045 0(0)
00- 0 (-)
nationalyears = 1980–1989
nationalteam = New Zealand
nationalcaps(goals) = 061 0(7)
manageryears = 2005–present
2006–2007
2007–present
managerclubs = New Zealand
New Zealand Knights
Wellington Phoenix

Ricki Herbert (born April 10, 1961 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a former New Zealand football (soccer) player. He currently head coach of both the New Zealand national team, also known as the All Whites, and club side Wellington Phoenix.

Playing career

Herbert represented New Zealand at various age group levels and gaining 61 full international caps from 1980-89, scoring 7 goals.cite web|url=http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZRepSoccer/id1708.htm|title=A-International Appearances - Overall|author=|publisher=The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website|date=|accessdate=2008-07-25] cite web|url=http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZRepSoccer/id1842.htm|title=A-International Scorers - Overall|author=|publisher=The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website|date=|accessdate=2008-07-25]

Herbert made his full International debut at the age of 21, and featured in all 15 matches of the All Whites’ World Cup qualifying campaign which for the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. Herbert was a substitute for the loss against Scotland, but was reinstated to the starting XI for both USSR and Brazil as New Zealand failed to claim any points in their first World Cup Finals appearance.cite web|url=http://www.nzsoccer.com/page/1982_world_cup_team.html|title=NZ 1982 World Cup|author=|publisher=New Zealand Football|date=|accessdate=2008-07-25]

At club level, he represented a number of teams in his homeland and played in the Australian league. He had his greatest success with Mt Wellington AFC where he won three league championships during two spells with the club and two Chatham Cup triumphs.

He also had a spell in English football with Wolverhampton Wanderers from 1984-86, where he made 49 appearances in total. He was signed by manager Tommy Docherty who had previously coached Herbert while manager of Sydney Olympic. However, his time at the club coincided with them sliding down the leagues; Herbert was part of the team relegated to the third tier in 1985, but left in March 1986 shortly before a successive relegation after falling out with new manager Sammy Chapman. [cite web|url=http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/default.aspx?s=wellfc_insideclubitem&id=22631|title=Ricki’s Wolves|author=|publisher=Wellington Phoenix Official Site|date=2008-06-27|accessdate=2008-07-25]

Coaching career

Herbert began his coaching career at Papakura City AFC in 1990, before taking over at neighbouring Papatoetoe AFC in 1993. From 1996 he took charge of Central United in the National Summer League, finishing mid table in his first season in charge. In both 1997 and 1998 Herbert took Central United to victory in the Chatham Cup and finished a close second in the league. In 1999 New Zealand reverted to separate North Island and South Island leagues, with the winners of each playing off for title of New Zealand Champion. Central United, winners of the North Island Soccer League, defeated the South Island winner, Dunedin Technical, 3-1, after extra time, in the championship final

Herbert's domestic success attracted attention from NZ football association, and in 1999 he was appointed coach of the U-23 Oly-Whites qualifying campaign for the Sydney Olympics. An appointment of assistant national coach followed in 2001. In 2003 Herbert took charge of the New Zealand U-17 team.As Director of Technical Development, Herbert was again responsible for New Zealand Olympic campaign in 2004, although they failed to qualify for the finals in Athens. [ [http://www.nzsoccer.com/page/ricki_herbert.html Head Coach Ricki Herbert Comments] ]

Herbert was appointed All Whites coach on 25th February 2005, replacing Mick Waitt after being his assistant since 2003, with his first game in charge being scheduled in June that year as a friendly against arch rival Australia [http://www.mainlandfootball.co.nz/news/2005/feb/050228_herbert.htm Herbert Takes the Reins] ] As national coach, the All Whites won their first match in Europe when beating Georgia 3-1 in Germany in May 2006. [ [http://www.nzsoccer.com/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=12801 Ecstasy for All Whites as Coveny Double Sinks Georgia] ] On that tour, which included a 4-0 loss to the mighty Brazil, the All Whites drew 1-1 with Estonia in Tallinn. [ [http://www.nzsoccer.com/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=12870 All Whites Making Hay in Europe] ]

In December 2006, after FFA announced that it had revoked the 2006 season A-League licence held by the Knights' owners, Herbert took over the reins of the now defunct New Zealand Knights under an arrangement between the FFA and NZ Soccer whereby the national body would step in to manage the club to meet their commitments for the remaining 5 games of the season. [ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10415468 Knights Have Licence Revoked by Soccer Body] ] In that time the franchise won three matches, drew one and lost to competition winners Melbourne Victory.In 2007 the new A-League franchise Wellington Phoenix franchise was granted a 3 year license, and owner Terry Serepisos and Herbert immediately confirmed as head coach. [ [http://www.nzsoccer.com/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=18356 White Knight to Wellington's Rescue] ] [ [http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/default.aspx?s=wellfc_playerprofile Wellington Phoenix Coaching Staff] ]

Herbert holds a prestigious UEFA 'A' International Coaching Licence and is one of the 2007-2008 intakes of the UEFA 'Pro' International Coaching Licence course which will finish in June 2008. [ [http://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?l=1&t=1&id=18022 Roy Keane to study the All Blacks] ] [ [http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/wellington-phoenix/herbert-keane-to-link-up-109622 Herbert, Keane to link up] ] This is considered by many to be the highest coaching qualification in today's football.

Herbert was honoured "New Zeland Coach of the Year" for 2007.cite web|url=http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZRepSoccer/id170.htm|title=Honours Lists|author=|publisher=The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website|date=|accessdate=2008-08-06]

Honours

Individual

*New Zealand Young Player of the Year: 1980
*New Zealand coach of the year: 2007

Club

Mt Wellington AFC
*Chatham Cup: 1980, 1982
*New Zealand Champions: 1980, 1982, 1986

Sydney Olympic FC
*Australian National Soccer League Cup: 1983

As Manager

Central United
*Chatham Cup: 1997, 1998
*New Zealand Champions: 1999

References

External links

*FIFA player|50782|Ricki Herbert
*All Whites
* [http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com Wellington Phoenix FC]