I’m throwing my hat back in the ring to be your next New Zealand U21 manager — a role I know well, and one I’m ready to take on again with energy, experience, and purpose.
Some of you will know me as hoddy, others as beaaar — either way, I’ve been part of this community for the best part of 20 years, and across that time I’ve trained, coached, and backed Kiwi talent through thick and thin.
I’ve proudly held this position before and bring with me the honour of being the only U21 manager in NZ history to win silverware, all the way back in Season 28. Since then, the game’s evolved, teams have come and gone, but my focus hasn’t changed: developing New Zealand players and building our national program from the grassroots up.
In the past 10 seasons alone, I’d argue I’ve trained more U21 NT players than anyone else — because I believe in investing where it counts. My current NZ team is made up entirely of local players, and it’s that same philosophy I’ll bring to the U21s: supporting active trainers, scouting talent early, and ensuring players are on track for both U21 and NT success.
Let’s be real — there’s work to do. We’ve slipped in the rankings, and it won’t change overnight. But the talent is out there, waiting to be developed. With the right mentoring, commitment, and coordination, we can build a pipeline of world-class players who wear the fern with pride.
So if you’re a manager who cares about long-term growth, about giving our young guns the best shot at international success, and about backing a proven leader who lives and breathes Kiwi BuzzerBeater — then I’d appreciate your vote.
Let’s get to work. Let’s build the future.