Soccer: Coach Herbert signs new deal with eyes on Brazil

Coach Ricki Herbert. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Ricki Herbert has started on the path to Brazil.

The All Whites coach yesterday signed a two-year extension to his national coaching contract.

There had been suggestions Herbert would be offered a four-year term through to the next World Cup after he and New Zealand Football chairman Frank van Hattum had made a "handshake agreement" in Johannesburg at this year's World Cup.

But Herbert said he was happy with the two-year deal that will see him in the job at least until the end of the Oceania qualifying stage of the campaign. Those matches, in mid-late 2012, double as qualifiers for the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

"Who knows at this stage what years three and four might bring," said Herbert. "At that time we will hopefully be in the build-up to the World Cup and anything could happen. Maybe in the next 12 months we will all have a better idea of the likely commitment at that stage.

"Right now we just want to get October out of the way. After those games against Honduras and Paraguay we can sit down and have a more detailed look at things like staff going forward. We will have the World Cup staff back for these games," said Herbert.

"It might be towards the end of the year or early next year before I make those on-going decisions."

Herbert has been in charge of the national side since 2005.

"We are delighted to complete the deal and make that handshake in Johannesburg official," said van Hattum. "Reappointing Ricki is the first step on our new journey towards Brazil 2014."