Englishman Paul Smalley has been appointed director of football for New Zealand Soccer (NZS).
Smalley, 35, hails from Nottingham and has a long association in the game as a professional player and education and training officer.
Smalley has recently been involved with the English Football Association (FA) in the areas of coach
education and player development.
An official relationship with the English FA will be maintained through Smalley, with contacts and links set to be channelled through his office at NZS.
Smalley comes highly qualified with a coach's educator's licence and UEFA A licence.
"Paul is tailor-made for the position that in effect was created with the decision not to have the roles of All Whites coach and director of football combined," NZS chief executive officer Bill MacGowan said.
"His qualifications and skill-set suit perfectly the role of a coach and player educator, as well as implementing new and improved programmes for both."
Smalley has been working closely with NZS coaching staff during the All Whites' short tour of Europe and will arrive in New Zealand on November 5 to take up residence in Auckland and a three-year contract.
Smalley will have a role with New Zealand national teams but will not directly coach any of them. This is a change from the previous job description when, under Ken Dugdale, the role of All Whites coach and director of football was one and the same.
- NZPA
