Christchurch United signs veteran coach Rob Sherman to lead Pro League charge

Christchurch United FC has signed highly respected and experienced Welsh coach Rob Sherman to lead the club into their first OFC Pro League season.

“The new OFC Pro League is one of the most exciting projects in world football and who would not want to be part of that,” says the Welshman, who is one of few coaches in New Zealand to hold a UEFA Pro Licence.

Sherman is a familiar face in this part of the world after working as Director of Football with New Zealand Football, Football Federation Australia, Melbourne Victory, as well as his native Welsh FA, where he was involved in the development of global stars like Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.

The 65-year-old Welshman was head coach or assistant for several international teams at FIFA World Cups and Olympic Games, and was assistant coach to the Canadian women’s team that secured bronze at the London Olympics in 2012.

He most recently completed a two-year stint as head coach of the national team of Fiji, which he guided to the semi-finals of the OFC Nations Cup and FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament, where they were eliminated by the All Whites.

Between his stints in the Pacific and Australia, Sherman has been based in Christchurch, so he says the opportunity to work with a professional club in his adopted home town was too good to pass up.

Sherman has closely followed the progress of Christchurch United over the past few years, and has been in regular contact with club President Slava Meyn and its coaching staff.

“What Slava and the club have created in the past few years has been remarkable and the step into professional football feels like the natural progression. I hope that my experience can help the team and the support staff to make that transition.”

Sherman has 100 days to create and prepare a competitive squad before the season kicks off on January 10.

The first OFC Pro League will be played in a circuit format, with all teams gathering in one location to play three matches each across a 10-day window. The round-robin matches will be played in Auckland, Port Moresby, Melbourne, Honiara and Fiji.

Christchurch United President Meyn is proud the club has been able to attract a coach with the experience and track record  Sherman brings to the club.

“The first season in the Pro League will be about discovery, about what we can achieve, who the opponents are and the logistics of the new competition. To have an experienced international coach leading us will be invaluable.”

Meyn says that Sherman’s first-hand knowledge of football in the Pacific, with the Fiji national team and competing with New Zealand age-group teams, will also be extremely helpful to prepare the players and support staff.

“Signing a great coach is the first and most important part in our puzzle,” says Meyn.

Sherman says he is under no illusion how hard the new league will be, especially with the short preparation time.

“We will be playing against qualify teams like Auckland FC, South Melbourne, while many of the other teams will be de facto national teams, but I am confident there is plenty of the talent at our club and the rest of the South Island to give them a run for their money.”