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When Des Buckingham became the manager of Mumbai City in 2021, he quickly realized that his players were extremely reserved. The English coach was concerned that he may have unintentionally offended them as they avoided making eye contact with him during training.
However, the true explanation was that Indian footballers held a high level of respect for the hierarchy and were hesitant to communicate with their coaches. According to Buckingham, players would go out of their way to avoid interaction with staff. In contrast, in other countries, players actively seek out time with their coach. It is likely that Indian players desired the same but did not know how to go about it. Our efforts were aimed at altering this dynamic.
Buckingham has embraced various cultural influences. He began his coaching career at Oxford United’s academy 22 years ago and has since worked in Australia, New Zealand, and Mumbai. According to the new manager of Oxford, traveling has not only improved him as a person but also made him a more well-rounded coach.
The mind goes back to joining Wellington Phoenix as Ernie Merrick’s assistant in 2015. Buckingham talks of Merrick as a mentor. But for the 38-year-old, whose successful time at Mumbai ended when he returned to Oxford two months ago, this is more than a coaching journey. It is about life.
During my first week in New Zealand, I did not know anyone. However, while at a game, I struck up a conversation with an English man during halftime. He had been living in New Zealand for 20 years and reached out to me when I returned to my hotel. He expressed concern about me being alone and offered me a room in his home. This kind gesture was unexpected for me, coming from England where such acts are not common. Initially, I declined as I was not used to such generosity from strangers. But in New Zealand, it is seen as normal to look out for someone who is alone.
According to him, the biggest obstacle was adjusting to the customs of the unfamiliar country while still staying true to one’s identity. He had to exercise patience in developing the players in Mumbai. The process involved individual meetings with each player for 20 minutes, which was a new experience for them. It was initially uncomfortable, but necessary as a starting point. The team’s playing style was not immediately imposed on them as it would have been overwhelming. The goal was to gradually establish a foundation where the players could feel at ease having discussions with him.
The entire procedure lasted approximately six months. Things really started to take off. Mumbai established a bold reputation in football, emerged as champions in the Indian Super League last year, and made a strong impression in the Asian Champions League. Buckingham was content with Mumbai, which is under the umbrella of the City Football Group. He had previously served as assistant manager at Melbourne City, another CFG club, and had intended to stay in India until 2025. However, Oxford offered him a position after Liam Manning left for Bristol City.
Buckingham was enticed by the opportunity to return home. He quickly pulls out his phone and displays a photograph of his ticket from his inaugural match, a 3-1 victory for Oxford against Bristol City in 1990. He holds onto these keepsakes as a means of staying connected to his hometown and honoring the memory of his grandmother, who accompanied him to the Manor Ground.
Buckingham was a member of Oxford’s academy and developed a passion for coaching. He was not forced to change paths due to an injury, but rather was influenced by his youth team coach, Mickey Lewis, who sparked his interest in coaching through his engaging approach. Buckingham then joined the first team’s coaching staff under Chris Wilder, who impressed him with his honesty and effective management skills. However, he eventually ventured to New Zealand, broadening his perspective.
“I was enrolled in a Sport New Zealand course focused on high-performance,” he explains. “The course, led by Christian Penny, spanned three years and involved a Maori process. As an English person, I found the process uncomfortable due to being on Indigenous land.”
In the past, when visiting Indigenous land, there was a clear division between being seen as a friend or an enemy. In sports, individuals often identify themselves based on their involvement in football, such as saying “Hi, I’m Des, the head coach of Oxford United.” However, Indigenous communities were not interested in this aspect and instead wanted to know who the person was and where they were from. They would ask about their home and what it was like.
Buckingham remained with the program while overseeing New Zealand’s Under-20 and Under-23 teams. Despite also serving as the assistant manager for the senior team, he dedicated his efforts to developing the younger players. In 2019, New Zealand made it to the round of 16 in the Under-20 World Cup held in Poland.
Buckingham stated that his team, consisting of three professionals and 18 amateurs, achieved unprecedented success despite limited resources. This caught the attention of CFG. They implemented a new playing style, deviating from the norm described in Fifa technical reports which portrayed New Zealand teams as physically strong but lacking in football skills. Their success was not just on the field, as they also invited Christian Penny to join their training camp before the World Cup. The camp was located on Indigenous land, which featured a complex with fenced-off houses representing the status of the inhabitants.
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“We lacked a distinct football identity. Was it possible for us to establish our own unique style of play or off-field behavior? The players truly took responsibility for what they constructed. During the Olympic qualifiers with the Under-23 team, we had a player who had not been involved in our journey.”
“After defeating American Samoa with a score of 14-0, a new player reportedly made a comment to the opposing team’s coach as they were leaving the field,” he explains. “The incident was not discovered until after the game. Upon arriving at the hotel, I contacted the team captain who stated, ‘I will handle it.’ “
Buckingham was contacted by the coach of American Samoa the following day via email. The coach expressed admiration for the group of young men on the team. The team captain spoke with one of the players privately to discuss their efforts to change perceptions. The team then took a 45-minute taxi ride to the opposing team’s hotel and waited for three hours as the American Samoa staff did not want to come down. Afterward, they spent three-and-a-half hours with them, apologizing and sharing their journey. The players held themselves responsible for their actions.
Identity matters. Buckingham is committed to possession football and trusts the process. Oxford’s results have been up and down since his appointment but he says a manager who suddenly changes a team’s style risks “losing everything”.
It can be disheartening. Oxford suffered a 2-0 loss against AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday, despite dominating possession. However, they are currently ranked fifth in League One and are still in the running for automatic promotion. They will face Carlisle on Saturday. Buckingham mentions the setback of injuries, with eight key players out, and also mentions the recent flooding of their training grounds.
He is prepared for the battle. It has become increasingly common for clubs to hire managers who have not played at a professional level. Buckingham notes that coaching has become a profession. He has been acquiring knowledge since he was a young adult and has worked hard to improve himself. “I have been coaching for 22 years,” he explains. “But I am constantly aware of how much I still have to learn. I will always strive to find ways to expand my knowledge.”
Source: theguardian.com
