Soccer: Milicich retained, Bazeley promoted

Chris Milicich has been reappointed as the head coach of the New Zealand under-20 men's football team. Photo / Janna Dixon.

Chris Milicich has been reappointed as the head coach of the New Zealand under-20 men's football team while Darren Bazeley has been promoted to the role of under-17 head coach after serving as the assistant for the past two World Cup cycles.

Milicich will guide the Junior All Whites as they build towards the 2013 Fifa under-20 World Cup in Turkey, having coached the team to its best ever performance at an under-20 men's event, just missing out on the knockout stages after draws against Cameroon and Uruguay, and a 1-0 loss to eventual finalists Portugal.

New Zealand will host the 2015 edition of the Fifa under-20 World Cup.

Bazeley has been involved as assistant coach with two New Zealand sides that reached the knockout stages of Fifa under-17 World Cups in 2009 and 2011 - the only Kiwi teams yet to do so at a Fifa event.

He takes the reins from Aaron McFarland who is currently coaching the New Zealand under-20 women's team as they prepare for their own World Cup in Japan later this year.

Andy Hedge will continue as under-20s assistant coach while Willy Gerdsen steps up into his first national teams role as under-17s assistant.

New Zealand Football chief executive Grant McKavanagh said the continuity would allow the good work done by the two environments to continue.

"The current All Whites squad in the Solomon Islands has 12 players who have represented New Zealand at either an U-17 or U-20 World Cup since 2007, and three who only did so only last year," said McKavanagh.

"The role of these teams is to develop players capable of representing, and winning games for the All Whites and we think the coaching teams we've selected can continue that progress."

The OFC qualification tournaments for both youth World Cups are scheduled for early in 2013.

Summary of coaching appointments:

Junior All Whites (U-20)

Head Coach: Chris Milicich

Assistant coach: Andy Hedge

Young All Whites (U-17)

Head Coach: Darren Bazeley

Assistant coach: Willy Gerdsen