Darren Bazeley

Darren Shaun Bazeley (born 5 October 1972 in Northampton, England) is an English football manager and former player. He played as either a right full back or right-sided Midfielder.

Darren Bazeley
Personal information
Full name Darren Shaun Bazeley
Date of birth (1972-10-05) 5 October 1972
Place of birth Northampton, England
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position(s) Right full back
Youth career
1986–1991 Watford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1999 Watford 283 (21)
1999–2002 Wolverhampton Wanderers 80 (4)
2002–2004 Walsall 100 (0)
2005–2007 New Zealand Knights 41 (0)
2007–2008 Waitakere United 17 (1)
Total 456 (26)
National team
1992 England U21 1 (0)
Teams managed
2011–2013 New Zealand U-17
2013–2015 Wanderers SC
2013–2017 New Zealand U-20
2015–2017 New Zealand (assistant head coach)
2018–2019 Colorado Rapids (assistant head coach)
2020– Newcastle Jets (assistant head coach)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11:55, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

Playing career

Watford

Bazeley was scouted by Watford FC, signing at the age of 14. Bazeley played in the youth team at Watford for several seasons, making his first-team debut at the age of 17, coming on as a substitute in the final match of the 1989-90 season against Hull City AFC.[1] Bazeley made sporadic first-team appearances throughout the 1990-91 season with Watford, and before the 1991–92 season became a full professional. Bazeley's first top-grade goal came in September 1991, away at Barnsley FC, and finished the season with a total of six goals from his 34 appearances. Overall Bazeley made 283 appearances for Watford FC with highlight being Champions of League 1 in 1997–98 season, meaning promotion to the Championship. In the following 1998–99 season, Watford went on to make the play-offs for promotion to the Premier League. Bazeley scored in the penalty-shootout semi-final play-off against Birmingham City FC to put Watford into the play-off final against Bolton Wanderers, which they won 2–0 at Wembley, to earn promotion to the Premier League.[2][3]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Bazeley moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, where he played every minute of every league match for the Wolves in the 1999–2000 season.[4] By the end of 2000–01 season, Bazeley had notched up 80 games and four goals with Wolverhampton, before twisting his knee and tearing his cartilage in a match against Sheffield Wednesday FC, and subsequently did not play a match in the 2001–02 season.

Walsall

In July 2002, Bazeley moved to Walsall FC. Bazeley won the fans' "best new signing award" in 2002–03 season, his first season with the club. Bazeley stayed at the club for 3 seasons making 100 appearances for the club before leaving in November 2004. He was later described as "one of the best attacking fullbacks the Saddlers ever had".[5]

New Zealand Knights

Bazeley signed with the re-invented New Zealand Knights for the new Australian A-League, alongside former Wolves and Walsall teammate Neil Emblen. Bazeley played every minute of New Zealand Knights' 21 A-League matches in the 2005–06 season, and took over the captaincy from Danny Hay when the defender transferred to Perth Glory FC midseason. Bazeley stayed with the Knights for 2006–07 until the club's dissolution.[6]

Bazeley played for Waitakere United in the New Zealand Football Championship in 2007–08 season, winning the Championship and also playing at the FIFA Club World Cup. He then later took on Assistant Coach role for Waitakere United.

Bazeley also broke into the England Under-21 national team, making his first appearance, in a 2–2 friendly draw against Hungary.[7]

Coaching career

Waitakere United

In 2008, Bazeley became Head Coach of Waitakere United Youth team before being promoted to assistant coach of Waitakere United Senior team.[8] He was appointed for the following 3 seasons, winning the New Zealand Football Championship for all 3 seasons.[9]

New Zealand Under-17

In 2009, Bazeley was appointed assistant coach for the New Zealand U-17 national team who participated at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria. This was the first New Zealand team to reach the Knockout Phase for FIFA World Cup. He also carried on the assistant coach role for the following 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico.

In 2011, Bazeley was promoted to take charge as Head coach of the New Zealand U-17 national team.[10] New Zealand U-17 won the Oceania Qualifiers, successfully qualifying for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in UAE.

New Zealand Under-20

In 2013, Bazeley was appointed as Head Coach for New Zealand U-20 national team, preparing the team for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, hosted in New Zealand. Bazeley also travelled to England and obtained the UEFA A License,[11] the second highest coaching qualification. During the buildup period, Bazeley was appointed as Head Coach for Wanderers SC, New Zealand based U-20-side competing in the Senior New Zealand Football Championship.

In 2015, New Zealand made history by becoming the first New Zealand U-20 team to win at a World Cup and also becoming the first U-20 team to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup.[12] New Zealand U-20 was knocked out 2–1, conceding a last minute goal to Portugal.[13]

In 2016, Bazeley led New Zealand U-20 team to a comprehensive victory of the 2016 OFC U-20 Championship in Vanuatu to qualify consecutively for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea.[14]

In 2017, Bazeley made history for New Zealand again by becoming the first New Zealand U-20 team to win, convincing 3–1 win against Honduras, at an away World Cup in Korea which also meant becoming the first U-20 team to reach the knockout stage on two separate occasions of the World Cup consecutively.[15]

New Zealand All Whites

In 2015, Bazeley was appointed as an assistant coach of New Zealand,[16] working closely with head coach Anthony Hudson, and also alongside Peter Taylor.

In May 2017, Bazeley became the main assistant Head coach of New Zealand before heading into 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia. Bazeley has built a close relationship with Hudson in the past two years, and Bazeley was Hudson's only assistant during the recent playoffs with Peru.[17]

Colorado Rapids

In January 2018, Bazeley was appointed as an assistant head coach of Colorado Rapids reuniting with Anthony Hudson again,[18] where he is still the assistant head coach currently.

Honours
New Zealand U-20 national team
New Zealand national team

References
  1. "Darren Bazeley – Autobiography (Part 2)". ICONS.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 5 July 2006.
  2. "Hornets sting the Blues". BBC. 20 May 1999. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  3. "Watford back in the big time". BBC Sport. 31 May 1999. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  4. "Darren Bazeley – Autobiography (Part 4)". ICONS.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 5 July 2006.
  5. "Darren Bazeley Profile". Walsallfans.co.uk. Retrieved 5 July 2006.
  6. "2006/07 Knights Signings". 5 July 2006. Archived from the original on 20 August 2006. Retrieved 5 July 2006.
  7. "England – U-21 International Results 1986–1995 – Details". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 25 January 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2006.
  8. "Waitakere United names new coach to replace Milicich". 20 June 2009. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  9. "Waitakere claim third consecutive title". 27 April 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  10. "Milicich retained, Bazeley promoted". 7 June 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  11. "Darren Bazeley – Developing youth players in New Zealand". Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  12. "U-20s make history in Wellington". 5 June 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  13. "Portugal break NZ hearts". 11 June 2015. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  14. "Bazeley names strong FIFA U-20 WC squad". 8 May 2017. Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  15. "History-makers aim to go one better". 1 June 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  16. "All Whites depart for Korea test". 22 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 May 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  17. "Bazeley tipped to follow Hudson to MLS franchise". 26 November 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  18. "Anthony Hudson takes two All Whites staff with him to the Colorado Rapids". 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
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