José Figueira

José Manuel Figueira (born 9 February 1982) is an English football coach, who is the current manager of Northern League club Auckland United. Figueira previously held notable roles as the head coach of Team Wellington, assistant coach of the New Zealand national team, and head coach of the New Zealand under-17 national team.

In his short managerial career, Figueira has won multiple domestic and international competitions, including the New Zealand Football Championship, OFC Champions League, OFC U-17 Championship and the National Youth League.

Career

Born in Crawley, England to Spanish parents. Figueira initially began his career as a player, playing for the youth side of local club Crawley Town, but quit at the age of 19 to pursue a career in coaching, arriving in New Zealand in 2003 following a short stint coaching at the academy of Brighton & Hove Albion.

Figueira was announced as head coach of the New Zealand under-17 national team in preparation for the 2015 OFC U-17 Championship; however, after winning the tournament, he was controversially sacked despite winning all seven games and lifting the title. He was reappointed in 2018, as well as being named assistant manager to Fritz Schmid for the New Zealand senior team.

In 2016, Figueira was announced as the new manager of defending ISPS Handa Premiership champions Team Wellington; he immediately led them to another title in the 2016–17 season at his first attempt. This led to him being named New Zealand Football Coach of the Year in 2017. Under Figueira, Team Wellington won the 2018 OFC Champions League, qualifying the club for their first ever FIFA Club World Cup;

Honours

Team Wellington OFC Champions League: 2018 New Zealand Football Championship: 2017

Auckland City FC National Youth League: 2009

Central United F.C. Lotto NRFL Men's Premier Division: 2016

New Zealand U17 OFC U-17 Championship: 2015 OFC U-16 Championship: 2018