Oxford-born Des Buckingham is widely reported to be imminently named as the new Oxford United manager.

National reports in India and here in England suggest that an announcement is expected to be made in the next 24 hours after he has "parted ways" with his current club Mumbai City.

Buckingham’s coaching career at United began at the age of 18 as he worked through the club's age-group squads.

As a youth team player, he had spells in the youth and reserve teams at Reading as well as United but a professional career did not materialise.

 

Instead, he took a full-time coaching and teaching role over a four-year period at Oxford & Cherwell Valley College.

The 38-year-old progressed as a coach into the first team, under then-manager, Chris Wilder at the start of the 2013/14 League Two season.

The following season, Buckingham left to join the coaching staff at Australian side Wellington Phoenix where he eventually he became the youngest manager in A-League history at 31 years of age in January 2017.

He lifted the club off the bottom of the table finishing one place outside the playoffs at the end of the season.

Later that year, Buckingham took up a role at then-Premier League club Stoke City as an assistant coach with their under-23 team.

Since then he has led New Zealand to Olympic games and most recently won the Indian Super League (ISL) with Mumbai City putting together a record-breaking 18-match winning run.

Oxford Mail: Des Buckingham lead New Zealand at the Under 20 World Cup. Picture: Mistral SportDes Buckingham lead New Zealand at the Under 20 World Cup. Picture: Mistral Sport

He was appointed as the head coach of Mumbai City in October 2021 after impressing at Melbourne City, which is part of the City Football Group.

The City Football Group is a parent company of a number of clubs across the world, most notably Manchester City, and where Liam Manning previously applied his trade in his early coaching career.

Buckingham joined A-League club Melbourne City as an assistant coach in September 2020 before taking over the club and in his first season claimed their maiden A-League trophy in the team's eleven-year history.

Oxford Mail: Des Buckingham (left) pictured after Melbourne City won Australia’s A-League title. Picture: Aleksandar Jason Des Buckingham (left) pictured after Melbourne City won Australia’s A-League title. Picture: Aleksandar Jason

His side went to complete the double winning their first A-League Grand Final a month later.

His move to Mumbai City saw his side become to first Indian club to win two games at Asia’s premier club football competition, the AFC Champions League in his first season.

His side finished in an unprecedented second place in the group stage, just missing out on qualification to the knockout stages.

As well the winning the league in the most recent campaign, Buckingham’s team sealed a place in the 2023 AFC Champions League group stage, the first Indian Club to secure consecutive qualification to the competition.

After the season, he penned a two-year extension with the club and in May he was voted Coach of the Year by the Indian Players Football Association.