New Head Coach to lead NSU

20 Sep

The Board of North Shore United is pleased to announce the appointment of Valerio Raccuglia as the club’s Head Coach.

Valerio will take over from Malcolm McPherson as First Team coach for the 2022 season following Malcolm’s resignation last month. Malcolm remains First Team coach for 2021 which we hope will still include a couple of Chatham Cup matches.

"The opportunity to coach North Shore United in the Northern Regional Premier League and lead the club’s youth development programme was too good to turn down. I’m excited to make a contribution to New Zealand’s oldest and one of the most successful football clubs." Raccuglia says.

Valerio has 18 years coaching experience which he began in Denmark after he finished his playing career in Italy, England and Denmark. He came to NZ in 2011, contributing to the Wellington football community, including as Head Coach of Miramar Rangers 2012-2014, winning the Central League twice. He then joined the Wellington Phoenix coaching team and was the Academy Head Coach in 2014-2017. At the same time, he was the performance analyst for the Phoenix in the Hyundai A-League. Recruited by the Oceania Footfall Federation, Valerio and his family spent 2 years in Samoa, where he coached the U19 men and women’s national teams. Returning to NZ in 2019, Valerio was a member of the NZ men’s U20 and U23 coaching squads, and served as Bay Olympic’s Director of Football 2019-2021.

Club Chair, Steve Browning says, “after three successful years under Malcolm’s leadership, we sought a new Head Coach who has the pedigree to achieve at the premier grade level but also the credentials to lead a coaching team that will continue to provide first class player development pathways for boys and girls of all ages.

We’re proud of the achievements of our men’s premier team and the progress we’ve made with player development both at the club and in partnership with Takapuna Grammar and Belmont Intermediate schools. Now we’re excited to have Valerio join our Football Development Manager – Ryan Ward – and continue to serve our local football community.”

For more information, please contact:

Steve Browning - Chair

chair@nsu.org.nz

 or

Donna Gustafson – Club Manager

office@nsu.org.nz