Newcastle Jets can confirm the signing of Darren Bazeley to the Club’s Hyundai A-League coaching staff.
Bazeley, a one-time England U/21 international and well-credentialled coach, will link up with Carl Robinson once the Hyundai A-League resumes.
In his playing days, Bazeley played as a right-sided full back in England with Watford, Wolves, and Wallsall. He also played for New Zealand Knights in the Hyundai A-League.
As a coach, Bazeley’s beginnings were with Waitakere United in New Zealand in 2008, whom he helped lead to three consecutive league titles. Stints with New Zealand U/17s and U/20s followed, before linking up with the New Zealand national team as Assistant Coach in 2015.
Bazeley’s most recent role was as Assistant Coach at the Colorado Rapids in the MLS.
“I’ve known Carl since we were teammates back in Wolverhampton in 1999, and we crossed paths many times through our playing careers, and then again while he was at Vancouver as Head Coach and I was at Colorado as Assistant,” Bazeley said.
“I enjoy working with and helping to develop footballers at all levels, and my time with New Zealand youth teams gave me the experience to develop young players to be ready to move up to the next level.
“My time as a coach has also seen me working closely with senior players, which is something I love to do, helping to plan, prepare, and perform within professional competitions.
“Working with Carl is an exciting opportunity, and I’m looking forward to being a bit closer to my family in New Zealand and involved once again in the Hyundai A-League.”
Head Coach, Carl Robinson believed Bazeley would be a good addition to the set-up in Newcastle.
“Darren is a coach with a keen eye for detail who has experience in the Hyundai A-League,” Robinson said.
“He’s an excellent developer of young talent, he has national team experience, has worked closely with senior players and he’s a terrific character on and off the field.”
