Christchurch United have appointed Rob Sherman, the experienced Welsh coach and former New Zealand Football technical director, to guide the club in its first season in the OFC Professional League, which begins on January 10, 2026.
Sherman, 65, is one of the few coaches in New Zealand with a UEFA Pro Licence and brings decades of experience across the Pacific and beyond. He has previously held senior roles with Football Federation Australia, Melbourne Victory and the Welsh FA, where he contributed to the development of stars such as Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey. At international level, he served as an assistant with the Canadian women’s team that won bronze at the 2012 London Olympics and most recently spent two years coaching the Fiji men’s national team, reaching the semi-finals of World Cup qualifying.
Speaking about his new role, Sherman said: “The new OFC Pro League is one of the most exciting projects in world football, and who would not want to be part of that? What Slava [Meyn] and the club have created in the past few years has been remarkable, and the step into professional football feels like the natural progression. I hope that my experience can help the team and the support staff to make that transition.”
Christchurch United president Slava Meyn praised the appointment, calling Sherman’s arrival “the first and most important part in our puzzle.” Meyn emphasized that Sherman’s knowledge of football in the Pacific would be “invaluable” as the club navigates the logistics and demands of the new regional competition.
Sherman will have just over 100 days to assemble and prepare a competitive squad before the season opener. The OFC Pro League will be staged in a circuit series format, with all eight clubs gathering in one location to play three matches each during 10-day windows. Games will be hosted in Auckland, Port Moresby, Melbourne, Honiara and Fiji, before the playoffs decide the champion.
Looking ahead, Sherman acknowledged the challenge of facing strong rivals such as Auckland FC and South Melbourne but expressed confidence: “We will be playing against quality teams, but I am confident there is plenty of talent at our club and across the South Island to give them a run for their money.”
0 Comments