FORMER Oxford United coach Des Buckingham has landed a job in international football less than a year after taking a post in the Premier League.

Later this month the 32-year-old will take up a dual role as head coach for New Zealand’s Under 20s, plus assistant with the All Whites – the men’s senior side.

Originally from Cowley, Buckingham spent a decade coaching at United before spending four years in New Zealand.

It culminated with a spell in charge of A-League side Wellington Phoenix, before returning home last summer to the coaching set-up with Stoke City’s under 23s.

The plan was to settle back in England, but the opportunity with New Zealand was too good to turn down.

“All my stuff has only just turned up on a boat and now it’s time to send it straight back again,” he said.

“I spent nearly four years in New Zealand – a third of my working life.

“It’s an amazing country and I love the culture and the people – for me they are as good as you’re going to get.

“I came back with an idea of reintegrating into the English system.

“Stoke have been very supportive.

“I didn’t foresee anything of this sort happening, but they have been really good with me over this.

“When you get offered an opportunity in a national set-up where you have a crack at a four-year World Cup cycle, it’s the sort of thing that doesn’t get presented to you very often.”

The first big task will be to steer the Under 20s through a qualifying tournament in Tahiti in November to reach next year’s World Cup.