Sherman’s role replaces that of former New Zealand Football high performance director Fred de Jong after the former All White striker resigned his position in late September.
The 55-year-old Sherman, who previously held the high performance manager role with New Zealand Football in 2007-2008, moves into the position from his current role of technical director for the community game with the national body.
Highly regarded in world football, Sherman has also served as technical director of the Welsh Football Association and as head of coach education with the Football Federation Australia while he also holds the world’s highest coaching qualification in the UEFA Pro License.
New Zealand Football CEO Andy Martin said Sherman’s core responsibility will be driving the delivery of the Beyond Football Plan – the organisation’s blueprint for elite football in New Zealand released at the end of 2014.
“Rob’s experience in the technical delivery of football is among the very best you will find anywhere in the world,” Martin said.
“We are extremely fortunate to have had him working primarily in coach education for the past year and he will now be in a position to apply his vast knowledge to the remaining areas of our elite structure.
“Essentially his role is to shape the experience of our highest level players, teams and coaches as they exit the development pathway which starts with junior football and finishes on the world stage.”
Sherman says he is looking forward to the chance to put his experience to work as he aims to build on the foundations already in place.
“I’m really excited at the opportunity to be put into a position to oversee the whole of the football department and set a national direction which impacts on the international teams and links back to the community side of the game,” Sherman said.
“I think there is a unique opportunity to link the top of the game and the bottom in terms of things such as our style of play and coaching methodology which will impact on player development and establish the clear route for our emerging talent to go and perform on the international stage.”
“I think I can support and add to some of the robust structures already in place and hopefully add the couple of percent which will move us forward to the next stage.”
Sherman begins work in his new role on Tuesday 27 October.
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football

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