Former Melville United men’s first team co-coach Michael Mayne has been named Ford Football Ferns head coach to lead the team for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 cycle.

In taking on the role, Mayne (Ngāti Awa/Ngāpuhi) becomes the first New Zealand-born Football Ferns head coach in over 20 years.

After being in the role on an interim basis, Mayne becomes the permanent head coach ahead of the team’s two-match series in Spain next month against Venezuela.

Prior to his current position, Mayne was assistant coach with the Football Ferns for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and Paris 2024 Olympic cycle, as well as holding coaching roles in multiple cycles with the New Zealand U-17 and U-20 women’s team, including for the historic bronze medal win at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2018.

Mayne was co-coach with Sam Wilkinson at Melville United from 2017 - 2019 and was among the first coaches in the country to undertake the OFC Pro Licence, the globally recognised gold standard for elite-level coaching.

“Firstly, I want to thank Andrew and New Zealand Football for the faith they have put in me by offering me this role.

“To be head coach of your country is something I absolutely do not take lightly and it is a proud moment for me and my family.

“There are a lot of people that have invested time and effort in me throughout my coaching career, and this is an acknowledgement to their belief and support they have given as well.

“While in the role on an interim basis I’ve been really pleased with the work we have been able to start as a team, so it is a real privilege to be in a position to continue to drive that forward.

“This is an exciting, talented, and motivated group of players, and we can move forward now with our plan, with a lot of new energy, and push ourselves to reach that next level and that starts immediately against Venezuela.”

Article added: Friday 23 May 2025