Sergio Lobera steps down as Mumbai City coach, Des Buckingham to take over

Reigning Indian Super League (ISL) champions Mumbai City on Friday introduced that Sergio Lobera shall be stepping down as their head coach after a profitable one-year stint with the membership.
The membership’s new head coach shall be Des Buckingham, who joins from sister membership and A-League champions Melbourne City. He will be a part of the Islanders forward of the 2021-22 season on a two-year contract, a media assertion issued by the franchise said.
Buckingham will arrive within the nation shortly and can bear the stipulated quarantine earlier than becoming a member of the Mumbai City bubble in Goa to start pre-season preparations forward of the 2021-22 marketing campaign.
The assertion mentioned Lobera will proceed his teaching journey with City Football Group (CFG), which owns Mumbai City, Melbourne City and high English Premier League facet Manchester City amongst others.

For every part you’ve carried out for #AamchiCity, #ThankYouSergio! 🏆💙@SergioLobera1 pic.twitter.com/LoEPEaw2jG
— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) October 8, 2021
Lobera joined the membership in October 2020 and oversaw the membership’s most profitable marketing campaign ever, when the Islanders grew to become the primary group in ISL historical past to safe each the League Winners’ Shield and the Trophy.
Englishman Des Buckingham was assistant coach to Patrick Kisnorbo, serving to the membership in the direction of profitable the A-League Premiership and Championship double, the assertion added.
Prior to becoming a member of Melbourne City, Buckingham grew to become the youngest coach in A-League historical past when he took cost of Wellington Phoenix on the age of 31, earlier than a spell with Stoke City’s U-23 group.
Buckingham was additionally the top coach of New Zealand’s U-20 and U-23 groups in addition to the assistant coach to the All Whites’ First Team for a short interval.

Welcome to आमची Mumbai, 𝗗𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗺! 👋#WelcomeDes #AamchiCity 🔵 @DesBuckingham pic.twitter.com/qmUQnK8qUX
— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) October 8, 2021
He guided the New Zealand U-20 to the Round of 16 within the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup earlier than bowing out to Colombia in a penalty shootout.
Kandarp Chandra, CEO of Mumbai City FC, mentioned, “We are delighted to welcome Des to Mumbai City. He is an exciting young coach who already has years of experience under his belt.”
“Sergio was a huge part of the most successful season in the club’s history and has helped to give us great foundations to build on this year.”
Buckingham, on his half mentioned, “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time in Australia, but the opportunity to take control of the defending ISL champions was impossible to turn down.”