| José Figueira | |
| Fullname: | José Manuel Figueira |
| Birth Date: | 9 February 1982 |
| Birth Place: | Crawley, England[1] |
| Youthclubs1: | Crawley Town |
| Manageryears1: | 2008–2011 |
| Managerclubs1: | Auckland City (youth) |
| Manageryears2: | 2012–2013 |
| Managerclubs2: | New York Red Bulls (youth coach) |
| Manageryears3: | 2014–2016 |
| Managerclubs3: | Central United |
| Manageryears4: | 2014–2015 |
| Managerclubs4: | New Zealand U17 |
| Manageryears5: | 2015–2016 |
| Managerclubs5: | Auckland City (youth) |
| Manageryears6: | 2016–2019 |
| Managerclubs6: | Team Wellington |
| Manageryears7: | 2018–2019 |
| Managerclubs7: | New Zealand U17 |
| Manageryears8: | 2018–2019 |
| Managerclubs8: | New Zealand (assistant) |
| Manageryears9: | 2019–2021 |
| Managerclubs9: | Auckland City |
| Manageryears10: | 2021– |
| Managerclubs10: | Auckland United |
José Manuel Figueira (born 9 February 1982 in Crawley, England) is an English football coach of Spanish descent, who is the current manager of Northern League club Auckland United.[2] Figueira previously held notable roles as the head coach of Team Wellington, assistant coach of the New Zealand national team, and head coach of the New Zealand under-17 national team.[3] [4]
In his short managerial career, Figueira has won multiple domestic and international competitions, including the New Zealand Football Championship, OFC Champions League, OFC U-17 Championship and the National Youth League.[5]
Born in Crawley to Spanish parents. Figueira initially began his career as a player, playing for the youth side of local club Crawley Town, but quit at the age of 19 to pursue a career in coaching, arriving in New Zealand in 2003 following a short stint coaching at the academy of Brighton & Hove Albion.[6]
Figueira was announced as head coach of the New Zealand under-17 national team in preparation for the 2015 OFC U-17 Championship; however, after winning the tournament, he was controversially sacked despite winning all seven games and lifting the title.[7] He was reappointed in 2018, as well as being named assistant manager to Fritz Schmid for the New Zealand senior team.[8] Despite a shock 5–0 loss to the Solomon Islands, Figueira and New Zealand lifted the 2018 OFC U-16 Championship title.[9] [10]
In 2016, Figueira was announced as the new manager of defending ISPS Handa Premiership champions Team Wellington;[11] he immediately led them to another title in the 2016–17 season at his first attempt.[12] This led to him being named New Zealand Football Coach of the Year in 2017.[13] Under Figueira, Team Wellington won the 2018 OFC Champions League, qualifying the club for their first ever FIFA Club World Cup; the club was knocked out on penalties to Al-Ain in the playoff round after a 3–3 draw.[14]