Biography
Who is Ricki Herbert?
Early life and family background
Richard Lloyd Herbert was born in Auckland, New Zealand, on April 10, 1961. He attended Papatoetoe High School during his youth. He comes from a family with a deep history in competitive sports. His mother, Shirley, was a champion sprinter, while his father, Clive Herbert, worked as a professional cyclist and football administrator.
Clive Herbert also served as an official for New Zealand at the 1968 Summer Olympics held in Mexico. He further worked as a professional trainer for standardbred harness racing horses. This athletic environment influenced Ricki's path as he grew up.
Professional football playing career
Ricki Herbert began representing New Zealand at the under-20 level before moving to the senior team. He earned 61 full international caps between 1980 and 1989. His senior debut occurred during a victory over Mexico in August 1980. He featured in every match of the qualifying campaign for the 1982 FIFA World Cup held in Spain.
At the club level, he played for several teams in his home country, including University-Mount Wellington and Nelson United. He achieved significant success with Mt Wellington AFC, securing three league championships and two Chatham Cup titles. He also played internationally, spending time with the Wolverhampton Wanderers in England from 1984 to 1986, where he appeared in 49 matches. Also, he played for Sydney Olympic FC in Australia.
Coaching and management achievements
Ricki began his coaching path at Papakura City AFC in 1990 before managing Papatoetoe AFC. He later took charge of Central United, leading them to victories in the Chatham Cup during 1997 and 1998. In 1999, he guided the team to win the New Zealand championship final against Dunedin Technical.
His national team career reached a high point when he became the head coach of the All Whites in 2005. He famously guided the team through the 2010 FIFA World Cup without losing a single game, including memorable draws against Italy and Slovakia. He remains the only New Zealander to participate in the World Cup as both a player and a manager.
Academy work and personal life
In 2014, he established the Ricki Herbert Football Academy in New Zealand. This organization provides coaching services for boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 17. By 2016, the academy operated seven talent centers across the country and formed a partnership with the English club Fulham. He also holds a UEFA Pro International Coaching Licence.
Ricki's son, Kale Herbert, has followed in his footsteps as a professional football coach. Kale has worked as a head coach for both the Ricki Herbert Football Academy and the Hamilton Wanderers team in the New Zealand Football Championship. The details of Ricki's life were documented in the biography titled A New Fire, published in 2009 by Russell Gray.
Birthday and age
Ricki Herbert was born on April 10, 1961, which makes Ricki 65 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. Ricki shares the date with 41 other famous people.
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