HE'S BACK TO MEET HIS U'S DESTINY!

EXCITED Des Buckingham believes the experiences he’s gained in almost a decade overseas will only help his bid to bring success to home-town club Oxford United.

- John Lyons

The League One high-flyers appointed the 38-year-old as head coach on Thursday and it’s a move that has brought him full circle.

He began his coaching career in the club’s academy 20 years ago and grafted his way up to first-team level, working under Chris Wilder. But he then decided to expand his horizons by leaving these shores.

He gained invaluable experience as either an assistant or manager with the likes of Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand’s U20s and U23s, Melbourne City and Mumbai City. He has enjoyed some notable successes, including leading Mumbai to the Indian Super League title earlier this year, breaking a host of records along the way.

Now, however, Buckingham, below, has cut ties with the City Football Group to take the reins at Oxford, and he reckons he’s all the better for having taken the gamble to go abroad when he did.