Danny Hay will leave his role as All Whites head coach after his contract with NZ Football expires.
Hay, 47, took charge of the All Whites in 2019 and led them to the FIFA intercontinental playoff, losing to Costa Rica to miss out on a ticket to this year's Football World Cup in Qatar.
But after expressing his concerns over the team's calendar - with no fixtures on the horizon for the next six months at least - Hay did not re-apply for his job.
"I want to thank Danny for his time as All Whites head coach," said NZ Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell. "There is no doubt he has played a key role in the development of the team during a challenging period for international football.
"While Danny was offered the opportunity to re-apply for the position, we respect his decision not to put himself forward and wish him the best of luck with whatever he chooses to do next.
"The plan now for NZ Football is to announce a new All Whites head coach as soon as possible, once the recruitment process has been completed."
Under Hay, the U23 OlyWhites made history at the Tokyo Olympics, advancing to the knockout stage, while more and more New Zealanders are plying their trade in top leagues across Europe and America.
Hay was publicly endorsed by his players, with both former captain Winston Reid and striker Chris Wood both stating the need to see Hay's tenure extended, after his progress with the side.
Former coach Ricky Herbert was also vocal in the need for clarity over Hay's position.
Hay's exit comes after a campaign debrief from the 2022 World Cup qualifying cycle.
More than 40 people were consulted to determine the successes - and otherwise - of the campaign, given the All Whites' failure to reach Qatar.
Several recommendations were also put forward for the next 2026 World Cup cycle, as well as the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The recommendations also included...
- Having the team play as often as possible - one of Hay's key concerns.
- Reviewing the All Whites staff's work with NZ Football's high performance department to ensure a more collaborative approach.
- Proactive investment in coaching development for the All Whites and introduction of professional football expertise within NZ Football.
Suggestions on how to fill the role of a high performance general manager and creating a culture of transparency were also among the recommendations.
"A key priority for NZF is making sure we plan and resource sufficiently for the next four years, giving the All Whites the best possible chance of success at the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and in our 2024 Olympic campaign" added Pragnell.
"One area the campaign debrief highlighted was the lack of alignment between the All Whites staff and NZ Football's high performance department, so that will be a major focus.
"It's critical the All Whites are fully integrated with the organisation, if they're to produce the best possible results on the international stage."
