Wellington Phoenix head coach Ufuk Talay would be willing to step into the vacant All Whites' manager role, once Danny Hay leaves the role.
As announced by New Zealand Football earlier this week, Hay will vacate his role as the All Whites' head coach when his contract expires at the end of October, leaving the organisation needing to find a new manager.
And although the All Whites have no matches lined up for the foreseeable future - with nothing scheduled for the next FIFA window in March 2023 - the team will need to finalise its new head coach in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup.
But in the search for their next head coach, New Zealand Football might not need to look too far.
Phoenix boss Talay, 46, said he'd be willing to consider the role of coaching a national team, with the All Whites vacancy creating a synergy with his club job.
"Coaching a national team is always interesting," said Talay. "For me, being the sole club at Wellington Phoenix and maybe aligning with New Zealand Football will help New Zealand football, and maybe the club at the same time.
"If there's an interest there, I'd love to sit down and have a chat."
Talay wouldn't be the first Phoenix head coach to also take the reins of the All Whites either.
Ricki Herbert overlapped as a club and international manager for six seasons, and took the All Whites to the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa in between his commitments with the Phoenix.
And now into his fourth season as Phoenix head coach, Talay said he is also open to juggling both roles - though there has been no contact from New Zealand Football.
"I don't know, we'll find out - if it does come to that stage. There has to be a lot of discussion.
"I believe it will only work if the FIFA windows [have] no games within the A-League competition. It has been done before.
"There's been no discussion at this stage. Would I like to coach an international team? Definitely."
Before taking charge of the Phoenix in 2019, Talay worked at international with Australia's under-17 and under-20 sides.
