FORMER Oxford United coach Des Buckingham has become the youngest boss in Australian A-League history.

The 31-year-old has taken over the reins at Wellington Phoenix, having joined the New Zealand club’s coaching set-up midway through the 2014/15 season.

He stepped up on a caretaker basis last month, but was put in charge for the rest of the season with co-coach Chris Greenacre after winning one game and drawing the other three.

Buckingham, who spent 11 years in a variety of roles at United, said: “We have been handed a fantastic challenge.”