Derek Fazackerley has parted ways with Oxford United after 12 years of service at the Kassam Stadium. The 74-year-old coach, who joined in 2014, has left the club for personal reasons, ending a long association that included roles as assistant manager, first-team coach and a two-month spell as interim manager in 2018.
He first arrived as Michael Appleton's assistant and was part of the backroom staff for the club's promotion to the Championship in 2024. Fazackerley later moved into an advisory position in 2020. His departure comes with Oxford United sitting 6th in the standings, having taken 11 points from their opening six games. The team's recent performances, which include three wins and a draw from their last five matches, show a side that has scored an average of 1.7 goals per 90 minutes this season while conceding 1.3. They now prepare for their next fixtures, a home match against Portsmouth at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday, September 28th.
Career Legacy
Fazackerley brings a wealth of experience from a distinguished career in football. As a player, he is Blackburn Rovers' record appearance holder with 671 games. His coaching journey began at Newcastle United alongside Kevin Keegan, with whom he also worked with the England national team. He later followed Sven-Göran Eriksson to Manchester City in 2008 and had spells at Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley and Leicester City before his long tenure at Oxford.
Despite stepping back, Fazackerley indicated he is not retiring from football. "It's certainly not the end, who knows what the future holds in terms of what might come up?" he said. He also offered his continued support to the club, stating, "I'll be there if they need me. The only difference is I won't be around as much as I was before."
Head of Football Operations Ed Waldron confirmed the departure, thanking Fazackerley for his significant contribution over more than a decade. Waldron highlighted Fazackerley's role in developing the club's playing philosophy and his mentorship of both players and staff, which is reflected in the current squad and their underlying stats. The club now moves forward, aiming to build on its positive start to the campaign.
