Meet the City fan now in charge of the Cook Islands

Few coaches hailing from Norfolk have had a more varied or globetrotting career than Jess Ibrom, who has just been appointed head coach of the Cook Islands.

Ibrom, who hails from Hunstanton in Norfolk and is a Norwich City fan, was named as boss of the South Pacific island off the coast of New Zealand earlier this week, signing a contract through to 2026. 

It is the latest challenge for Ibrom after previous roles across the world working in America for the MLS, part of Chelsea's academy recruitment team working overseas and in various football coaching and strategic roles in Oceania. 

Ibrom formerly served as a key part of King's Lynn youth programme between 2006 and 2011 before embarking on his career abroad. It was during his time at the Walks that his desire to head elsewhere was really fuelled.

"I'd spent a lot of time at King's Lynn, and we had such good success when Keith Webb, ex-Norwich, was there and we managed to get to the Conference North.

"I felt I had taken the youth development programme as far as it could be taken so I wanted a challenge abroad.

"I haven't played at a significantly high level so I started the process of finding a job overseas. Then it morphed into all of this. It's been challenging but rewarding at the same time.

"I wanted the opportunity to work abroad, but it took me two years," Ibrom said in conversation with the Pink Un.

"Then the chance to come out to New Zealand started this strange journey of hopping from country to country - New Zealand, Mexico back to New Zealand, then Samoa, then back to New Zealand and then the Cook Islands as national team coach. It's been an unconventional way to do it."

After a spell aiding the development of academy football in the Cook Islands and serving as their technical director, Ibrom has now been handed the role of national team coach. 

The Cook Islands has a population of around 17,000 people - to put that figure into context, it is fewer than those who reside in Dereham. On the main island of Rarotonga, there are around 13,000.

Covid has damaged the population significantly, reducing it to a lower level than was the case before the pandemic began in 2020. 

Sourcing talent and building structures is, therefore, testing, but it is a challenge that excites Ibrom as he prepares to begin training in the New Year. A key pillar of his strategy will be discovering talent from outside the Island, eligible to represent the nation. 

"The biggest challenge is that we don't play enough games but in this coming year, 2024, we should have a few games. We have our first games in March against Tonga and Samoa; they are regional qualification games," Ibrom said. 

"We are ranked 185th out of 211 countries - that tells you a story. Recruitment is a big thing for me and we've just taken on a couple of scouts. That is our strategy. We are looking at players all over the world who are eligible to play for the Cook Islands - that hasn't really happened before.

"Then, it's about developing the academy programmes in the Cook Islands. Our population is so small - about 17,000, if that - it's a big challenge.

"We're the second smallest member association in Fifa. We're looking at Australia and New Zealand as our big territories for recruitment, but we're also looking at the UK as well.

"I've already spoken to the internationally recognised players, and there's not many, probably about 10, but I'm really excited about it."

Ibrom's immediate focus is on the OFC Nations Cup Qualifying Tournament against Tonga and Samoa in March which would provide an opportunity for the Cook Islands to compete against a higher calibre of opponents. 

It would take quite the run for Ibrom's side to face the likes of New Zealand - but he is focused on the long-term and is set to look to introduce the new generation of talent into his international squad. 

"We could face New Zealand. We'd have to go through some significant qualification games first, but we're notoriously in the bottom four - it's usually the Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa and American Samoa," he said. 

"If we come through our qualifying phase with Tonga and Samoa in March, then we enter a bigger pool where we'd play Papa New Guinea, Fiji and others.

"That would be a bigger challenge because these countries are more developed and have bigger populations. We like that we are quite small and every game is going to be a challenge."

By his own admission, Ibrom's career pathway has been unconventional. Few English coaches find themselves so far from home in pursuit of success. 

During a phone conversation, his excitement at the prospect of helping develop football in the Cook Islands was tangible. For others, the Fifa ranking and low population would be daunting - but not for Ibrom. 

"I seem to come into these really challenging roles," he chuckled. "It's not been a very linear role. My wife is from New Zealand, and we live there, but I spend a large proportion of my time in the Cook Islands.

"I love the challenge of going into countries that are underdeveloped football-wise, and you know that you can make a real impact. The people are really appreciative of that. I have massive trust with the local people because they know I'm here for the right reasons: you want to work and expose young players to opportunities."

Despite now living on the other side of the world, Ibrom remains connected with his Norfolk routes.

His most recent return was last year, but in previous visits, he has caught up with old friends at Colney and within the local football scene.

"Every time I come back I always try to reconnect with as many people as I can," Ibrom said. "If I have time, then I try to pop into Norwich City and catch up with Colin Watts because we used to play games against each other.

"I've got strong connections with Ipswich, Peterborough and the region.

"It's a lovely part of the world and I follow those clubs really closely. Seeing the chase is on in the Championship with Ipswich and Norwich trying to find their feet again is really good."