| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Desmond Donaldson Bulpin | ||
| Date of birth | 31 March 1951 | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| 2009–2010 | Philippines | ||
| 2010–2011 | Indian Arrows | ||
| 2011–2011 | India U-23 | ||
Desmond Donaldson "Des" Bulpin is a British football coach who currently manages the Indian Arrows, a national U-21 team in India. He holds a UEFA A-Licence and has wide-ranging experience working in the Premiership, Championship and Non-League at first team, reserve team and youth team level.
From a very early age, Des Bulpin has always been highly enthusiastic about coaching and the teaching of football. He did his prelim badge in 1980 with Roy Hodgson. After that, he was invited by Bob Houghton to work with the schoolboys at Bristol City FC. Des was then employed by Bobby Gould at Bristol Rovers as Youth Team Coach, later as First Team Coach and Reserve Team Manager. Other managers who have employed Des Bulpin are Gerry Francis, Ian Holloway, Andy Kilner, Dave Burnside and Bob Houghton.
Des Bulpin has a solid record of identifying and developing young players such as Peter Crouch,[1] Daniel Dichio, Dougie Freedman, Kevin Gallen, Ledley King, Marcus Stewart, Steven Yates and many more. “Des Bulpin discovered me and along with my dad would be the biggest influence on my career,” Peter Crouch says. “I remember him telling me when I was 15 that Jermain Defoe and I would play together for England when we were older and he hasn't been too far wrong. We're still in touch, and I'll always have time for Des.”[2][3]
Bulpin's career has seen him work for football clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur, Queens Park Rangers, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Stockport County, Plymouth Argyle and Leicester City. He has also had international positions in countries such as Singapore and Uzbekistan, where Bulpin was the former head coach of the Uzbekistan U-17 football team. In November 2009, he was appointed as National Team Manager of the Philippines, signing an initial one-year deal.[4] He said, "it’s a massive challenge, but we have to get on with it." He also vowed to turn the team into an "organized team that pressures other teams, plays a high tempo and moves the ball quickly."[5] In July 2010, he left his post with the Philippines to take over India's U-21 team which is fielded in the 2010–11 I-League season.[6]
Since Autumn 2010, Bulpin is Head Coach of Indian Arrows, a national U-21 team in India. The team also plays in the I-League. The average age of the team is 19 years.[7] Six players of this team are currently in the national men’s squad, coached and managed by Bob Houghton.[8] On 23 April 2011, Bob Houghton handed in his immediate resignation as the Indian national team coach, which the AIFF accepted which brought up rumors about Bulpins position in the AIFF but those rumors where put to bed by the AIFF who said that they would continue with Bulpin. On August 13, 2011 it was announced that Bulpin has been relived of his duties with Indian Arrows and India U-23.[9]
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