Phoenix lose biggest star - Barbarouses
- Dave Worsley
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
The Wellington Phoenix have lost arguably their biggest name player, striker Kosta Barbarouses, is leaving the A-League club.
The, 35-year-old All Whites forward has turned down his option of a contract extension and has informed the club he intends to play elsewhere next season.
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Earlier this month defenders Sam Sutton and Scott Wooton, who had each played over 100 games for the club, announced they were leaving.
The club finished 11th this season with just six wins 26 games.
Barbarouses, 35, has had three stints with the Phoenix.
In the last two years under head coach Giancarlo Italiano he scored 23 goals in 54 A-League matches.
Earlier this month he became the club's first three-time winner of the men's player of the year award.
The four-time A-League champion signed off by scoring the match-winner in Wellington's Australia Cup playoff against Brisbane Roar in Darwin last week.
"The three years I've spent with the Phoenix in my home town have been very special to me," Barbarouses said. "I'm grateful to the fans, the squad and many of the staff members for everything.
"The decision to leave has been a very difficult one to make and I wish the Phoenix all the best in the future."
Phoenix director of football Shaun Gill is convinced the club did all it could to keep hold of Barbarouses.
"Kosta has had two of the best seasons of his career at the Phoenix and we believed he was in the best place to secure selection in the All Whites' World Cup squad," Gill said.
"In recognition of his performances over the past two seasons we tabled what we believed was a very competitive contract offer.
"We're disappointed he's turned down our contract extension, but we respect his decision and thank him for all of his contributions to the club."
The club also lost All Whites defender Sam Sutton to Perth Glory as they try to retain players for the next season.
Currently they have 18 men's players contracted for the 2025-26 A-League season.
