Wellington Phoenix stick with Italiano
- Dave Worsley
- Apr 24
- 2 min read
After a disappointing A-League season the Wellington Phoenix are sticking with head coach Giancarlo Italiano for another year.
The club qualified for the play-offs last season, but this season they are 11th out of 13 teams with six wins, six draws and 12 losses with two matches to play.
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Italiano still has a winning percentage in his two years with the club, but has struggled this season after a number of star players moved on from the squad.
Director of football at the Wellington Phoenix said re-signing Italiano was a result of two years of work.
"It seems a lot of people in the sporting world have short memories," he said.
"I understand the frustration and disappointment with how the men's season has unfolded, but Chief (Italiano) has built up a lot of credit."
"He not only guided the men to within touching distance of the club's first trophy last year, but Chief was also an integral member of the staff during the preceding four seasons when they were finals regulars despite spending the best part of two years in Australia.
"We have faith that he will be able to help turn around the team's fortunes next season and have the Phoenix back in the top six challenging for silverware."
Italiano believes the side can make real progress in the future.
"We've achieved a lot over the last two years and I'm looking forward to bringing the club back up to where it belongs," said Italiano.
"I'm forever indebted to Wellington. The club gave me my first coaching job in the A-League, and I want to leave this club in a good place.
"I want to win the A-League. Despite all of the setbacks this season it hasn't been all doom and gloom and I think there's enough there to show that we can definitely move the club forward.
"I've learnt how to manage players and their expectations on the back of such a successful season, and how to look after a young group when a lot of pressure has been placed on them unnecessarily...I've learnt how to navigate through so many different issues this year with injuries, player availability and expectation and how you balance all of that."
The Phoenix are away to the Brisbane Roar on Saturday.
