The Wellington Phoenix have recommitted to Giancarlo Italiano as the men’s head coach.
The Phoenix and Italiano have put pen to paper on a new contract for the 2025-26 Isuzu UTE A-League, with an option for a further season.
Italiano, or Chief as he’s more commonly known, has been in the role for the past two seasons, having served under Ufuk Talay for the preceding four years.
Despite the men’s disappointing 2024-25 campaign, he still boasts the best winning percentage of any Phoenix head coach having overseen the club’s most successful season 12 months ago when the Nix narrowly missed out on the Premiers’ Plate and a place in the A-League grand final.
Director of football Shaun Gill says Italiano has earned a contract extension.
“It seems a lot of people in the sporting world have short memories,” Gill said. “I understand the frustration and disappointment with how the men’s season has unfolded, but Chief 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.”
Giancarlo Italiano is “very happy” to have re-signed with the Phoenix.
“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,” Italiano said.
“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. It’s always been the goal and why strive for anything else?
“I’m more assured now after what’s happened this season that I can steer the club to where it needs to be and we can make a tilt for the title.
“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.”
And Italiano believes he’s a better coach for what the team has gone through this campaign.
“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.
“And overall, 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.
“I feel like I’m one year better for it and the experience has put me in a better spot.”
Discussions are continuing with the rest of the men’s first team coaching staff and further announcements will be made in the coming weeks.
