A familiar face has landed back at the Wellington Phoenix academy.
Blake Chandler, who played for Nix academy sides from 2018 to 2023, has taken up the role of academy camps and skill centres lead as well as being the U-16 women’s head coach.
He believes his experience in the system will add an extra layer to his coaching.
“Because I’ve been through every stage of the academy, whether it’s right at the start or whether it’s in the reserves space, I’ve got a pretty good grasp of what it feels like to be an academy player and what the players are going through,” he said.
“That experience can help me with my coaching, but also my interaction with the players.
“I was in the academy from when I was 14, up until about 2022-23, a couple years ago.
“Last year I was approached about an intern role, where I did some coaching, analysis as well. From that, it’s led into a full time role.”
He earmarked a future as a coach “pretty early on” in his time at the Nix.
“I’ve always enjoyed the game itself, the tactical side of it. One of my main strengths as a player when I was in the academy was tactical knowledge, reading the game.
“I knew early on that I wanted to go into some kind of coaching role, help others.
“I’ve always been interested in getting more kids into football, and helping those talented players develop.”
He’s not the only former academy player to have returned as a staff member.
Luke Tongue, who featured for the men’s reserves between 2015 and 2018, spent two years as an academy coach before moving into a first team coaching role this season, while Ella McMillan is a member of both the women’s first team squad and the academy sports science staff.
Chandler believes it is an increasingly important pathway within the Phoenix.
“The academy have always been really welcoming to me when I was there as a player, they look out for their players.
“Giving me the opportunity stemmed from me being in the academy, there’s always been an open door whenever I need it.
“There definitely is a pathway there which is really exciting. Even now they’re starting to get some of the reserves boys into coaching courses.
“They’re focusing on the players to be able to help them during and after the academy.”
The Wellington Phoenix academy will begin their season shortly, with Central and Capital leagues kicking off this weekend before Capital Development leagues start at the end of April.
