New Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano has finalised his staff for the 2023-24 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Italian Francesco Evangelista has arrived in Wellington to take up his position as the men’s new head analyst.
As previously announced Adam Griffiths will be Italiano’s assistant and they are joined in the coaching team by returning goalkeeper mentor Ruben Parker.
Parker has signed on for his first full season in the role, having been promoted to the men’s first team staff from the Phoenix academy last December.
Evangelista has joined the club from S.S. Juve Stabia in Serie C and replaces Logan Hughes, who has departed after two seasons as the team’s analyst.
Weijie Lim has been reappointed head of strength and conditioning.
Lim has been in the role for the past two A-League seasons, having previously worked at the academy for five years.
Cory Glover has been promoted to the head physiotherapist role, after serving as Ben Venn’s assistant the past two seasons, while Jamie Hassett has joined the first team from the academy to be the men’s rehab physio.
Venn has moved on after seven years with the Phoenix, the past four of which were as head physiotherapist.
Jake Piper is continuing as the men’s football operations manager, having only joined the Nix in February, and Jack Mapp has been reappointed the team’s kit man for a third season.
“I’m really pleased with the make-up of my staff,” Italiano said.
“Adam did a fantastic job at WSW last year, while Francesco will bring new ideas to our playing structure and Ruben is one of the best up and coming ‘keeper coaches in the A-League.
“Weijie will provide us an excellent platform for our physical preparation, and Cory and Jamie will add new and youthful energy to the physio department.
“Finally I expect Jake and Jack will continue their good work as the team’s manager and kit man respectively.”
Wellington Phoenix men’s staff 2023-24
Head coach – Giancarlo Italiano
Assistant coach – Adam Griffiths
Goalkeeper coach – Ruben Parker
Video analyst – Francesco Evangelista
Head of strength and conditioning – Weijie Lim
Head physiotherapist – Cory Glover
Rehab physiotherapist – Jamie Hassett
Football operations manager – Jake Piper
Kit man – Jack Mapp
