The Wellington Phoenix congratulates Gemma Lewis on being named women’s coach of the year at the New Zealand Football Awards.
Lewis expertly guided the Phoenix women through their maiden A-League season, under trying circumstances, while also juggling her other roles; managing the Future Ferns Domestic Programme (FFDP) and coaching the New Zealand U-20 women’s team.
She had limited time to put the inaugural Phoenix squad together, a minimal pre-season and her young team, nearly all of which were first-time professionals, were forced to live away from home for five months and play all of their matches in Australia.
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Despite the challenges and against all odds the women picked up a memorable point on debut and won two of their final four games to narrowly miss out on ninth place on goal differential.
Gemma Lewis has been reappointed for the 2022/23 Liberty A-League season.
The New Zealand Football Awards covered both the 2020 and 2021 calendar years due to the impact COVID-19 had on international football and futsal and domestic competitions in 2020.
The winners were chosen by a panel of expert judges as well as a fan vote.
Former Phoenix defender Liberato Cacace was named NZF’s young men’s player of the year.