The Wellington Phoenix have brought back another familiar face.
The Phoenix have signed Australian left back Walter Scott on a one-year deal before the Isuzu UTE A-League registration window closed on Tuesday night.
Scott spent the 2019-20 season in Wellington, making three A-League appearances as the primary backup to Liberato Cacace.
Now 26, he arrives back in the capital after three seasons with Macarthur FC, including 49 appearances across the A-League and Asian Champions League Two plus an Australia Cup title in 2024.
Head coach Chris Greenacre believes Scott is an important signing.
“Walter brings a wealth of experience and he’s played a large number of A-League games,” Greenacre said.
“He’s up to speed with the league, and arguably one of the best pros that we’ve ever had at the club in terms of his application to his craft.
“As we were building the squad, we had a left-back position that we felt we could potentially strengthen at some point, things materialised and we’ve decided to do that.”
And it will be easy for Scott to bed in.
“He understands what we’re trying to build at the Phoenix, having been here before, and what the club needs to go forward.
“There’s been an ongoing connection for a long time for him and his family.
“Walter understands Wellington, our fans, our role within the community, and he was delighted when we made contact with him.”
Walter Scott is excited to get started with a team he has connections with, including Greenacre and fellow new signing Rafa Durán, who he played with at Macarthur last season.
“I know Greeny from my previous time at the club,” Scott said. They reached out to me and my agent, and it was a no-brainer to get it done.
“I’ve been able to have a really good chat with him about how he sees the club moving forward, re-instilling some of the values from when he was a player, and he thought I fit that really well.
“I’m also so stoked to be able to link up with Rafa again. He’s a great player and a great man.”
He feels he’s a much different player from his last stint in yellow and black.
“I’ve definitely gained a lot of experience not just on but off the football field.
“I’ve had lots of different challenges. Going down into the NPL, then back up into the A-League, winning the Australia Cup and getting into AFC competition last season.
“That provided me with so many experiences and challenges which I’ve been able to overcome, and they’ve really made me grow into quite a resilient, functional footballer.
“I’ve played many positions in the time I’ve been away, so I see myself being able to drive standards on the park and help the staff and senior boys to create a successful environment.”
And being back in Wellington is a major drawcard.
“Wellington’s great. It was a special part of my life. I was a young man when I was there last, I met my wife there.
“We’ve spent this time in Sydney, and now we’re really excited to be going back to Wellington.
“We are just so pumped to be coming back.”
Walter Scott will wear the no. 5 shirt for the Wellington Phoenix, with Fin Roa Conchie having taken no. 6, and is the 20th men’s player contracted for the upcoming season.Â
Further squad announcements will be made over the coming weeks in the lead up to the men’s season opener against Melbourne Victory at Hnry Stadium on Sunday, October 18.
