Manaia Elliott

DOB 21/4/05

> History

Manaia Elliott was one of the women’s four scholarship players for the 2023-24 A-League.

The winger signed a three year contract with the Wellington Phoenix, with the first two years on scholarship terms.

Elliott joined the Phoenix academy from Melville United AFC in Hamilton at the start of 2022, with her parents following her to the capital soon after.

She captained the Young Football Ferns at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India, starting all three of their group matches.

Elliott was also a key part of the women’s reserves side in 2023 and led New Zealand to an eighth OFC U-19 Women’s Championship title in July 2022.

> 2023-24 season

Manaia Elliott was a regular contributor to the Wellington Phoenix during her first season in senior football.

She featured in 16 matches, starting six. Her versatility was an added bonus, as she spent time on both wings and at wing-back.

Elliott scored her first professional goal against Western Sydney in round two, coming off the bench and making a mark with an assist as well.

She was upgraded to a full contract in February.

Her contributions were recognised at international level, as she was named captain of the Junior Football Ferns side for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia, where she played all three matches and scored against Ghana.