Sam Sutton

DOB 10/12/01

Another product of the Wellington Phoenix academy, Sam Sutton signed his first professional contract with the club in October 2020.

The left back was born in Auckland and played for East Coast Bays before moving to Wellington as a 14-year-old to join the academy.

He made more than 40 appearances for the club’s reserves over three seasons before he started training with the first team.

Sutton made his A-League debut just days after his 17th birthday in December 2019, playing the final minute of the Phoenix’s 2-2 draw with Sydney. He featured off the bench a couple of times the following month before making his first start after the Covid-hit competition resumed in July.

He had to bide his time at the beginning of his first full season, with James McGarry starting the 2020-21 campaign at left back. Sutton was handed his first start in round 16 and went on to make the left side of defence his own, starting nine of the final 10 games of the season, during which time the Phoenix went unbeaten.

His performances were noticed by All Whites coach Danny Hay, who named Sutton a travelling reserve for the Tokyo Olympics.

Sutton missed the start of the 2021-22 season after suffering a knee injury in training, but after a couple of appearances off the bench he swiftly regained his place in the starting XI and remained there throughout the season.

He started 23 matches across both competitions, only missing two games in April when he was forced to isolate due to COVID-19 protocols.

While primarily a left back, he also showcased his versatility, playing as both a holding midfielder and attacking midfielder when required.

Sutton provided three assists and scored his first goal against Western Sydney Wanderers in May 2022.

He missed the opening chunk of the 2022-23 season with a hamstring injury, before playing regularly until the break for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

He lost his place in the side after the A-League resumed, but still represented the New Zealand U-22 side in their two matches against China’s U-24 team in March, scoring a goal in the first game as captain.

> 2023-24 season

Injuries meant Sam Sutton started the season as the backup left back for the Wellington Phoenix. Sutton didn’t start until the sixth round match against Macarthur.

He alternated with Lukas Kelly-Heald before seizing the starting job for himself during the back end of the season.

Sutton went on to feature in 22 games, starting 13, while also chipping in with one assist.

A confident campaign was rewarded with a spot in the All Whites squad for the OFC Nations Cup, where he made his international debut, including starting in the final as New Zealand were victorious.

He then featured at the Paris Olympics, where he started all three games as New Zealand were knocked out at the group stage.