Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo ‘Chiefy’ Italiano believes Stefan Colakovski has the potential to “become of the best attackers in the league” as the new signing explained why a move to European did not materialise.
A 2021 Championship winner with Melbourne City, where he also claimed a pair of Premierships, the 24-year-old Australian forward scored six goals in 22 appearances last term.
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“I think if we can get him to his potential, he’ll be one of the best attackers in the league,” Italiano told reporters.
Italiano revealed Colakovski had been on Wellington’s radar since last season and after a proposed overseas transfer fell through, 2023-24 Semi-Finalists the Phoenix pounced.
“I knew that he was in talks with a couple of European clubs, and I was just keeping tabs on him,” said Italiano, who also confirmed Marco Rojas is dealing with a leg fracture.
“We actually tried to get him last year around the I think it was the second window in January. We ended up going with (Youstin) Salas in terms of solidifying the midfield.
“Then it just went cold. I kept tabs on him for for the beginning of this season. His agent, at the time, said that he was looking to move overseas, rightfully so. And then, as it panned out, just didn’t eventuate. And I was lucky enough he wanted to come here and we could strike a deal.”
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Asked about the European interest, Colakovski told reporters: “Not to delve into it too much, but maybe I was a bit naïve to trust the wrong person.
“I’ve got no shame in saying that I wanted to get to Europe. I think any footballer, that’s the level they want to get to.
“It couldn’t work out this off-season, which is completely fine. Now I’m just fully focused on achieving with the Phoenix.”
Colakovski joins a Wellington side coming off an historic season in which the Phoenix came within a whisker of a maiden Premiership and Grand Final berth.
The Phoenix have brought in Rojas, Paulo Retre, Luke Brooke-Smith, Josh Oluwayemi, Dublin Boon (scholarship contract), Kazuki Nagasawa, Hideki Ishige, Corban Piper (scholarship contract) and Jayden Smith (scholarship contract) after that agonising Semi-Final loss to Melbourne Victory.
It is a new-look Phoenix, who are also preparing for the first ‘Kiwi Clasico’ against New Zealand rivals and Isuzu UTE A-League debutants Auckland FC.
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“Obviously how Wellington did last season was amazing,” said Colakovski. “Chief is a fantastic coach and I think even more importantly, from what I’ve heard, he’s a fantastic person.
“I think everyone wants to work with fantastic people. Doesn’t matter what job you’re doing. So there’s that.
“There’s the club, the biggest club in New Zealand. I’m looking forward to the derbies as well. Everything, the fans and probably the squad, I think can can achieve some big things.
“Last season they were close, and I’m hoping I can add that extra little edge to win something this year.”
