Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo ‘Chiefy’ Italiano said he is in discussions with the Isuzu UTE A-League side regarding a new contract.
Italiano is out of contract at the end of 2024-25 as he prepares for his second campaign in charge of the Phoenix following an unforgettable 2023-24.
Throughout his rookie season, Italiano transformed the Phoenix after stepping up from his role as assistant coach under Talay in Wellington – implementing a clear vision that resulted in an historic run to the Semi-Finals, having got within a whisker of a maiden Premiership.
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As the Phoenix gear up for their Round 1 opener at home to Western United on October 20, Italiano provided an update on his future.
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“At the moment, we’re still in discussions,” Italiano told reporters via Stuff New Zealand.
“I don’t like jumping straight into things. The club has their process, but we are talking at the moment.
“I’m happy with the offer, but it’s just about getting the formalities right and hopefully there will be some news on that sometime soon.”
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Wellington will welcome John Aloisi’s Western United to Sky Stadium on October 20.
It comes after a busy off-season for the Phoenix, who have farewelled some significant personnel – Alex Paulsen (AFC Bournemouth), Ben Old (Saint-Etienne), Bozhidar Kraev (Western Sydney Wanderers) and Finn Surman (Portland Timbers), while Nicholas Pennington (Perth Glory), Oskar Zawada and Jack Duncan (Melbourne Victory) have also departed.
But it has allowed Italiano to bring in Marco 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).
Rojas is back at the Phoenix following 13 years away from the club however the New Zealand is in doubt for the clash with Western due to a leg injury sustained in a friendly against Western Sydney Wanderers.
“It’s not severe,” Italiano said. “It’s more about management and just getting the recovery time for it to heal.”
