Wellington Phoenix interim head coach Chris Greenacre has confirmed he has not applied for the job on a permanent basis.
Wellington Phoenix interim head coach Chris Greenacre has confirmed he has not applied for the job on a permanent basis.
Greenacre stepped up following the resignation of Ricki Herbert last month and has led the team to two losses and a win, although the performances in the latter two games have been much-improved.
Applications close on March 22 and the Phoenix expect an appointment to be made in April once applicants have been considered by a six-man committee, which includes general manager David Dome.
Several people have been linked to the job, including former assistant coach Luciano Trani, Central Coast assistant coach Phil Moss and Columbus Crew assistant coach Duncan Oughton – a former All White.
While Greenacre has opted not to apply for the position this time his experiences in the past three weeks have made him realise that being a head coach in the future is a goal.
“It’s been an absolutely fantastic roller-coaster. I’ve enjoyed every second of it,” the Englishman declared.
“It’s opened my eyes that maybe in the long term it’s something I really want to do.
“When I first got the assistant role I wanted to become a really good coach and then maybe take it from there to decide if it’s for me.
“But what I’ve experienced so far I wouldn’t say in the long-run that I wouldn’t want to be a head coach somewhere.”
Greenacre is in his first year of coaching after bringing down the curtain on his lengthy career as a striker at the end of last season.
He admitted the past three weeks in the ‘hot seat’ had been the closest feeling he had got to playing since hanging up his boots.
“When you’re stood on the touchline in the head coach role and the ball is within touching distance and the information you’re giving the players … is the next best thing to playing,” he said.
“I actually feel like I’m on the field with them. That’s a really, really exciting place to be and it’s the next best thing to being on the field.
“You don’t quite get that when you’re an assistant and I’ve really, really enjoyed that element to it.”
