Former A-League Men’s stars Roy O’Donovan and Kosta Barbarouses believe Wellington’s re-signing of midfielder Alex Rufer could well be the best bit of business conducted by any A-League Men club this season.
Having missed the Matchweek 1 win over Melbourne Victory due to illness Rufer returned to the heart of midfield in Matchweek 2 as the Phoenix defeated Central Coast Mariners 2-0 at Hnry Stadium, a result which saw them move to the top of the A-League Men ladder.
With interest in his services from clubs in both Australia and Vietnam Rufer looked set to depart the Phoenix during the off-season, bringing an end to more than a decade’s worth of service to the club he joined aged 13.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO WATCH WELLINGTON PHOENIX
However the Phoenix captain ultimately put pen-to-paper on a new two-year deal to remain at the club following conversations with Greenacre, and O’Donovan and Barbarouses believe the move to re-sign Rufer will prove to be a brilliant piece of business.
“Huge,” O’Donovan said when asked about Rufer’s decision to stay at the club when speaking on the A-Leagues’ brand new podcast ‘On the Whistle.’
“Even to try and identify a player to fill the role that he does at Wellington, it’s going to cost you half a million bucks to get a foreigner in there, and there’s no guarantee that he’s going to do as good a job.
“I don’t think they would do as good a job… the way Rufer plays.
“I think there was a rumour he would have went to the Newcastle Jets as well. I know Millsy [Newcastle Jets boss Mark Milligan] was very keen to get him in there, obviously, they were losing [Lachlan] Bayliss as well.
“So, obviously Greeny has that little bit of magic and Kosta will know better than anyone.
“But I feel like he’s got the balance of it right, down the spine of the team,” O’Donovan said when discussing the Phoenix’s new-look side under Greenacre.
“Experienced Kiwi Internationals, and as I said, pace and power up top. They’re going to be tough for a lot of teams this year.
ANALYSED: How ruthless Wanderers brutally exposed Auckland’s achilles heel
“Yeah, they’re going to cause teams a lot of problems,” former Phoenix and current All Whites striker Barbarouses added.
“I just think their midfield – it’s a 4-2-2-2 really that they play – and I think they’re composed, the two new boys [Bryce] Duke and [Max] Anderson, very composed, they’re very busy in there and they’re also very compact without the ball.
“We saw the second goal. Mariners played right into the trap of playing into the middle of the pitch, and you know, they get caught out because of it.
“So yeah, I think they’ve got a bit of everything. Knowing Greeny, he’ll be coaching all the young lads every single day, and he’ll just be letting the likes of Rufer and the leaders of the team sort of take charge of that team as well.”
Wellington will be aiming to make it an historic three wins from three when they take to the field in Matchweek 2.
Greenacre’s side face off against reigning Premiers Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones stadium on Saturday, October 31 – kick off 3pm AEDT.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE 2026/27 A-LEAGUE MEN SEASON
