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Greenacre set to step up as Phoenix interim head coach
Sport Nation •  February 23rd, 2026 11:31 am
Chris Greenacre | Photo: Photosport
Chris Greenacre will reportedly take the coaching reins for the Wellington Phoenix for the remainder of the A-League season.
According to Stuff, Greenacre will be promoted from his current role as an assistant coach to replace the outgoing Giancarlo Italiano, who stepped down after the Phoenix's 5-0 capitulation against Auckland FC on Saturday.
The former Phoenix has previously served as interim head coach on three occasions - most notably in the upset win over Wrexham in July - and was the obvious choice to step up. He's also the current New Zealand U20s coach.
Saturday's result - their sixth defeat in as many derbies against the Aucklanders - sees the Phoenix drop to 11th in the competition standings.
Greenacre's first assignment comes against Ufuk Talay - his former boss at the Phoenix - and Sydney FC at Sky Stadium on Sunday.
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Speaking on Sport Nation Mornings, former Wellington Phoenix FC striker Paul Ifill was confident interim coach Chris Greenacre is the right man to steady the ship.
"I know Greeny well, he'll have a plan. He's somebody that, as a player, he was super prepared. I learned a lot off of him about being prepared for games of football."
"He'll be ready. I think really it's just about galvanising the boys and making sure they know that he's got their back and he'll do whatever he can to make it work.
"I think the thing for him, which is going to be beneficial to the squad, he wants the job full-time. So he's going to give it everything between now and the end of the season to make sure that he can showcase what he can do."
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