Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano resigns moments after record defeat to Auckland FC
Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano. Photo / Photosport
Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano has resigned from the club in the wake of the side’s record 5-0 defeat to Auckland FC on Saturday.
The team made the statement on social media.
“Giancarlo Italiano has announced his resignation as men’s head coach. Thank you for everything, Chief. A club statement will follow,” the Instagram post said.
Auckland FC handed the Phoenix their sixth straight derby defeat with four goals coming in the opening half.
The record home defeat leaves the Phoenix sitting 10th with five wins, five draws and eight losses.
“To lose 5-nil at home with the season still to play for is unacceptable and I take full responsibility,” Italiano said in a press conference after the loss.
“I’ve told the club I’ve tendered by resignation. I think it’s easier for someone to come in with new energy and refocus the group.”
“I’ll probably go back to Sydney now and look for my next opportunity.”
The Australian joined the Wellington Phoenix ahead of the 2018-19 season as the team’s head analyst and Ufuk Talay’s second assistant coach.
Italiano was promoted to assistant coach for the 2020-21 season while the team were forced to play all but two of their matches out of Australia.
After replacing Talay as coach, he oversaw the club’s most successful season in his first 12 months in charge, with the Phoenix narrowly missing out on the Premiers Plate and falling just short of a place in the A-League grand final.
They failed to make the playoffs the following two seasons and, currently in 10th, look unlikely to this year.
Read match report: Auckland FC rout Wellington Phoenix 5-0 in record A-League derby win