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Full Noise by SN
Important update on 1476AMPhoenix confirm Greenacre as new full-time head coach
Sport Nation • April 28th, 2026 12:19 pm
Chris Greenacre | Photo: Photosport
Wellington Phoenix have promoted Chris Greenacre to the official position of head coach.
After rejuvenating the team as interim head coach following Giancarlo Italiano's axing, Greenacre - who has been based in Wellington since joining the club as a player in 2009 - will take charge for the 2026/27 A-League Men season, with an option for a further year.
A long-serving figure at the Phoenix, the former striker scored 19 goals in 84 appearances before moving into coaching.
He worked as an assistant to the club’s first five head coaches between 2012 and 2021, and has spent the past four seasons as head coach of the men’s reserves and head of professional development within the club’s academy.
Chris Greenacre | Photo: Photosport
Greenacre has stepped into the interim head coach role on four occasions, most recently guiding the Phoenix to four wins from their final eight matches of the season, including their first three-game winning streak in three years.
Alongside his club duties, he has led New Zealand’s U20 men’s programme since the beginning of 2024, helping secure qualification for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile last year.
Greenacre says he is “extremely proud” to have been appointed head coach.
"It’s a real honour to lead this team,” Greenacre said. “I feel the Phoenix is my club and Wellington is my hometown.
“My wife Lynsey and I fell in love with Wellington from the moment we moved here from the U.K. and my daughter Hermione was born here.
"To play for and lead your hometown club is quite a cool situation to be in and doesn’t happen very often in world football. I want to grasp this opportunity and drive this club forward with everything I’ve got.
“I’ve got the passion and the drive to do it, and I just want to drag people along for the journey and let's see what happens.”
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