2020–21 Wellington Phoenix FC season
| 2020–21 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Rob Morrison |
| Manager | Ufuk Talay |
| Stadium | WIN Stadium (Due to Coronavirus travel restrictions) |
| A-League | 7th |
| Top goalscorer | League: Tomer Hemed (11) All: Tomer Hemed (11) |
| Highest home attendance | 24,105 (22 May 2021 vs. Western United |
| Lowest home attendance | 1,184 (24 March 2021 vs. Melbourne Victory |
| Average home league attendance | 5,329 |
The 2020–21 season was the Wellington Phoenix's 14th season since its establishment in 2007. The club participated in the A-League for the 14th time.
Pre-season
[edit]On 27 August 2020, it was announced that Liberato Cacace had signed with Belgian club Sint-Truidense after they had paid a transfer fee of $2,100,000.[1] On 6 September, the Phoenix announced that Callum McCowatt signed with Danish club Helsingør following the conclusion of his contract.[2] On 12 September, it was announced that Gary Hooper had departed the club following the conclusion of his contract.[3][4] On 14 September, the Phoenix announced the shock departure of captain Steven Taylor after mutually agreeing to terminate his contract.[5] Both players joined the Indian Super League, signing with Kerala Blasters[6] and Odisha,[7] respectively. On 24 September, Phoenix youngster Callan Elliot signed a deal with Xanthi.[8] On 18 October, it was reported that Matti Steinmann had signed with Indian club East Bengal despite no announcement from the Phoenix.[9] On 19 October, it was announced that Brandon Wilson would be parting ways with the Phoenix.[10] A week later, it was confirmed that Walter Scott would not extend his contract with the club, after he played as a trialist for Macarthur FC in a pre-season match.[11]
On 15 October, it was announced that the 2020–21 A-League season would commence on 27 December. On 27 October, the Phoenix confirmed that their squad will move to Australia for the start of the new campaign.[12][13] On 28 October 2020, the Phoenix announced the dual signings of All Whites Clayton Lewis and James McGarry on one-year deals. [14][15] On 30 October, it was announced Joshua Laws had signed a one-year deal with the Phoenix. [16] On 6 November, it was announced that Matthew Ridenton had returned to the Phoenix on a one-year deal. [17] On 10 November, the Phoenix announced the signing of Mirza Muratovic on a one-year deal. [18] On 30 November, the Phoenix announced the signing of Israeli International Tomer Hemed, as its marquee player on a one-year contract. [19]
Players
[edit]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Transfers
[edit]From youth squad
[edit]| N |
Pos. |
Nat. |
Name |
Age |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | MF | 
|
Sam Sutton | 18 | 3-year senior contract[20] |
Transfers in
[edit]| No. | Position | Player | Transferred from | Type/fee | Contract length | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | MF | Clayton Lewis | Auckland City | Free transfer | 1 year | 28 October 2020 | [21] |
| 5 | DF | James McGarry | Unattached | Free transfer | 1 year | 28 October 2020 | [22] |
| 21 | MF |  Joshua Laws
|
Unattached | Free transfer | 1 year | 30 October 2020 | [23] |
| 12 | MF | Matthew Ridenton | Unattached | Free transfer | 1 year | 6 November 2020 | [24] |
| 15 | FW | Mirza Muratovic
|
Unattached | Free transfer | 1 year | 10 November 2020 | [25] |
| 17 | FW |  Tomer Hemed
|
Unattached | Free transfer | 1 year | 30 November 2020 | [26] |
| 13 | FW | Charles Lokolingoy
|
Unattached | Free transfer | 4 months | 17 February 2021 | [27] |
| 27 | DF |  Steven Taylor
|
 Odisha
|
Free transfer | 3 months | 5 March 2021 | [28] |
Transfers out
[edit]| No. | Position | Player | Transferred to | Type/fee | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | DF | Liberato Cacace |  Sint-Truidense
|
$2,100,000[1] | 27 August 2020 | [29] |
| 21 | FW | Callum McCowatt |  Helsingør
|
End of contract | 6 September 2020 | [2] |
| 88 | FW | Gary Hooper
|
Kerala Blasters
|
End of contract | 12 September 2020 | [3][4] |
| 27 | DF | Steven Taylor
|
Odisha
|
Mutual contract termination | 14 September 2020 | [5][7] |
| 17 | DF | Callan Elliot |  Xanthi
|
End of contract | 24 September 2020 | [8] |
| 5 | MF |  Matti Steinmann
|
East Bengal
|
End of contract | 18 October 2020 | [9] |
| 12 | MF | Brandon Wilson
|
Perth Glory | Mutual contract termination | 19 October 2020 | [10] |
| 23 | DF | Walter Scott
|
Unattached | End of contract | 25 October 2020 | [11] |
Contract extensions
[edit]| No. | Name | Position | Duration | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | David Ball |
Striker | 2 years | 27 October 2020 | [30] |
| 4 | Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi | Defender | 2 years | 29 October 2020 | [31] |
| 2 | Liam McGing |
Centre-back | 1 year | 2 November 2020 | [32] |
| 3 | Luke DeVere |
Centre-back | 1 year | 6 November 2020 | [33] |
| 23 | Clayton Lewis | Attacking midfielder | 2 years | 18 May 2021 | [34] |
| 20 | Oliver Sail | Goalkeeper | 2 years | 19 May 2021 | [35] |
| 18 | Ben Waine | Forward | 3 years | 20 May 2021 | [36] |
| 27 | Steven Taylor |
Defender | 1 year | 4 June 2021 | [37] |
| 16 | Louis Fenton | Full-back | 1 year | 10 June 2021 | [38] |
Technical staff
[edit]| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Ufuk Talay
|
| Assistant coach | Chris Greenacre
|
| Assistant coach/Head analyst | Giancarlo Italiano
|
| Goalkeeping coach | Paul Gothard
|
| Head physiotherapist |  Ben Venn
|
| Strength & conditioning coach | Aidan Wivell
|
Squad statistics
[edit]Appearances and goals
[edit]- As of 25 April 2021
| No. | Pos. | Player | A-League | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| 1 | GK | Stefan Marinovic
|
6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Liam McGing
|
6(1) | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Luke DeVere
|
6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi
|
0(4) | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | James McGarry
|
15(3) | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | Tim Payne
|
19 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | Reno Piscopo
|
8(1) | 1 | 9 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | Cameron Devlin
|
11(6) | 1 | 17 | 1 |
| 9 | FW | David Ball
|
17 | 4 | 17 | 4 |
| 10 | MF |  Ulises Dávila
|
18(1) | 7 | 19 | 7 |
| 11 | FW | Jaushua Sotirio
|
6(7) | 3 | 13 | 3 |
| 12 | MF | Matthew Ridenton
|
2(6) | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 13 | FW | Charles Lokolingoy
|
0(7) | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | Alex Rufer
|
15(1) | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | Mirza Muratovic
|
3(5) | 2 | 8 | 2 |
| 16 | DF | Louis Fenton
|
12(5) | 2 | 17 | 2 |
| 17 | FW | Tomer Hemed
|
9(5) | 5 | 14 | 5 |
| 18 | FW | Ben Waine
|
9(6) | 6 | 15 | 5 |
| 19 | MF | Sam Sutton
|
3(2) | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 20 | GK | Oliver Sail
|
13 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | Joshua Laws
|
10(2) | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | Clayton Lewis
|
17(2) | 1 | 19 | 1 |
| 27 | DF | Steven Taylor
|
3(2) | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Friendlies
[edit]| 20 November 2020 | Blacktown Spartans | 1–8 | Wellington Phoenix | Sydney, Australia |
| 21:00 NZST |
|
Report | Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
| 25 November 2020 | APIA Leichhardt | 1–5 | Wellington Phoenix | Sydney, Australia |
|
Report | Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
| 2 December 2020 | Macarthur FC | 1–0 | Wellington Phoenix | Sydney, Australia |
| 13:00 NZDT |
|
Report | Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
| 6 December 2020 | Central Coast Mariners | 0–2 | Wellington Phoenix | Sydney, Australia |
| Report | Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
| 12 December 2020 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 1–3 | Wellington Phoenix | Sydney, Australia |
|
Report | Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
| 19 December 2020 | Newcastle Jets | 3–4 | Wellington Phoenix | Newcastle, Australia |
| Report | Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
| 17 January 2021 | Wollongong Wolves | 4–0 | Wellington Phoenix | Wollongong, Australia |
| Report | Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
Competitions
[edit]Win Draw Loss
Overall
[edit]| Competition | Started round | Final position / round |
First match | Last match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-League | — | 7th | 29 December 2020 | 4 June 2021 |
| A-League Finals | DNQ | DNQ |
Overview
[edit]| Competition | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |
| A-League | 26 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 44 | 34 | +10 | 38.46 |
| Total | 26 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 44 | 34 | +10 | 38.46 |
Updated to match played future (December 2020)
Source: Competitions
A-League
[edit]League table
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Adelaide United | 26 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 39 | 41 | −2 | 39 | Qualification for finals series[a] |
| 6 | Macarthur FC | 26 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 33 | 36 | −3 | 39 | |
| 7 | Wellington Phoenix[b] | 26 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 44 | 34 | +10 | 38 | |
| 8 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 26 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 45 | 43 | +2 | 35 | |
| 9 | Perth Glory | 26 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 34 | Qualification for 2021 FFA Cup play-offs[c] |
Source: A-Leagues
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Least red cards; 5) Least yellow cards; 6) Toss of a coin in an event of a tie of two clubs.
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Least red cards; 5) Least yellow cards; 6) Toss of a coin in an event of a tie of two clubs.
Notes:
- ^ The top two teams entered the finals series at the semi-finals, while the teams ranked third to sixth entered the finals series at the elimination-finals.
- ^ Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for Asian Football Confederation competitions as they are based in New Zealand, which is under the Oceania Football Confederation.
- ^ The top 8 teams qualified for the round of 32, while the bottom four teams participated in a playoff round.[39]
Results summary
[edit]| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 26 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 44 | 34 | +10 | 38 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 24 | 19 | +5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 15 | +5 |
Source: ultimatealeague.com
Matches
[edit]Win Draw Loss
| 2 January 2021 2 | Wellington Phoenix | 1–2 | Sydney FC | Wollongong |
| 17:00 AEDT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: WIN Stadium Attendance: 3,637 Referee: Alex King |
| 9 January 2021 3 | Macarthur FC | 1–1 | Wellington Phoenix | Sydney |
| 17:00 AEDT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Campbelltown Stadium Attendance: 2,609 Referee: Stephen Lucas |
| 24 January 2021 5 | Wellington Phoenix | 1–2 | Newcastle Jets | Wollongong |
| 19:00 AEST | Report | Stadium: WIN Stadium Attendance: 1,742 Referee: Alex King |
| 31 January 2021 6 | Central Coast Mariners | 1–2 | Wellington Phoenix | Gosford |
| 16:00 AEST |
|
Report | Stadium: Central Coast Stadium Attendance: 4,748 Referee: Daniel Elder |
| 8 February 2021 7 | Sydney FC | 2–1 | Wellington Phoenix | Sydney |
| 19:10 AEST |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium Attendance: 5,220 Referee: Chris Beath |
| 14 February 2021 8 | Wellington Phoenix | 0–2 | Central Coast Mariners | Wollongong |
| 16:05 AEST | Report | Stadium: WIN Stadium Attendance: 2,248 Referee: Daniel Elder |
| 21 February 2021 9 | Wellington Phoenix | 2–2 | Western Sydney Wanderers | Wollongong |
| 18:10 AEST | Report | Stadium: WIN Stadium Attendance: 3,383 Referee: Alireza Faghani |
| 24 February 2021 9 | Melbourne Victory | 2–0 | Wellington Phoenix | Melbourne |
| 19:05 AEST |
|
Report | Stadium: AAMI Park Attendance: 3,424 Referee: Shaun Evans |
| 28 February 2021 10 | Newcastle Jets | 0–2 | Wellington Phoenix | Newcastle |
| 18:10 AEST | Report | Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium Attendance: 4,576 Referee: Jonathan Barreiro |
| 7 March 2021 11 | Wellington Phoenix | 3–0 | Perth Glory | Wollongong |
| 16:00 AEST | Report | Stadium: WIN Stadium Attendance: 2,331 Referee: Adam Kersey |
| 15 March 2021 12 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 4–3 | Wellington Phoenix | Sydney |
| 19:05 AEST | Report | Stadium: Bankwest Stadium Attendance: 5,477 Referee: Shaun Evans |
| 21 March 2021 13 | Wellington Phoenix | 1–1 | Brisbane Roar | Newcastle |
| 16:00 AEST |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium Attendance: 1,432 Referee: Stephen Lucas |
| 24 March 2021 13 | Wellington Phoenix | 4–1 | Melbourne Victory | Wollongong |
| 19:05 AEST | Report |
|
Stadium: WIN Stadium Attendance: 1,184 Referee: Shaun Evans |
| 28 March 2021 14 | Wellington Phoenix | 0–1 | Macarthur FC | Wollongong |
| 16:00 AEST | Report |
|
Stadium: WIN Stadium Attendance: 2,516 Referee: Adam Fielding |
| 5 April 2021 15 | Wellington Phoenix | 2–3 | Melbourne City | Wollongong |
| 19:00 AEST | Report | Stadium: WIN Stadium Attendance: 1,343 Referee: Alireza Faghani |
| 11 April 2021 16 | Wellington Phoenix | 3–2 | Western United | Wollongong |
| 19:00 AEST | Report |
|
Stadium: WIN Stadium Attendance: 1,226 Referee: Chris Beath |
| 18 April 2021 17 | Perth Glory | 1–3 | Wellington Phoenix | Perth |
| 18:15 AWST |
|
Report | Stadium: HBF Park Attendance: 9,229 Referee: Daniel Elder |
| 22 April 2021 17 | Western United | 1–1 | Wellington Phoenix | Tasmania |
| 19:00 AEDT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: UTAS Stadium Attendance: 2,528 Referee: Alex King |
| 25 April 2021 18 | Wellington Phoenix | 2–1 | Adelaide United | Wollongong |
| 16:10 AEST | Report |
|
Stadium: WIN Stadium Attendance: 1,903 Referee: Adam Kersey |
| 1 May 2021 19 | Brisbane Roar | 0–0 | Wellington Phoenix | Brisbane |
| 17:05 AEDT | Report | Stadium: Dolphin Oval Attendance: 5,897 Referee: Tim Danaskos |
| 7 May 2021 20 | Adelaide United | 0–0 | Wellington Phoenix | Adelaide |
| 19:35 ACDT | Report | Stadium: Coopers Stadium Attendance: 7,172 Referee: Alireza Faghani |
| 16 May 2021 21 | Melbourne City | 2–2 | Wellington Phoenix | Melbourne |
| 16:05 AEST | Report | Stadium: AAMI Park Attendance: 4,586 Referee: Alireza Faghani |
| 22 May 2021 22 | Wellington Phoenix | 3–0 | Western United | Wellington |
| 14:05 NZDT | Report | Stadium: Sky Stadium Attendance: 24,105 Referee: Daniel Elder |
| 26 May 2021 22 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 1–2 | Wellington Phoenix | Sydney |
| 19:05 AEST |
|
Report | Stadium: Bankwest Stadium Attendance: 5,068 Referee: Kurt Ams |
| 30 May 2021 23 | Wellington Phoenix | 2–2 | Perth Glory | Auckland |
| 13:35 NZDT | Report | Stadium: Eden Park Attendance: 22,233 Referee: Alex King |
| 4 June 2021 24 | Macarthur FC | 0–3 | Wellington Phoenix | Campbelltown |
| 19:05 AEST | Report | Stadium: Campbelltown Stadium Attendance: 5,126 Referee: Daniel Elder |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Football: Wellington Phoenix star Liberato Cacace officially signs with Belgian Pro League club Sint-Truiden". The New Zealand Herald. 29 August 2020.
- ^ a b Rollo, Phillip (6 September 2020). "All Whites forward Callum McCowatt departs Wellington Phoenix for Europe". Stuff.co.nz.
- ^ a b Radbourne, Lucas (12 September 2020). "More departures show A-League can no longer compete financially with India". FTBL.
- ^ a b "Striker Gary Hooper departs Wellington Phoenix amid Indian Super League interest". Stuff.co.nz. 13 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Captain Steven Taylor leaves Wellington Phoenix by mutual consent". Stuff.co.nz. 14 September 2020.
- ^ George, Arun (5 October 2020). "ISL: Kerala Blasters replace Bart Ogbeche with Gary Hooper". The Times of India.
- ^ a b Krishna, Ajay (14 September 2020). "Odisha FC Sign 34 Year Old English Defender Steven Taylor". IFTWC.
- ^ a b Rollo, Phillip (24 September 2020). "Wellington Phoenix rising star Callan Elliot to join Greek club Xanthi FC". Stuff.co.nz.
- ^ a b "Official: German A-League midfielder the latest Indian exit". FTBL. 19 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Brandon Wilson Parts Ways With Wellington Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 19 October 2020.
- ^ a b Rugari, Vince (25 October 2020). "Ring the bells: Macarthur FC take first step towards A-League debut". The Sydney Morning Herald.
Milicic handed starts to [...] ex-Wellington Phoenix defender Walter Scott, who are trialling with the club...
- ^ "Wellington Phoenix set to spend Christmas in Australia as A-League start date confirmed". Stuff.co.nz. 15 October 2020.
- ^ "'There is no option': Wellington Phoenix to move to NSW for A-League season". Stuff.co.nz. 27 October 2020.
- ^ "Clayton Lewis Signs with Wellington Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 28 October 2020.
- ^ "James McGarry Signs with Wellington Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 28 October 2020.
- ^ Hewett, William (30 October 2020). "Football: Wellington Phoenix sign Australian midfielder Joshua Laws". Newshub.
- ^ "Matt Ridenton Returns To The Wellington Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 6 November 2020.
- ^ "Mirza Muratovic Signs With Wellington Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 10 November 2020.
- ^ "Wellington Phoenix Signs Tomer Hemed As Marquee Striker". Wellington Phoenix. 30 November 2020.
- ^ "Sam Sutton Signs First Professional Contract with Wellington Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 29 October 2020.
- ^ "Clayton Lewis Signs with Wellington Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 28 October 2020.
- ^ "James McGarry Signs with Wellington Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 28 October 2020.
- ^ Hewett, William (30 October 2020). "Football: Wellington Phoenix sign Australian midfielder Joshua Laws". Newshub.
- ^ "Matt Ridenton Returns To The Wellington Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 6 November 2020.
- ^ "Mirza Muratovic Signs With Wellington Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 10 November 2020.
- ^ "Wellington Phoenix Signs Tomer Hemed As Marquee Striker". Wellington Phoenix. 30 November 2020.
- ^ "Wellington Phoenix Signs Charles Lokoli-Ngoy". Wellington Phoenix. 17 February 2020.
- ^ "Steven Taylor Returns To Wellington Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 5 March 2021.
- ^ Rollo, Phillip (27 August 2020). "Wellington Phoenix rising star Liberato Cacace joins Belgian club Sint-Truiden". Stuff.co.nz.
- ^ "David Ball Signs Extension With Wellington Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 27 October 2020.
- ^ "Hudson-Wihongi Re-Signs with Wellington Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 29 October 2020.
- ^ "Liam McGing Re-Signs For The Upcoming Season". Wellington Phoenix. 2 November 2020.
- ^ "Luke DeVere Re-Signs With Wellington Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 6 November 2020.
- ^ "Wellington Phoenix Re-Signs Clayton Lewis for Two Years". Wellington Phoenix. 18 May 2021.
- ^ "Wellington Phoenix Re-Signs Oliver Sail for Two Years". Wellington Phoenix. 19 May 2021.
- ^ "Ben Waine Commits To Wellington Phoenix For Three Years". Wellington Phoenix. 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Steven Taylor Re-Signs With Wellington Phoenix for Season 2021/22". Wellington Phoenix. 4 June 2021.
- ^ "Wellington Phoenix Re-Signs Louis Fenton for Season 2021/22". Wellington Phoenix. 10 June 2021.
- ^ "FFA Cup to introduce Hyundai A-League play-off process from 2020". Football Federation Australia. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2021.