The 2023–24 season was the 17th in the history of Wellington Phoenix Football Club. In addition to the domestic league, the club participated in the Australia Cup for the ninth time.
Overview Pre-season
On 14 April 2023, it was announced that Ufuk Talay would depart the club at the end of the season. The following week, assistant coach Giancarlo Italiano was announced as the next head coach on a 2-year deal.
On 10 May, the Phoenix announced the departures of eight players, including vice-captain Oliver Sail, Clayton Lewis, Steven Ugarkovic and Callan Elliot.
On 11 May, the Phoenix announced their first signing of the off-season in Mohamed Al-Taay on a two-year deal from the Newcastle Jets. On 18 May, it was announced that Nicholas Pennington had signed a one-year contract extension with the club. On 9 June, the Phoenix announced the signing of Jack Duncan on a one-year deal.
On 6 July, the Phoenix signed academy player Lukas Kelly-Heald on a four-year professional contract. On 2 August, it was announced that Reserves midfielder Fin Conchie had signed a three-year professional contract with the club. On 13 September, the club announced the signing of their academy captain Isaac Hughes on a two-year professional deal. On 27 September, the Phoenix announced their final off-season signing in 17-year old Luke Supyk, who had only joined the club's academy 5 months prior, on a three-year deal. Despite initial criticism, these signings came as a result of the club putting greater emphasis on developing young New Zealand players.
The Phoenix would make a positive start to pre-season with a 5–1 win over Western Suburbs in their first friendly. They would then go on to beat Wellington Olympic twice with an aggregate score of 5–1.
Australia Cup
The Phoenix progressed to the Round of 16 of the Australia Cup after a 2–1 win over NPL side Peninsula Power. However, they would then succumb to a 3–0 loss against Melbourne City in the Round of 16, getting eliminated from the cup campaign in the process.
A–League Men
The Phoenix kicked off their season on 22 October against the Western Sydney Wanderers in Sydney.
Players
Transfers
Transfers in No.PositionPlayerTransferred fromType/feeContract lengthDate12Newcastle JetsFree transfer2 years11 May 202325Newcastle JetsFree transfer1 year9 June 202317Loan5 months30 January 2024
Transfers out No.PositionPlayerTransferred toType/feeDate23UnattachedEnd of contract9 May 20235UnattachedEnd of contract10 May 202312Newcastle JetsEnd of loan10 May 202315UnattachedEnd of contract10 May 202317UnattachedEnd of contract10 May 202320UnattachedEnd of contract10 May 202321UnattachedEnd of contract10 May 202331UnattachedEnd of contract10 May 2023
From youth squad
Contract extensions No.PlayerPositionDurationDateNotes13 Nicholas PenningtonCentral midfielder1 year18 May 202340Alex PaulsenGoalkeeper3 years2 November 2023Contract extended from end of 2023–24 until end of 2026–27.8Ben OldAttacking midfielder3 years22 November 2023Contract extended from end of 2023–24 until end of 2026–27.
Pre-season and friendlies
Competitions
Overall record
A-League Men
League table
Results summary Away figures include Wellington Phoenix's 4–3 win on neutral ground against Perth Glory on 14 January 2024.
Results by round
Matches
Finals series
Australia Cup
Statistics
Appearances and goals Includes all competitions. Players with no appearances not included in the list.
Player A-League Men A-League Men Finals Australia Cup Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals 3 DF 27 0 2 0 2 0 31 0 4 DF 27 0 2 0 1+1 0 31 0 5 MF 2+9 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 6 DF 22+1 3 2 0 2 0 27 3 7 FW 25+1 13 2 0 2 0 30 13 8 MF 15+12 5 2 0 0 0 29 5 9 FW 5+7 6 0+2 1 2 0 16 7 10 FW 18+6 0 2 0 0+1 0 27 0 11 MF 25+1 6 2 0 2 0 30 6 12 MF 17+8 0 0+2 0 1 0 28 0 14 MF 24 3 2 0 2 0 28 3 15 MF 20+3 1 2 0 2 1 27 2 17 MF 6+4 0 0+2 0 0 0 12 0 18 DF 18+4 0 0+1 0 2 0 25 0 19 MF 11+9 0 2 0 0+1 0 23 0 23 FW 0+4 0 0 0 0+1 0 5 0 24 FW 3+12 1 0+2 0 1 0 18 1 26 DF 4+6 0 0+1 0 0+1 0 12 0 40 GK 27 0 2 0 2 0 31 0 42 FW 0+1 0 0 0 0+1 0 2 0 43 DF 1+3 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 51 FW 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0Player(s) transferred out but featured this season 34 FW 0 0 0 0 1+1 1 2 1 36 FW 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 1 0 41 FW 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 1 0 52 MF 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Disciplinary record Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total cards are equal. Players with no cards not included in the list.
Rank Name A-League Men A-League Men Finals Australia Cup Total 1 14 MF 7 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 9 0 1 2 6 DF 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 3 15 MF 5 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 7 0 0 4 7 FW 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 0 0 9 FW 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 17 MF 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 7 11 MF 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 19 MF 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 10 FW 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 10 3 DF 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 4 FW 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 24 FW 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 40 GK 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 14 12 MF 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 18 DF 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 26 DF 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Total 49 0 2 4 0 0 3 0 0 56 0 2
Clean sheets Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total clean sheets are equal. Numbers in parentheses represent games where both goalkeepers participated and both kept a clean sheet; the number in parentheses is awarded to the goalkeeper who was substituted on, whilst a full clean sheet is awarded to the goalkeeper who was on the field at the start of play. Goalkeepers with no clean sheets not included in the list.
Rank Goalkeeper A-League Men A-League Men Finals Australia Cup Total 1 40 11 1 0 12 Total 11 1 0 12
Awards Players No. Pos. Player Award Source 40 GK Alex Paulsen A-League Men Player of the Month (October/November) A-League Men Player of the Month (March) 7 FW Kosta Barbarouses A-League Men Player of the Month (December) A-League Men Player of the Month (January) 26 DF Isaac Hughes A-League Men Player of the Month (February)
Managers Manager Award Source Giancarlo Italiano A-League Men Coach of the Month (October/November)
See also 2023–24 Wellington Phoenix FC (A-League Women) season
References
External links Wellington Phoenix official website