Kosta Barbarouses (Western Sydney Wanderers | A-leagues)

I said it somewhere else, but Kosta intelligence with his runs is far better than anyone elses in the team. 

How many goals has he been flagged off side for only for VAR to over turn them... the guy just knows how to time them.

Happy for him - and I agree with Oi Oi that he has moved ahead of Waine currently in the pecking order.

dick le roc returns

coochiee

NZ's whom little David Beckham (1998) redemption story.

Lets hope him, Payne plus Rufer are in a happy place, and finish the season strongly with the Nix.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360627130/world-cup-playoff-goal-eases-pain-all-white-kosta-barbarouses-red-card-last-time-around

“I think about it most nights, to be honest,” Barbarouses said of his red card in 2022 as he sat alongside coach Darren Bazeley after the match. “No joke – it crosses my mind at some point, quite frequently.”

“Whether my red card affected the overall outcome of the game, I, deep down, feel like it might have.

“I've been carrying that for a while, so to be able to sort of put that to the side well and truly now, I think I'll sort of feel a lot better about the whole situation.”


.......“It's something that me and Tim do pretty much every day at training,” he said.

“We practise that all the time at club level and now it comes off at international level.

“It's all about his (Payne's) first touch. If his first touch is opened up, and he gets to look up, I'm on my bike, and I know he's got the quality to deliver.

“From there I’ve just seen the keeper coming. I saw, obviously, from the bench that he's pretty aggressive coming off his line, so I just needed to get the chip on target, and I was fine.”

 nope, your sending off didn't cost us the game Kosta. What kost us the game was a fairly shocking VAR ref decision. Had the ref applied some commonsense the goal would have stood and I pick NZ would have continued on to triumph over what was a pretty average CR side. That decision rankings alongside the likes of underarm chappell and blind dick french Morrison v McDermott LBW. Hope we draw CR in world cup and can beat them. Would be great if that VAR ref is officiating and he can get egg on his face. But no, not bitter about it

With some of the decision making made by the Phoenix there is still cause for concern they fark this up. 

Had a dream or nightmare that the Nix announced Kosta was going to Melbourne! 

If it isn't too late I hope we do everything we can to keep him.  

Procrastinixing

Had a dream or nightmare that the Nix announced Kosta was going to Melbourne! 

If it isn't too late I hope we do everything we can to keep him.  

That's a *memory*

Procrastinixing

Had a dream or nightmare that the Nix announced Kosta was going to Melbourne! 

If it isn't too late I hope we do everything we can to keep him.  

Hopefully they can work thru whatever complications that option to extend his deal has soon.

If Kosta scores 6 today, he'll take out the goal scoring medal away from those other 3. Lol.

Thought for the day: when we chant the “your defence is terrified“ part of “Kosta’s on Fire”, are we saying they’re … Kosta-phobic?

Kosta says farewell.

Barbarouses has turned down his option of a contract extension and has informed the club he intends to play elsewhere next season.

Kosta leaves after a stunning two-season run under Chiefy, bagging 23 goals in 54 A-League matches.

“The decision to leave… pic.twitter.com/hWy0g8dhcU

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) May 26, 2025

Guess that option for 1 more season was really complicated then ...

So Sutton, Wooton, Barbarouses all leaving. Great... Our recruitment will have to be exceptional to compensate those losses.

On the one hand I'm excited for new players to come in, on the other hand not sure how much faith I have in that...

Dont blame him.

He wants to be fed decent ball so he score goals; not run around like a headless chicken hoping that he might receive one every three games or so.

Good on you Kosta

RR

Kosta says farewell.

Barbarouses has turned down his option of a contract extension and has informed the club he intends to play elsewhere next season.

Kosta leaves after a stunning two-season run under Chiefy, bagging 23 goals in 54 A-League matches.

“The decision to leave… pic.twitter.com/hWy0g8dhcU

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) May 26, 2025

Guess that option for 1 more season was really complicated then ...

Felt like the longer it was taking the less likely he was going to renew.

So I guess we await Macarthur's announcent that they've signed him now?

If he goes to Auckland I hope he fails miserably 

YellowAndBlack

If he goes to Auckland I hope he fails miserably 

I’m sure he will be devastated that you think that. Might even change his mind now.

I hope he does well wherever he ends up.

I can already hear the "where are the goals going to come from?" talk.

I tell you what, how about some our midfield learn to bloody start scoring. How can it be that some of those guys don't manage more than a handful of goals combined over the course of a season?

Really need to take a look at themselves. It's not good enough.

I hope he slams Chiefy publicly and the NIX get egg on their faces for keeping him in his role.

Lost his staff, two of his most experienced players and and now our best player over the last two years!

Hope Kosta knows what he is doing. Got himself back into the AWs off the back of two great scoring seasons under Chiefy. 13 & then 10 goals.

He's stated he is desperate to go to the World Cup after missing out in 2010.

I think if he goes back to being a wide player, his AWs spot will be tenuous. Lots of competition for the wide positions. Rogerson with 9 goals for AFC has missed out. Kosta needs to stay playing central. Where will his new club play him?

His last (yes injury plagued) season at Sydney was poor. Just the 1 goal. They let him go. Then his first season at the Nix under Uffie not much better. Zawada and even Ball playing central, Kosta just the 2 goals, and only started 15 of 24 matches. Dropped from the AWs he seemed a spent force.

Wish him all the best, but if he has an average season at his new home, and so is not on the plane to the big Dance next year................this decision will be seen as a bad one, (re his AWs chances).

https://us.soccerway.com/players/costa-barbarouses/17645/

PS. A month ago I said he was certain to be staying at the Nix. Turns out that was wrong, and the poster who said he was leaving for Macarthur at least half right.

PPS. And yes will be very interesting to eventually hear Kosta's reasons for leaving. The hard truth, not just the 'a better opportunity line'. That news maybe in 6 days, 6 weeks, or 6 months down the line.

Really PO about this both at the club and Kosta to a certain degree.
He came back to us saying he wanted to be close to family and help the Phoenix win something. So what does he do when things get tough he cuts and runs AGAIN.
Thats after he had a couple of his best seasons in the A League and he won his place back in the All Whites so things couldnt have been all bad.
Dont get people going off big time not sure how some you expect the club to keep players when they just dont want to be here.

He hasn't done us dirty. His contract is up. 

Does anyone seriously think him staying was in his best interests?

You'd imagine it's only down the track that Kosta will be candid enough to reveal why he has left the Nix this time. Maybe years from now when his career is over. Especially if it's truly because he was unhappy that Chief was reappointed. Is no benefit to Kosta of saying anything like that now.

Who knows maybe like the last time, it's just that his wife/partner wants to return to Australia.

coochiee

You'd imagine it's only down the track that Kosta will be candid enough to reveal why he has left the Nix this time. Maybe years from now when his career is over. Especially if it's truly because he was unhappy that Chief was reappointed. Is no benefit to Kosta of saying anything like that now.

Who knows maybe like the last time, it's just that his wife/partner wants to return to Australia.

I think this quote from Kosta on the A-Leagues' post about him leaving potentially hints at the reason "I'm grateful to the fans, the squad and many of the staff members for everything"

Half a Pint

coochiee

You'd imagine it's only down the track that Kosta will be candid enough to reveal why he has left the Nix this time. Maybe years from now when his career is over. Especially if it's truly because he was unhappy that Chief was reappointed. Is no benefit to Kosta of saying anything like that now.

Who knows maybe like the last time, it's just that his wife/partner wants to return to Australia.

I think this quote from Kosta on the A-Leagues' post about him leaving potentially hints at the reason "I'm grateful to the fans, the squad and many of the staff members for everything"

Wow, more smoke

reg22

He hasn't done us dirty. His contract is up. 

Does anyone seriously think him staying was in his best interests?

Keeping his strong combo with the highly probable All Whites right back going…Payney has provided him wonderful service, and that’s also likely been with Italiano’s coaching. 

It’s a reason to stay.

It doesn’t sound like the Nix offered him a multi-year deal. I think that’s criminal. 

@ staff comment above, perhaps he’s happy with the physio’s performance given how fit and motivated he’s been. 

I hope the Nix aren’t being flighty about older players aren’t trying to fix last years problems. Retre is unfit and on the bench in India. Kosta is in the groove and scarcely injured. These are two different cases.

reg22

He hasn't done us dirty. His contract is up. 

Does anyone seriously think him staying was in his best interests?

Maybe not but he has just had two of his best seasons in the A League and got his place back in the All Whites and one of the seasons was a disaster.
I think there is some risk for him,he will be hoping that his current form follows him and he is playing in a similar way that keeps him in All White contention. 

Saw the news during one of my lectures, absolutely gutted, just hope the rest of the squad will take this as a wake up call and step up.

From what I'm hearing online WSW are the frontrunners for picking up Kosta. Not sure how true that is but better than Auckland

Not many left on our sinking ship.

someone said we have 16. plus the youth squad, LG and ballane.

16 is more than we have had at times in the past.

but yeah, i get your point

reg22

He hasn't done us dirty. His contract is up. 

Does anyone seriously think him staying was in his best interests?

his contract was up with the option for either club or him to extend, Nix wanted to and made an offer - he has declined to accept said offer - so any talk of him wanting to win something with the Nix or ending his career here was utter sharke!

I suspect the word “and” was in the comment about him wanting to win something and ending his career here.

Not the word “or”

He obviously didn’t see any hope in winning anything next year or perhaps the year after as well. 

AucklandPhoenix

I suspect the word “and” was in the comment about him wanting to win something and ending his career here.

Not the word “or”

He obviously didn’t see any hope in winning anything next year or perhaps the year after as well. 

Cant win anything with the Nix when you're not here! When he arrived he was all about winning something with the club and creating a legacy.......no chance now.

Kosta never loved the club like us fans do. As such I don't blame him in the slightest that he doesn't want to endure another minute of Chiefyball. 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360702902/star-striker-kosta-barbarouses-leave-wellington-phoenix

Back to Victory at a guess, shame Kosta didnt take the option to have the 1 year extension.

Don't think I can say anything that hasn't already been said here or in the speculation thread.

Thanks for everything Kosta, you will be dearly missed, third time really was the charm and I'm glad you got to score your 100th A-League goal with us.

Sorry, I thought he reached 100, should've double-checked before posting.

reg22

someone said we have 16. plus the youth squad, LG and ballane.

16 is more than we have had at times in the past.

but yeah, i get your point

🤯😲

I think that another season with chief will hurt Kosta's chances for an all white spot - I do believe that the squad for next season will be worse than the one last season. We cannot replace players like Sutton and are now left with mostly the worst squad players we had.

In saying that I hope he doesn't go to AFC.

Bugger. 

One Barba, two Barba, three Barbarouses
Four Barba, five Barba, six Barbarouses
Seven Barba, eight Barba, nine Barbarouses
Byyyyeeee Barbarouses

Decision made. All the best Kosta
Has performed better than I expected over the past 2 years.

Simon B

One Barba, two Barba, three Barbarouses
Four Barba, five Barba, six Barbarouses
Seven Barba, eight Barba, nine Barbarouses
Byyyyeeee Barbarouses

Turns out you got to see his last match and last goal for the Nix by going to Darwin

I hope he does ...

Nommag

I think that another season with chief will hurt Kosta's chances for an all white spot - I do believe that the squad for next season will be worse than the one last season. We cannot replace players like Sutton and are now left with mostly the worst squad players we had.

In saying that I hope he doesn't go to AFC.