Interim coach and next mens team coach

Alright Chiefy is gone, what now? 

Who're our picks for interim? I'd like to see an announcement very soon, Monday at latest.

When can we expect a new coach to be announced? I'd like to see a new coach in before the season is finished ideally, or just after the season is done. Lot of big decisions required around player retention.

Who could we realistically expect to be given the role? 

Greenacre? Ifill? Dez(I can only wish)? Dare I say Rudan (joking). Or someone from left field?

I’d throw the kitchen sink at Heidelberg coach John Anastasiadis.

His CV is impressive:

NPL Championship: 2006, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2025

NPL Premiers: 2016

Dockerty Cup: 2016, 2018

FFV Charity Shield: 2016, 2018, 2019

Not to mention has the relevant qualifications 

I’d throw the kitchen sink at Heidelberg coach John Anastasiadis.

His CV is impressive:

NPL Championship: 2006, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2025

NPL Premiers: 2016

Dockerty Cup: 2016, 2018

FFV Charity Shield: 2016, 2018, 2019

Not to mention has the relevant qualifications 

Nixieboys222

I’d throw the kitchen sink at Heidelberg coach John Anastasiadis.

His CV is impressive:

NPL Championship: 2006, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2025

NPL Premiers: 2016

Dockerty Cup: 2016, 2018

FFV Charity Shield: 2016, 2018, 2019

Not to mention has the relevant qualifications 

yeah like this. What do you reckon the chances are of him being chased by other clubs though? Best we get in early as that is an impressive CV.

For interim if I gave my opinion id like to see Greenacre. He has been a player before and so likely knows what the boys need to hear. I also think from the few times ive heard him speak that he'd be able to give some of them a boot up the backside.

More than anything the players need a boost in the next few weeks. A few stern words is required for some as well. Greenacre is the man for this.

Has to be an interim coach.
I can't see how it can be anyone but Greenacre, if he's willing.

I'm looking forward to next week's game just to see who gets picked and how differently they play.

Then we may see how much of the problem has been our "coach".

Would it be worth getting on the blipper to David Ball and seeing if he's sick of a freezing English winter?

Agree that it’s a two-part problem: we need an interim safe pair of hands to salvage what we can of the season, but we also need time to carefully choose a long-term gaffer for 26/27 onwards.

From what I’ve seen of Heidelberg we could certainly do a lot worse than Anastasiadis for the permanent role.

Yeah the more I read of Anastasiadis the more I like.

Here are some quotes from his Wikipedia page:

"After retirement from playing, and with Yarraville relegated under his stewardship in 2003, he managed to get the side promoted back the next season."

"In 2005, with the return of South Melbourne to the Victorian Premier League after the disbandment of the NSL competition, Anastasiadis put his hand up for the job which few wanted. Despite taking charge of a young squad which had been destroyed by the FFA and was quickly assembled merely weeks before the start of the new season, and which was labelled as a relegation candidate at the start of the year, Anastasiadis led the side to 3rd place on the ladder at the end of the season and as far as the Preliminary Final, where the team lost 1–0 to Heidelberg United was knocked out. It was an incredible achievement for Anastasiadis considering just three players turned up to his first training session at the club, one of which was his brother Dean. Retained as coach for the 2006 season, he led South Melbourne to victory in the Grand Final of the Vodafone Cup competition beating Altona Magic 1–0 in the Grand Final. After failing to make the finals in 2007, South's poor start in 2008 saw Anastasiadis resign."

"Halfway through the 2011 season, Anastasiadis accepted a call from Bentleigh Greens to become the senior head coach. Since the move to Bentleigh, John has seen his team reach the VPL grand final in 2013, the semi-final of the inaugural FFA Cup in 2014 and win the club's first ever major title when Bentleigh beat South Melbourne FC at Lakeside Stadium in the National Premier Leagues Victoria Grand Final."

So he has a history of taking NPL sides in dire moments and having them win silverware or promotion in the next few years. We've all seen what he has done with Heidelberg too - nearly winning the Aus cup is impressive. He has also been assistant coach at Western United so is not unfamiliar with the A-League. 

At a minimum we should give this guy an interview if he is interested.

Anastasiadis also of course beat AFC with his Heidelberg team.

In fact, Heidelberg were all around a fantastic team to watch during last year's AC.

Rob Stanton. Milligan is doing great things at the Jets, but Stanton started the rebuild.

Rumours that the Jets playing group were far from happy when Stanton pushed aside at Newcastle for Milligan. Always a good sign.

Stanton currently an assistant for Arnold with Iraq.


Edit - the Jets success is built on a group of high promising young Aussie players. All in their early-mid 20s now. They have had very few visa players the last few years. Could the Nix mirror similar success hoping most of LBS, GSR, Walker, Cassidy etc kick on. 

If so a coach like Stanton, or maybe Greeny with lots of experience with youth/Academy is the way to go. A longer term project that would require some patience.

If the club want more instant success aka Auckland it could be a different type of gaffer required. 

Shakespeare’s “once more unto the breach, dear friends” could have been written for Greenie - I didn’t realise just how many times he’s stepped in as interim coach before.

The article does make the point that having been assistant coach, Guimarães might be a less disruptive option. I don’t really have any sense of how effective he’s been or could be in the top job, so I guess “less disruptive” could be a good thing or it could be the opposite of what we need right now.

Just having a look at the schedule it’s a tough gig for the interim. 8 games to go.

Two of the next three in Wellington.  Then after that it’s five on the road - including Christchurch.

Season only just started for the NPL with Heidleberg being 1st on the ladder already. Feel like that could make grabbing John Anastasiadis a bit tricky seeing as they won't exactly be eager to have their campaign destablised to early on. For sure would be a great pick up though

As chief resigned, I assume that the club don’t need to pay him out for the rest of his contract.

Actually that may be a good question for Dome, just to make sure.

Hopefully, this can be added to next years coach’s wage to get the best man/or lady.

I’m fairly certain it will be Greenacre and he could be in line for the permanent role. 

Can see Greenacre being asked to be interim coach. But is he the right fit for the fulltime job. Not as if the reserve teams he has coached have that succesful. Didnt his WC under 20s team perform belo  expectations. Like Greenie just not sure he is what we need especially given nearly all of his coaching  experience has been gained in and around the Phoenix.
I did mention Durante but would prefer someone new to the Phoenix.

I mean Durante isn’t a bad shout.

I don’t know if you can hold someone as being a club legend as a negative. Kiwi citizen even.

Third year of being an assistant. 

Two years at Western who wouldn’t have had major resources but always had a lovely style.

I don’t know enough about his other merits as a coach but face value, based upon his CV, he should be right up there. 

If Greenacre is the one I'd expect him to be announced this season. When Talay announced he was leaving, Chiefy was announced within a week during the season (Round 24 ish).

If the powers that be still want to promote within expect the announcement to come sooner rather than later. If the Interim (whether that be Greenie or others) sticks around to the end of the season then we might see someone outside of the club brought in.

Zero chance Nix go outside the organisation for the interim.

They arent exactly in the habit of making decisions for new coaches quickly (see Greenacres many and extended interim stints), same can be said for player recruitment, you never hear about the Nix picking up players coming off contract months before the season ends like you hear about other A-League clubs doing (with these players often being Nix players coming to end of their contracts). 

So how well the interim performs will have an impact on the club's decision, which wont happen until well into the offseason. But it will only be if the interim does really well that they will be considered for the role full time.

Hey, isn't Baze off contract after the World Cup? Would he want a change in scenery, a crack at professional club coaching?  

Given there is another major rebuild that needs to happen at the end of this season due to the number of player contracts expiring.
You would think they are going to need someone who will hopefully attract some players.
Otherwise you might as well move the men out to Porirua as well because there will be buggar all there to watch them.

Greenie or Kelly Guimaraes will get it in the interim. 

Doubt we'd be able to get anyone more permanent until the off-season, and we're already on a hiding to nothing with only 8 games left in 25/26.

Implications for player re-signings too headed in to next season - Not that there will be many from the current crop. Do we think Armiento is going to want to hang around now? He will be very hot property across the ditch.

Another rebuild across the board - That's my club!

ballane

Given there is another major rebuild that needs to happen at the end of thisseason 

But that rebuild needs to start much much sooner. For example Armiento is off contract. Keep? Who decides?

Edit: what YH said. lol.

martinb

ballane

Given there is another major rebuild that needs to happen at the end of thisseason 

But that rebuild needs to start much much sooner. For example Armiento is off contract. Keep? Who decides?

Edit: what YH said. lol.

Do agree but do you can you start a rebuild with an interim coach and what player is going to sign not knowing who the gaffer is going to be.
They get this wrong and they may as well move the Mens team to Porirua as well because it will only be us tragics at games.

You would expect that all those players who are worth keeping were spoken to and offers placed on the table some time ago (Rufer, Eze, Armineto).

If they haven’t signed then they are not interested and have already gone. 

AucklandPhoenix

I mean Durante isn’t a bad shout.

I don’t know if you can hold someone as being a club legend as a negative. Kiwi citizen even.

Third year of being an assistant. 

Two years at Western who wouldn’t have had major resources but always had a lovely style.

I don’t know enough about his other merits as a coach but face value, based upon his CV, he should be right up there. 

western was losing 10 millio  a year  so they were spending quite a lot.

ballane

martinb

ballane

Given there is another major rebuild that needs to happen at the end of thisseason 

But that rebuild needs to start much much sooner. For example Armiento is off contract. Keep? Who decides?

Edit: what YH said. lol.

Do agree but do you can you start a rebuild with an interim coach and what player is going to sign not knowing who the gaffer is going to be.
They get this wrong and they may as well move the Mens team to Porirua as well because it will only be us tragics at games.

Yep. Basically I’m saying we have to get the head coach in properly asap or they are going to have issues assembling a competitive squad for next season, even if they don’t take over or get announced yet.

Armiento said this week he would love to stay but "nothing has happened yet" with regard to talks about staying on. If he was already gone I would expect a more equivocal answer, "we'll see what happens at the end of the season, i'm not even thinking about next season, I'm just focusing on making the finals and letting my agent look after this" etc.

I dont think the Nix have ever been proactive about keeping off contract players, youd think any sensible club would speak to these players well before the end of the season but I dont think the Nix do. Seems like they wait til the season ends.

Of course Eze is gone though, I could have told you that in December. 

AucklandPhoenix

You would expect that all those players who are worth keeping were spoken to and offers placed on the table some time ago (Rufer, Eze, Armineto).

If they haven’t signed then they are not interested and have already gone. 

Jesus 

AucklandPhoenix

Jesus 

He's only 28 so don't think he'd be looking to move into management. The other one only made it to his mid thirties and his tactics were all about crosses. 

Screenshot_20260222_200518_Chrome.jpg 226.59 KB

Maaaaaaatt

AucklandPhoenix

Jesus 

He's only 28 so don't think he'd be looking to move into management. The other one only made it to his mid thirties and his tactics were all about crosses. 

Screenshot_20260222_200518_Chrome.jpg 226.59 KB

He could become the club's first player-manager and get himself a head-start in the world of management

AucklandPhoenix

Jesus 

Isn't he dead?

interim probably be someone internal... Who knows, if I was Greenacre I would only take it if it was permanent, he's been interim 4 times, I think.

martinb

ballane

martinb

ballane

Given there is another major rebuild that needs to happen at the end of thisseason 

But that rebuild needs to start much much sooner. For example Armiento is off contract. Keep? Who decides?

Edit: what YH said. lol.

Do agree but do you can you start a rebuild with an interim coach and what player is going to sign not knowing who the gaffer is going to be.
They get this wrong and they may as well move the Mens team to Porirua as well because it will only be us tragics at games.

Yep. Basically I’m saying we have to get the head coach in properly asap or they are going to have issues assembling a competitive squad for next season, even if they don’t take over or get announced yet.

Rudan was appointed May 30th, 2018, so 3 months on from now and managed to assemble a competitive squad, that went on to play some of the most exciting football displayed by a Nix team ever.

And Rudes inherited a club that really was a bit of a mess, post the Kalezic disaster. A club in far worse state than the Phoenix now.

I'm sure from tomorrow, Dome, Gill and Co will be beginning their head coach search. No need to panic yet.

Competitive may have been the wrong word. But to be as fair as possible to everyone the sooner it is possible to make decisions for next season the better. And if we wish to retain certain players. 

And we’re in a different environment. Players will have an extra NZ club to go to as well. 

Bring back long pins!

MetalLegNZ

Bring back long pins!

Snap was just thinking of him

observerfromuh

interim probably be someone internal... Who knows, if I was Greenacre I would only take it if it was permanent, he's been interim 4 times, I think.

Unless he simply doesn't want it? As others have said head coach is a role with a shorter life than what Greenie currently has, so maybe he's willing to step in as interim but that's all.

Simon B

observerfromuh

interim probably be someone internal... Who knows, if I was Greenacre I would only take it if it was permanent, he's been interim 4 times, I think.

Unless he simply doesn't want it? As others have said head coach is a role with a shorter life than what Greenie currently has, so maybe he's willing to step in as interim but that's all.

His first interim stint (after Herbert left) he wasn't qualified to become a head coach.

His second interim stint was the season with Buckingham where the Phoenix chose not to give them the job (with Buckingham fulfilling the licence requirements) for the next season (second greatest what-if in club history).

His third and most recent interim stint (after Kalezic left) he wasn't qualified to become a head coach.

The first time there was a vacancy and he was qualified was when Italiano succeeded Talay.

MetalLegNZ

Bring back long pins!

If I think of who you're thinking of, thats exactly the type of character thats needed right now