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kiwiqpr said:
The best thing he did this season was get injured allowing an 18 year old reserve keeper to play
Then he came back and it's been **** since for stupid goals
Click to expand...
Italiano ultimately is to blame and, as I’ve suggested in my thrice weekly letters to the board, must go.
 
1-1 at halftime, after taking a bit of early pressure it's been fairly even since then. A really poor goal to give away when we'd put ourselves in a good position. Baffling as to how Hull are in top six on this performance...
 
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Some predictably unpredictable scores so far. 13th but 2 points off sixth as it stands.

Millwall 0-1 Pompey
Ipswich now 3-2 up at Wrexham from being behind twice.
 
Finished 1-1, after 15 minutes of added time due to two ridiculous VAR delays, neither of which altered the on pitch decisions. Rayo could have won on second half performance but gave up trying to, Betis did not know how to put pressure on.

Xerez (Jerez) v someone else in a lower league game tomorrow.
 
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sb_73 said:
Finished 1-1, after 15 minutes of added time due to two ridiculous VAR delays, neither of which altered the on pitch decisions. Rayo could have won on second half performance but gave up trying to, Betis did not know how to put pressure on.

Xerez (Jerez) v someone else in a lower league game tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Tjaronn Sherry plays for them.
 
Jerez is a lovely City.... Do the Gonzales Bayes sherry tour if you get a chance.... although the Manzanilla from Sanluca de Barrameda is nicer than the Fino from Jerez.... personal taste though.....
 
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Star of David Bardsley said:
Italiano ultimately is to blame and, as I’ve suggested in my thrice weekly letters to the board, must go.
Click to expand...
Sport

Football

Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano quits after horror derby loss to Auckland FC​

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Phillip RolloFebruary 21, 2026 • 7:40pm
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1:31
Wellington Phoenix coach quits after sixth-straight derby loss
VIDEO CREDIT: WELLINGTON PHOENIX
120 Comments
Giancarlo Italiano has resigned as Wellington Phoenix coach, falling on his sword after Saturday’s humiliating 5-0 loss to Auckland FC.
He confirmed his departure to Stuff at his post-match press conference at Sky Stadium, admitting the result against their bitter rivals was “unacceptable.”
It was the Phoenix’s sixth straight derby defeat to Auckland and equalled their heaviest home loss in Wellington.
They began brightly but unravelled after a dreadful error from goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi gifted Auckland the opener in the 24th minute and sparked a collapse.




Jake Girdwood-Reich launched a long ball and Oluwayemi badly misjudged the flight, somehow heading into his own net from outside the penalty area.
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0:30
Phoenix goalkeeper scores comical own goal in big derby defeat
VIDEO CREDIT: SKY SPORT
The hosts conceded three more in quick succession to trail 4-0 at halftime.
The Phoenix sit 10th on the A-League Men ladder, four points outside the sixth and final playoff spot with eight games remaining.
After the game, Stuff asked Italiano “is that the end?” and he replied “it certainly is.”
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“To lose 5-0 at home with the season still to play for, that’s unacceptable and I take full responsibility so I’ve told the club I’ve tendered my resignation,” Italiano said.
You must log in or register to see images
Phoenix men’s coach Giancarlo Italiano. Photo: Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images
“It’s easier for someone with new energy to come in and refocus the group.”
Oluwayemi was hooked at halftime after failing to make a single save in his first game back from an ankle injury.
ADVERTISEMENT

Advertise with Stuff
The Phoenix’s goalkeeper had also been at fault when they lost to Auckland in the inaugural derby.
Italiano was disappointed with how his side responded to the own goal but took the brunt of the blame for the result.
“It was clearly evident what went wrong today. We conceded three very sloppy goals but it was more the mentality shift. Once we conceded that first one we got quite rattled and that’s probably something that is symbolic of the team this season,” he added.
“In big moments there’s big errors that are costing us and that could be down to inexperience, the older players or the younger players not fully focussing – but that comes down to me at the end of the day.
You must log in or register to see images
Phoenix goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi reacts after conceding a shocking own goal. Photo: Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images
“I do all the training, I provide the environment and even today, irrespective if Joshy made some errors in goal, it was me who picked him, so it ultimately falls to me.”
Widely known as “Chiefy”, Italiano joined the Phoenix in 2019-20, first serving as an analyst and second assistant to head coach Ufuk Talay.
The Australian was promoted to head coach in 2023-24 when Talay left and immediately guided the Phoenix to a second-place regular season finish — their highest ever — and came within extra time of a maiden trip to the grand final.
ADVERTISEMENT

Advertise with Stuff
It was his first professional head coaching role, but the Phoenix have not reached those heights since.
They finished 11th last season while losing all three derbies against Auckland, including an even heavier 6-1 thrashing at Go Media Stadium.
“Losing 6-1 in that Auckland derby, that hurt a lot,” Italiano said.
“I remember that game, I was trying to do a lot of things and wearing a lot of hats trying to get the team back to scratch because there were a lot of issues – that was excusable then.”
Whoever replaces Italiano faces a major task to haul the Phoenix back into the six.
Reserve team coach Chris Greenacre looms as the logical interim, having previously filled the role.
The Phoenix will have to move quickly to find a replacement, hosting Sydney FC back at Sky Stadium next Sunday.
So what next for Italiano? He said it would likely move back to Sydney in the coming weeks and wait for his next opportunity. But first, “I’ll probably get drunk tonight.”
-Stuff
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You must log in or register to see images
 
kiwiqpr said:
Sport

Football

Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano quits after horror derby loss to Auckland FC​

You must log in or register to see images

Phillip RolloFebruary 21, 2026 • 7:40pm
You must log in or register to see images



1:31
Wellington Phoenix coach quits after sixth-straight derby loss
VIDEO CREDIT: WELLINGTON PHOENIX
120 Comments
Giancarlo Italiano has resigned as Wellington Phoenix coach, falling on his sword after Saturday’s humiliating 5-0 loss to Auckland FC.
He confirmed his departure to Stuff at his post-match press conference at Sky Stadium, admitting the result against their bitter rivals was “unacceptable.”
It was the Phoenix’s sixth straight derby defeat to Auckland and equalled their heaviest home loss in Wellington.
They began brightly but unravelled after a dreadful error from goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi gifted Auckland the opener in the 24th minute and sparked a collapse.




Jake Girdwood-Reich launched a long ball and Oluwayemi badly misjudged the flight, somehow heading into his own net from outside the penalty area.
ADVERTISEMENT

Advertise with Stuff
You must log in or register to see images



0:30
Phoenix goalkeeper scores comical own goal in big derby defeat
VIDEO CREDIT: SKY SPORT
The hosts conceded three more in quick succession to trail 4-0 at halftime.
The Phoenix sit 10th on the A-League Men ladder, four points outside the sixth and final playoff spot with eight games remaining.
After the game, Stuff asked Italiano “is that the end?” and he replied “it certainly is.”
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You must log in or register to see images

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You must log in or register to see images

“To lose 5-0 at home with the season still to play for, that’s unacceptable and I take full responsibility so I’ve told the club I’ve tendered my resignation,” Italiano said.
You must log in or register to see images
Phoenix men’s coach Giancarlo Italiano. Photo: Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images
“It’s easier for someone with new energy to come in and refocus the group.”
Oluwayemi was hooked at halftime after failing to make a single save in his first game back from an ankle injury.
ADVERTISEMENT

Advertise with Stuff
The Phoenix’s goalkeeper had also been at fault when they lost to Auckland in the inaugural derby.
Italiano was disappointed with how his side responded to the own goal but took the brunt of the blame for the result.
“It was clearly evident what went wrong today. We conceded three very sloppy goals but it was more the mentality shift. Once we conceded that first one we got quite rattled and that’s probably something that is symbolic of the team this season,” he added.
“In big moments there’s big errors that are costing us and that could be down to inexperience, the older players or the younger players not fully focussing – but that comes down to me at the end of the day.
You must log in or register to see images
Phoenix goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi reacts after conceding a shocking own goal. Photo: Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images
“I do all the training, I provide the environment and even today, irrespective if Joshy made some errors in goal, it was me who picked him, so it ultimately falls to me.”
Widely known as “Chiefy”, Italiano joined the Phoenix in 2019-20, first serving as an analyst and second assistant to head coach Ufuk Talay.
The Australian was promoted to head coach in 2023-24 when Talay left and immediately guided the Phoenix to a second-place regular season finish — their highest ever — and came within extra time of a maiden trip to the grand final.
ADVERTISEMENT

Advertise with Stuff
It was his first professional head coaching role, but the Phoenix have not reached those heights since.
They finished 11th last season while losing all three derbies against Auckland, including an even heavier 6-1 thrashing at Go Media Stadium.
“Losing 6-1 in that Auckland derby, that hurt a lot,” Italiano said.
“I remember that game, I was trying to do a lot of things and wearing a lot of hats trying to get the team back to scratch because there were a lot of issues – that was excusable then.”
Whoever replaces Italiano faces a major task to haul the Phoenix back into the six.
Reserve team coach Chris Greenacre looms as the logical interim, having previously filled the role.
The Phoenix will have to move quickly to find a replacement, hosting Sydney FC back at Sky Stadium next Sunday.
So what next for Italiano? He said it would likely move back to Sydney in the coming weeks and wait for his next opportunity. But first, “I’ll probably get drunk tonight.”
-Stuff
120Comments

ShareSend us a news tip






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This has been a fantastic day and what a way to end it.
 
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