<figure id="attachment_3287428" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3287428" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3287428 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/324693f1-afp__20250719__67974dr__v1__midres__fblnzlwalphoenixwrexham_1_cropped_1.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3287428" class="wp-caption-text">Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano (left) has been in charge of the club since April 2023. (AFP pic)</figcaption></figure>
WELLINGTON: Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano resigned straight after a humiliating 5-0 loss to Auckland in Saturday&#8217;s New Zealand Derby in the A-League, as an own goal by goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi set the stage for a dismal home performance.
Englishman Oluwayemi came out of his area in the 24th minute to intercept a long clearance but misjudged the flight of the ball and headed it backwards into his own net.
Auckland scored three more goals from just three shots on target to lead 4-0 at halftime.
Italiano replaced Oluwayemi at the break, but Auckland cruised to victory, extending Wellington&#8217;s winless streak to five games.
Italiano, who had been in charge since April 2023, announced his resignation at the post-match press conference, taking full responsibility for the defeat and Wellington&#8217;s poor performances this season, with the club 10th in the 12-team A-League.
&#8220;The worst thing to do is to lose to these guys,&#8221; said Italiano. &#8220;I’m not a big fan of Auckland. I don’t like the way they do things, but you can’t lose to rivals like that. It’s unacceptable anywhere in the world.
&#8220;Once we conceded I think we got quite rattled, very easily. That’s something that’s symbolic of the team this season &#8230; irrespective of if Joshy made some errors in goal, it’s me that picked him,&#8221; he said.

MatchPoint Times

Wellington coach Italiano quits after 5-0 loss to rivals Auckland in A-League

Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano resigned after a humiliating loss, with an own goal by the goalkeeper setting the stage for a dismal home performance.

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