If Nix coach departs after one year, be grateful he was here at all

Football is not real life. Family is real life. And family might ultimately be what takes Rudan away from the Phoenix.

As the Phoenix continue their quest for A-League finals football, doubt swirls around coach Mark Rudan’s future at the club beyond his breakthrough first season.

When Rudan arrived, the club was at the lowest ebb in its 11-year history. The players had been destroyed by previous coach Darije Kalezic. Many had left and those who remained were bereft of confidence and belief. The office staff trudged into work with an air of resignation. The club may as well have been on death row.

Rudan has changed all that. He’s overseen a complete transformation in culture and attitude right across the organisation.

His passion for the Phoenix isn’t an act. It’s clear he’s grown extremely fond of the club, its players, staff and fans.

He also cares about football in New Zealand, and in a very short time, has had a tremendously positive impact on the game here.

He understands the role the Phoenix has to play in football in our country and has completely bought into that.

He’s enhanced the fledgling careers of Kiwi teenagers Sarpreet Singh and Liberato Cacace. He’s reinvigorated Louis Fenton. He’s completely resurrected Alex Rufer.

And it’s not just the home-grown guys. Rudan challenged Roy Krishna to have his best season ever. The Fijian is now a contender for the Johnny Warren Medal.

He has David Williams, a veteran of more than 150 A-League games, running around like a kid on trial.

He’s influenced Steven Taylor, who’s played more than 200 English Premier League games, in a way no other coach has in his long career.

And he’s revitalised skipper Andrew Durante so much that he may yet play on into his 38th year.

All this would be irrelevant if the side wasn’t performing. But they are.

Finals football is close enough to touch. The Phoenix have won countless admirers here and — remarkably — also in Australia, where every pundit picked them for the wooden spoon this season.

Now, every team expects a tough encounter from them.

Rudan hasn’t just been a breath of fresh air at the Phoenix. He’s been a game-changer.

But this is only sport. It’s not real life. Family is real life. And family might ultimately be what takes Rudan away. Because while his football whanau is in Wellington, his flesh and blood are back across the Tasman.

Rudan is lucky if he sees his kids once a month. He’s admitted that had he known how hard being away from his wife and children was going to be, he probably wouldn’t have taken the job.

His children are at an age where they need their father around but uprooting them would be selfish. And Rudan is not a selfish man.

Phoenix fans would love him to stay. But his family — proud as they surely are of what he’s achieved — must miss him dreadfully, as he does them.

If Rudan decides to depart, even the most cold-hearted and cynical Nix fans will surely understand the rationale.

And if it is to be “one and done”, then that’s OK. Because his impact on the club has been so immense, it’s almost immeasurable.

He arrived just when he was needed most and transformed the club beyond recognition. He saved the Wellington Phoenix.

So don’t be too disappointed if Mark Rudan leaves. Just be grateful he came at all.