Taylor enjoying playing for Rudan
Steven Taylor has committed to a second season with Wellington Phoenix and is working under the assumption that coach Mark Rudan will too.
It was confirmed on Monday that fan favourite Taylor has signed through until the end of the 2019-20 A-League season, after the Phoenix exercised their option on his initial one-year contract.
The 33-year-old former Premier League player has thoroughly enjoyed his first season with the Phoenix, playing 18 of a possible 19 games, and is now weighing up the possibility of finishing his professional career in Wellington. He said a major reason for that was Rudan, who has been linked with a move to expansion club Western United on the back of the Phoenix’s recent form.
‘‘Speaking to him about what his ambitions were when I first signed here was the main reason why I came and obviously now with how well the team is doing and what the plans are for the future for this football club, it’s in good hands,’’ Taylor said.
‘‘I live comfortable. When you go around the beaches or have coffee down by the marina the fans come and talk. It’s great living out here. It’s easy and relaxed and I’m enjoying my football, and that’s the biggest part. You come to training everyday enjoying yourself, and you are around a group of players who are hungry to get to the next level and better themselves. We have a top coach who is very ambitious and he drives all of us.’’
Although Rudan has been coy on his future at the Phoenix, Taylor was not concerned by the growing speculation surrounding the coach and said he wanted to help the build on the team’s so far successful 2018-19 campaign.
‘‘I haven’t heard anything else. I’ve had some good discussions with Mark and for me we’re just taking each game at a time and for myself to sign hopefully there will be a few others that join,’’ he said.
‘‘You can see what Mark is trying to build at the football club. The players who he has brought in and the hunger that we have got as a team, it showed in the pre-season and building up to the season, and we’ve gone from strength to strength. We are still building on it.’’
The Phoenix will play their fourth consecutive match away from Wellington on Saturday, when they play Sydney FC in a home game they moved to Campbelltown because Westpac Stadium was unavailable.
Despite coming into the match having bounced between Perth, Newcastle, Auckland and Wellington, Taylor said the heavy travel schedule was not a problem for the players.
‘‘The lads get looked after, the flights aren’t even that long. The only one people might mention is the Perth one but I think it’s good to see a new place, you have plenty of time to recover.’’