Phoenix add ex-EPL defender to roster
When Steven Taylor lined up against the Wellington Phoenix on a pre-season tour of New Zealand in 2014, little did he know that just four years later he would be joining the club.
The 32-year-old English defender, who made 215 appearances for Newcastle United from 2013 to 2016, and featured in their 1-0 win against the Phoenix, has been confirmed as new coach Mark Rudan’s first signing.
‘‘It was an unbelievable experience,’’ said Taylor, as he looked back on the encounter against his new club. ‘‘The crowd here was phenomenal and it was a game where we probably should have got beat. I remember in the last 15 minutes the Phoenix had a good few chances, we kept it as an open game because we wanted to give the fans their money’s worth, and it was a great game.’’
Taylor arrives in Wellington via League One club Peterborough, where he made 51 appearances last season. He has been signed on a one-year deal which includes a club option for a second.
Having spent the majority of his career in England, only moving abroad once for a brief spell with Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer, Taylor said he was excited about the new challenge presented by the Phoenix.
‘‘I could have stayed back in the UK and played for a Championship side, there was the European option of going out there, but what wet my lips was the fact I had played against the Wellington Phoenix in the past, in a pre-season friendly game in 2014. I spoke to [former Newcastle Jets player] Michael Bridges, I had spent most of my career in England and I wanted something different. He said this is going to be a big challenge and something that will test me.’’
Having played close to 200 Premier League games during his 13-year stay at Newcastle United, Taylor, who has shed 7kg since then, said he was determined to bring a competitive edge to the Phoenix and improve the overall professionalism at the club.
‘‘I’m here to win games, that’s what you play football for. If it’s 50 games or 27 games, whatever it is, you come here for one thing and one thing only and that’s to win as many games as possible,’’ he said.
‘‘There’s pressure every time I walk out on to the pitch. There was pressure last year, coming from Premiership to League One, but you’ve just got to work harder and outwork anyone who is front of me. You’ve got to keep your spot because the gaffer has made it very clear in the meetings we’ve had about what he expects and if you don’t hit that then you’re out of the side so day one you have to hit a certain body fat and I’m glad I passed that. He was smiling but it was the only time I’ve seen him smile.’’
The Phoenix begin their preseason with a hit-out against local club Miramar today. Taylor said it would be up to Rudan to decide whether he plays any part in that game.