Pearce linked to Phoenix hunt
Former England football hardman Stuart Pearce has been linked with the Wellington Phoenix coaching job.
The Adelaide Age reported yesterday that the 54-year-old was one of the contenders for the vacant post.
According to the Australian newspaper, Pearce has also been scouted by at least three other A-League clubs, including Adelaide United, Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City.
Pearce made his name as a left back for Nottingham Forest and England in the late 1980s and 1990s.
He became a cult hero in England for his physical approach and uncompromising tackling style, as well as his thunderous left-footed free kicks.
Pearce played 78 times for the Three Lions and made more than 400 appearances for Forest, scoring a remarkable 61 goals.
The Englishman’s managerial career has encompassed stints at Nottingham Forest and Manchester City as well as a variety of roles with England, including one game as care- taker manager after Fabio Capello’s departure in 2012 and more than five years as coach of the Under-21 side.
He was also in charge of the Great Britain side at the 2012 Olympics, who were eliminated by South Korea at the quarter-final stage.
But Pearce has had limited club success on the coaching bench.
He lasted less than a season in his second stint at Forest in the 2014-2015 Championship season (10 wins from 32 matches) and his spell at Manchester City between 2005 and 2007 ended poorly after showing promise at the start.
Pearce hasn’t managed since February 2015.
The Phoenix began interviewing for the coaching role last week.
Incumbent co-coaches Des Buckingham and Chris Greenacre, as well as several Australasian-based candidates, have been interviewed.
The Phoenix could not be reached for comment on Pearce when The Herald sought feedback last night.