Phoenix coach Talay keen on All Whites job
WELLINGTON Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay will seek to become the next All Whites coach.
Speaking ahead of today’s Phoenix’s second A-League Men match against Central Coast Mariners at Sky Stadium, Talay was asked whether he had any interest in applying for the New Zealand men’s team job following Danny Hay’s exit.
Talay’s deal with the Phoenix is due to expire at the end of the season but the opportunity to also coach the All Whites could entice the former Australia under-20 men’s team coach to extend his stay in New Zealand.
‘‘Coaching a national team is always interesting,’’ Talay said.
‘‘For me, being the sole club [in New Zealand], Wellington Phoenix, and aligning with New Zealand Football will help the Phoenix and NZ Football at the same time. ‘‘Definitely, there’s interest there. I’d love to sit down and have a chat.’’
The All Whites are on the search for a new coach after Hay was asked to reapply for his role, but chose not to, after an independent review identified a lack of alignment between the All Whites coaching staff and NZ Football’s high performance department.
If he got the job, Talay would not be the first person to coach both New Zealand and the country’s only professional club.
Ricki Herbert juggled the All
Whites and Phoenix roles during a six-year period between 2007 and 2013 that coincided with New Zealand qualifying for the World Cup.
The Phoenix achieved their best-ever regular season finish in Talay’s first season when they finished third. Despite being forced to base themselves in Australia for a second consecutive season due to Covid19 restrictions they exceeded expectations by finishing sixth last term.
Talay is the first person to publicly express an interest in the job since Hay’s departure, though he stressed there had not been any discussions with him and NZ Football about the prospect.
If he was to coach the All Whites and the Phoenix, Talay said the only way it could work was if the A-League observed every international window.
‘‘If it does come to that stage then there has to be a lot of discussion, but I believe it will only work if during the Fifa windows there are no games within the A-League competition,’’ he said.
‘‘It has been done before but you guys asked the question. There’s been no discussion at this stage. Would I like to coach a national team? Definitely.’’
The Phoenix are without the suspended Yan Sasse for today’s game against the Mariners, but his absence has been offset by the return of left-back Sam Sutton, who has shaken off a hamstring niggle.