To begin the new A-Leagues season, the Wellington Phoenix has won every major award.October’s women’s and men’s players of the month are Rylee Foster and Alex Paulsen, respectively, while October’s coach of the month honours go to Paul Temple and Giancarlo Italiano.
Foster defeated nine other contenders for the women’s player of the month award and helped the Phoenix have their greatest start to a Liberty A-League season.
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After being forced to miss the third round encounter against Brisbane Roar due to injury, the Canadian custodian made 20 saves in five outings in October and November. In the second round victory over Western Sydney Wanderers, the custodian also kept a clean sheet.
Paulsen, a fellow custodian, has also had an incredible start to the 2023–24 Isuzu UTE A–League, and his efforts have earned him the title of men’s player of the month.
In October and November, he also made five appearances. He made 19 saves, two clean sheets, and most significantly, he stopped Adam Taggart and Jamie Maclaren from scoring from the penalty spot, which helped the Nix defeat Melbourne City and Perth Glory.
For the women’s and men’s coach of the month awards, which covered games played in October and the first weekend of November, Temple and Italiano were two of four contenders.
Wellington’s women won two of their three A-League games under Temple’s leadership, scoring five goals and allowing just two.
The Phoenix overcame a close first-round loss to Melbourne City to overcome Western Sydney Wanderers 3-0 before winning their next game at home, 2-1, against Brisbane Roar.
Italiano led the men to two victories and a tie in their opening three games as an A-League head coach. The club scored seven goals and gave up just three goals. Italiano has yet to lose an A-League game.
The Nix defeated Perth Glory and Brisbane Roar at home after a hard-fought draw in their first game against Western Sydney.
