The former Phoenix captain Steven Taylor is returning to the Wellington club for the remainder of the A-League football season.
The 35 year old former Newcastle United defender quit the Phoenix suddenly last year saying he just wanted to play and was tired of the uncertainty of A-League amid Covid-19.
Steven Taylor Photo: PHOTOSPORT
He then joined Indian Superleague side Odisha but the side finished last in the recent Indian competition, failing to make the playoffs.
Taylor is currently in quarantine in Australia before joining his teamates.
"I'm looking forward to joining back up with my teammates in Wollongong and working under Uffy [Ufuk Talay] again and doing my best for the Phoenix fans back in New Zealand and across Australia."
Coach Ufuk Talay says that Taylor brings a number of qualities to the team which will compliment what we already have in the squad.
"Stevie is a class act and he'll bring that leadership that we need in the backline," said Talay.
"As a player he brings a defensive presence and as a person he brings leadership and character to the team - he was very influential in the changing room for us last season and that's what we want him to bring to the squad, in addition to his play on the field."
The Phoenix currently sit second to last in the twelve team competition and play sixth placed Perth on Sunday.
-RNZ