Paul Temple. Photo: Photosport
The Wellington Phoenix have appointed their academy technical director Paul Temple to the head coach role for the women's team for two seasons.
In announcement on Sunday, the Phoenix said Temple will replace Natalie Lawrence, who decided against seeking reappointment following a review of the 2022-23 campaign, in which Wellington finished last of 11 teams.
"Being part of the club for so long you build a real affinity with the staff and the supporters so it's a real privilege to be given the opportunity to lead the team into the next couple of seasons," Temple said.
"We want to build on the strong foundations laid by Nat. There is a core group of players who are hardworking, humble and have the mentality to improve. Supporters want to see those characteristics in their team.
"The task now is now to build on that good work and take the team into the playoffs."
Temple has coached a variety of academy teams since moving to the capital at the start of 2016.
He started out as youth team coach before guiding the men's reserves for three seasons.
Last year he took over the women's development group, which saw his coaching career come full circle.
The "naturalised Kiwi" burst on to the international scene in 2008 when he coached New Zealand at the inaugural FIFA under-17 Women's World Cup, hosted by New Zealand, at the age of 26.
He also took New Zealand to the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, as well as serving as an assistant coach for the NZ U-20 women's team.
"Football's really changing in the coaching space. You see so many more coaches going from women's football to men's football to women's football.
"Coaching is very much fluid and changing now so I see it more as a coaching journey rather than the women's or men's game.
"There are so many similarities, but it's been good to get back into the women's side of things and working with them.
"There are slightly different challenges as a coach. It makes you a better coach all around I believe."
More recently Paul Temple has been involved with New Zealand men's age-group teams and he will leave for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina next weekend as Darren Bazeley's assistant coach.
Once back, he will set his sights on improving a Phoenix women team who have secured the wooden spoon in each of their first two seasons.
"As a club we're ambitious. We want to try to make the finals each year so the target will be to put a squad together that will get us into the playoffs and push the club forward," Temple said.
- RNZ