# 2011–12 Wellington Phoenix FC season

The 2011–12 season was the Wellington Phoenix's fifth season in the A-League. After placing 4th at the conclusion of the regular season, the Phoenix's title hopes came to an end in the second round of the finals series, losing 3–2 to Perth in extra time.

## Players
### First team squad

    As of 13 January 2012.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | NZL | Mark Paston |
| 2 | MF | MLT | Manny Muscat |
| 3 | DF | NZL | Tony Lochhead |
| 4 | DF | AUS | Brent Griffiths (Youth) |
| 6 | MF | NZL | Tim Brown (Vice-Captain) |
| 7 | MF | NZL | Leo Bertos |
| 8 | FW | BRB | Paul Ifill |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Chris Greenacre |
| 11 | MF | BRA | Daniel |
| 12 | MF | AUS | Nick Ward |
| 13 | DF | AUS | Niko Tsattalios (Youth) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 14 | FW | AUS | Mirjan Pavlovic |
| 15 | DF | NZL | Cameron Lindsay (Youth) |
| 17 | MF | AUS | Vince Lia |
| 18 | DF | NZL | Ben Sigmund |
| 19 | DF | AUS | Jimmy Downey |
| 20 | GK | TRI | Tony Warner |
| 21 | MF | ESP | Dani Sánchez |
| 22 | DF | AUS | Andrew Durante (Captain) |
| 23 | MF | AUS | Lucas Pantelis |
| 24 | FW | USA | Alex Smith |

### Contract extensions

| No. | Pos. | Name | Extension | Contract end |
| 8 | FW | Paul Ifill | 2 years | 2014 |
| 22 | DF | Andrew Durante | 3 years | 2015 |
| 24 | MF | Alex Smith | 1/2 year | 2012 |
| 2 | MF | Manny Muscat | 2 years | 2014 |

### Transfers
#### In

| No. | Pos. | Player | From† | Date | Notes |
| 19 | DF | Jimmy Downey | Oakleigh Cannons | 5 May 2011 | |
| 22 | DF | Andrew Durante | Sydney FC | 10 May 2011 | Loan Return |
| 23 | FW | Lucas Pantelis | Adelaide United | 15 May 2011 | |
| 13 | DF | Nikolas Tsattalios | Sutherland Sharks | 19 July 2011 | |
| 20 | GK | Tony Warner | Tranmere Rovers | 17 August 2011 | |
| 21 | MF | Dani Sánchez | ( Inverness CT) | 5 September 2011 | |
| 4 | DF | Brent Griffiths | ( Perth Glory) | 30 September 2011 | |
| 12 | MF | Nick Ward | Iraklis Thessaloniki | 3 October 2011 | |
| 15 | DF | Cameron Lindsay | Blackburn Rovers Academy | 5 October 2011 | |
| 24 | FW | Alex Smith | Sydney Olympic | 7 October 2011 | |
| 30 | GK | Phil Imray | Team Wellington | 15 October 2011 | Short-term injury cover |
    † Brackets round club names indicate the player's contract with that club had expired before he joined Wellington Phoenix.

#### Out

| No. | Pos. | Player | To† | Date |
| 19 | GK | Danny Vukovic | Perth Glory | 14 November 2010 |
| 13 | DF | Troy Hearfield | Central Coast Mariners | 17 February 2011 |
| 15 | DF | Jade North | F.C. Tokyo | 20 February 2011 |
| 21 | MF | Marco Rojas | Melbourne Victory | 11 March 2011 |
| 10 | MF | Oscar Roberto Cornejo | ( Atlético Santa Rosa) | 29 June 2011 |
| 23 | FW | Dylan Macallister | Breiðablik | 29 June 2011 |
| 5 | MF | Diego | ( Charleston Battery) | 29 June 2011 |
| 12 | DF | James Musa | ( Team Wellington) | 29 June 2011 |
| 20 | GK | Reece Crowther | Released | 29 June 2011 |
| 4 | MF | Nick Ward | ( Iraklis Thessaloniki) | 29 June 2011 |
    † Brackets round a club denote the player joined that club after his Phoenix contract expired.

#### Loans out

| No. | Pos. | Player | To† | Date | Duration |
| 22 | DF | Andrew Durante | Sydney FC | 21 February 2011 | 3 months |

## Matches
### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H |
| Result | D | W | L | L | L | D | D | W | L | W | W | L | W | L | W | L | W | W | W | W | L | L | W | W | D | L | L |
| Position | 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Central Coast Mariners | 27 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 40 | 24 | +16 | 51 | Qualification for 2013 AFC Champions League group stage and finals series |
| 2 | Brisbane Roar (C) | 27 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 50 | 28 | +22 | 49 | Qualification for 2013 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off and finals series |
| 3 | Perth Glory | 27 | 13 | 4 | 10 | 40 | 35 | +5 | 43 | Qualification for Finals series |
| 4 | Wellington Phoenix | 27 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 34 | 32 | +2 | 40 | Qualification for Finals series |
| 5 | Sydney FC | 27 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 37 | 42 | −5 | 38 | Qualification for Finals series |
| 6 | Melbourne Heart | 27 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 35 | 34 | +1 | 37 | Qualification for Finals series |
| 7 | Newcastle Jets | 27 | 10 | 5 | 12 | 38 | 41 | −3 | 35 | |
| 8 | Melbourne Victory | 27 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 35 | 43 | −8 | 29 | |
| 9 | Adelaide United | 27 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 26 | 44 | −18 | 25 | |
| 10 | Gold Coast United | 27 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 30 | 42 | −12 | 21 | |
* ↑ First place qualifies for the 2013 AFC Champions League group stage. Winning the 2012 A-League Grand Final automatically earns qualification for the 2013 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off, unless first place are champions.

## Statistics
### Appearances

| Rank | Player | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total |
| Rank | Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | F1 | F2 | App. | GS | | | Min. |
| 1 | Chris Greenacre | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 65 | 83 | 90 | 63 | 90 | 73 | 60 | 61 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 70 | 90 | 71 | 82 | 90 | 90 | 64 | 55 | 90 | 113 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 12 | 2,380 |
| 2 | Andrew Durante | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 120 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 2,550 |
| 2 | Ben Sigmund | 90 | 90 | 90 | 66 | | 84 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 89 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 62 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 3 | 2,461 |
| 2 | Leo Bertos | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 65 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 39 | 24 | 78 | 90 | 62 | 90 | 77 | 90 | | 25 | 90 | 89 | 120 | 28 | 25 | 3 | 5 | 2,289 |
| 5 | Tim Brown | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 120 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 2,460 |
| 5 | Manny Muscat | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 120 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 2,460 |
| 7 | Dani Sánchez | 68 | 84 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | | | 25 | 76 | | 24 | 70 | 78 | 90 | 90 | 51 | 87 | 83 | 64 | 90 | 65 | 68 | 67 | 85 | 71 | 61 | 77 | 74 | 25 | 23 | 2 | 17 | 1,739 |
| 7 | Tony Lochhead | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 89 | | | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 85 | 90 | | 62 | 90 | 74 | 90 | 120 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 4 | 2,230 |
| 9 | Alex Smith | | 6 | 90 | 68 | 90 | 90 | 58 | | | | 8 | 90 | 90 | | 20 | 19 | 82 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 13 | 71 | 5 | 65 | 16 | 13 | 58 | 24 | 15 | 9 | 5 | 1,473 |
| 10 | Paul Ifill | 52 | 14 | | | | | 32 | 60 | 90 | 90 | 82 | | | | 30 | 29 | 90 | 89 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 120 | 22 | 19 | 3 | 5 | 1,678 |
| 11 | Vince Lia | 49 | | | | | | 88 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 70 | 71 | | | | 20 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 120 | 21 | 20 | 1 | 4 | 1,768 |
| 11 | Nick Ward | 41 | 82 | 90 | 13 | 25 | 90 | 72 | 90 | 59 | 7 | 90 | 66 | | 17 | | | 66 | 66 | | | | 29 | 22 | 19 | 71 | 19 | 29 | | | 21 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 1,063 |
| 11 | Daniel | 38 | 76 | 75 | 77 | 81 | 73 | 18 | | | 1 | | 27 | 82 | 59 | 70 | 61 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 26 | 28 | 25 | | | | | | 1 | 46 | 21 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 875 |
| 14 | Tony Warner | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1,350 |
| 15 | Mirjan Pavlovic | | | | | | | | 30 | 31 | 14 | | 27 | 20 | 31 | 20 | 29 | | | | | 1 | | 8 | 23 | 28 | 26 | 35 | | 7 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 330 |
| 16 | Mark Paston | 90 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 120 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1,290 |
| 17 | Brent Griffiths | | | | 22 | 90 | 6 | 2 | | | | 90 | 63 | | | | | | | | | | 90 | | | | | | | | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 363 |
| 17 | Jimmy Downey | 22 | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 12 | | | 24 | 3 | 7 | | | 5 | | | | | | | | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 81 |
| 19 | Nikolas Tsattalios | | | 15 | 90 | 9 | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19 | | | | | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 150 |
| 20 | Cameron Lindsay | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Lucas Pantelis | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Player started   Player subbed in   Player suspended   Player injured

### Goal scorers

| Rank | Player | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Total | Total |
| Rank | Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | F1 | F2 | Total | Total |
| 1 | Paul Ifill | | | | | | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | | | 1 | | 1 | | | 1 | | 8 |
| 2 | Tim Brown | | 1 | | | | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | | | | | | 1 | | 6 |
| 3 | Chris Greenacre | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | Dani Sánchez | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | 2 | | 1 | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| 5 | Ben Sigmund | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | 3 |
| 6 | Daniel | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| 6 | Manny Muscat | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | Mirjan Pavlovic | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| 6 | Nick Ward | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 2 |
| 10 | Leo Bertos | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| 10 | Andrew Durante | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 1 |
| 10 | Alex Smith | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 10 | Own Goal | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
Goal scored from penalty kick

### Goal assists

| Rank | Player | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Total | Total |
| Rank | Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | F1 | F2 | Total | Total |
| 1 | Leo Bertos | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | 1 | | 2 | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | 1 | | 6 |
| 2 | Daniel | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| 3 | Paul Ifill | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | | | | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 3 | Tony Lochhead | | 1 | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | | | | 4 |
| 5 | Manny Muscat | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| 5 | Nick Ward | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| 7 | Chris Greenacre | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | 1 | | | | | 2 |
| 7 | Vince Lia | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | 2 |
| 7 | Dani Sánchez | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 2 |
| 7 | Ben Sigmund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | 2 |
| 11 | Tim Brown | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | Brent Griffiths | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 11 | Mirjan Pavlovic | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 1 |

### Discipline

| Rank | Player | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Total | Total | Total |
| Rank | Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | F1 | F2 | | | |
| 1 | Tim Brown | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 1 | |
| 1 | Manny Muscat | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 1 | |
| 3 | Ben Sigmund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | 1 |
| 3 | Vince Lia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | | |
| 5 | Andrew Durante | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | |
| 6 | Tony Lochhead | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | | |
| 7 | Paul Ifill | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | |
| 8 | Mirjan Pavlovic | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 8 | Chris Greenacre | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | |
| 8 | Alex Smith | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | |
| 8 | Nick Ward | | * | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | |
| 12 | Leo Bertos | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | |
| 12 | Dani Sánchez | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | |
| 14 | Daniel | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
Player suspended

### Home attendance

| Date | Round | Attendance | Opposition | Stadium |
| 16 October 2011 | Round 2 | 7,643 | Newcastle Jets | Westpac Stadium |
| 30 October 2011 | Round 4 | 9,369 | Melbourne Victory | Westpac Stadium |
| 4 November 2011 | Round 5 | 5,090 | Central Coast Mariners | Westpac Stadium |
| 19 November 2011 | Round 7 | 20,078 | Adelaide United | Eden Park |
| 27 November 2011 | Round 8 | 6,308 | Sydney FC | Westpac Stadium |
| 10 December 2011 | Round 10 | 6,020 | Perth Glory | Westpac Stadium |
| 14 December 2011 | Round 11 | 4,628 | Brisbane Roar | Forsyth Barr Stadium |
| 23 December 2011 | Round 13 | 6,471 | Newcastle Jets | Westpac Stadium |
| 4 January 2012 | Round 15 | 8,411 | Sydney FC | Westpac Stadium |
| 8 January 2012 | Round 16 | 3,898 | Perth Glory | Westpac Stadium |
| 29 January 2012 | Round 19 | 13,601 | Melbourne Heart | Westpac Stadium |
| 12 February 2012 | Round 21 | 13,009 | Brisbane Roar | Westpac Stadium |
| 4 March 2012 | Round 24 | 7,431 | Gold Coast United | Westpac Stadium |
| 25 March 2012 | Round 27 | 9,740 | Central Coast Mariners | Westpac Stadium |
| 30 March 2012 | Semi-Final 4 v 5 | 10,019 | Sydney FC | Westpac Stadium |
| Total | 131,716 | 131,716 | 131,716 | 131,716 |
| Average | 8,781 | 8,781 | 8,781 | 8,781 |

## Club
### Technical staff

* First team coach: Ricki Herbert
* Forwards coach: Chris Greenacre
* Strength & conditioning coach: Lee Taylor

### Kit

On 29 January 2012, The Wellington Phoenix wore a special black strip in their match against Melbourne Heart. The strip was designed by Andrew Durante, Tim Brown and Leo Bertos to raise money for charity with 100% of the TradeMe auction proceeds going to Cure Kids.
| Home | Away | Special | Goalkeeper #1 |

### End-of-season awards

* Sony Player of the Year: Ben Sigmund
* Members' Player of the Year: Ben Sigmund
* Players' Player of the Year: Ben Sigmund
* Media Player of the Year: Ben Sigmund
* Golden Boot: Paul Ifill – 7 goals