# 2007–08 Wellington Phoenix FC season

The 2007–08 A-League season was the inaugural season for the Wellington Phoenix, who replaced the New Zealand Knights.

## Players
### First team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | NZL | Mark Paston |
| 2 | DF | NZL | Jeremy Christie |
| 3 | DF | NZL | Tony Lochhead |
| 4 | DF | BRA | Cleberson |
| 5 | DF | AUS | Karl Dodd |
| 6 | MF | NZL | Tim Brown (Vice-Captain) |
| 7 | DF | AUS | Ross Aloisi (Captain) |
| 8 | FW | NZL | Vaughan Coveny |
| 9 | FW | NZL | Shane Smeltz |
| 10 | MF | AUS | Michael Ferrante |
| 11 | MF | BRA | Daniel |
| 12 | MF | AUS | Richard Johnson |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 13 | DF | NZL | Steven Old |
| 14 | DF | AUS | Steven O'Dor |
| 15 | MF | BRA | George |
| 16 | DF | AUS | Kristian Rees |
| 17 | MF | AUS | Vince Lia |
| 18 | DF | AUS | Ahmad Elrich |
| 19 | FW | NZL | Greg Draper |
| 20 | GK | NZL | Glen Moss |
| 21 | MF | BRA | Felipe |
| 22 | FW | AUS | Royce Brownlie |
| 23 | FW | NZL | Kosta Barbarouses |
| 30 | GK | NZL | Jacob Spoonley |

### Transfers
#### In

| No. | Pos. | Player | From | Notes |
| 1 | GK | Mark Paston | New Zealand Knights | |
| 2 | DF | Jeremy Christie | Perth Glory | |
| 3 | DF | Tony Lochhead | New England Revolution | |
| 4 | DF | Cleberson | Cabofriense | |
| 5 | DF | Karl Dodd | Falkirk FC | |
| 6 | MF | Tim Brown | Newcastle Jets | |
| 7 | DF | Ross Aloisi | Adelaide United | |
| 8 | FW | Vaughan Coveny | Newcastle Jets | |
| 9 | FW | Shane Smeltz | Halifax Town | |
| 10 | MF | Michael Ferrante | Melbourne Victory | |
| 11 | MF | Daniel | Madureira | |
| 12 | MF | Richard Johnson | New Zealand Knights | |
| 13 | DF | Steven Old | Newcastle Jets | |
| 14 | DF | Steven O'Dor | New Zealand Knights | |
| 15 | MF | George | Carabobo | |
| 16 | DF | Kristian Rees | Whittlesea Zebras | Short-term contract |
| 17 | MF | Vince Lia | Melbourne Victory | |
| 18 | MF | Ahmad Elrich | Fulham FC | |
| 19 | FW | Greg Draper | Canterbury United | |
| 20 | GK | Glen Moss | Dinamo Bucharest | |
| 21 | MF | Felipe | Hajduk Split | |
| 22 | FW | Royce Brownlie | Swindon Town | |
| 23 | FW | Kosta Barbarouses | Team Wellington | |
| 30 | GK | Jacob Spoonley | Auckland City FC | |

## Matches
### 2007 Pre-season Cup fixtures

Group B :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | BP | Pts |
| 1 | Central Coast Mariners | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 3 | 10 |
| 2 | Queensland Roar | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 1 | 6 |
| 3 | Wellington Phoenix | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 4 | Sydney FC | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | −6 | 0 | 1 |

### 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 |
| Ground | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | A | A | H | A | H | H | H | A | H | A | A |
| Result | D | L | L | W | D | W | L | L | L | L | W | L | D | D | L | W | D | W | L | L | L |
| Position | 2 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 |

### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Central Coast Mariners | 21 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 30 | 25 | +5 | 34 | Qualification for 2009 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series |
| 2 | Newcastle Jets (C) | 21 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 25 | 21 | +4 | 34 | Qualification for 2009 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series |
| 3 | Sydney FC | 21 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 28 | 24 | +4 | 32 | Qualification for 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship and Finals series |
| 4 | Queensland Roar | 21 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 25 | 21 | +4 | 31 | Qualification for Finals series |
| 5 | Melbourne Victory | 21 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 27 | |
| 6 | Adelaide United | 21 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 31 | 29 | +2 | 26 | |
| 7 | Perth Glory | 21 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 27 | 34 | −7 | 20 | |
| 8 | Wellington Phoenix | 21 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 25 | 37 | −12 | 20 | |
* ↑ First place qualifies for the 2009 AFC Champions League group stage. Winning the 2008 A-League Grand Final earns qualification for the 2009 AFC Champions League group stage, unless the Grand Final winners are also first place, in which case the Grand Final runner up qualifies.
* ↑ Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for the AFC Champions League as they are not recognised as an AFC club.

## Statistics
### Appearances

| Rank | Player | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | Minutes played | 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 | App. | GS | | | Min. |
| 1 | Glen Moss | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 1,800 |
| 2 | Karl Dodd | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1,710 |
| 2 | Shane Smeltz | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1,710 |
| 4 | Tony Lochhead | 90 | 90 | 90 | 82 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 1,612 |
| 4 | Michael Ferrante | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 19 | 90 | 45 | | | | 33 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 18 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 1,537 |
| 6 | Daniel | 90 | 90 | 48 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 90 | 84 | 80 | 67 | 86 | 87 | 90 | 8 | 12 | | | 30 | | 17 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 1,222 |
| 6 | Felipe | 26 | 36 | 82 | 62 | 86 | 71 | 41 | | | 56 | | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 67 | 78 | 65 | 77 | 90 | 8 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 1,115 |
| 6 | Vaughan Coveny | 76 | 62 | 42 | 28 | 4 | 77 | 70 | 75 | | | 10 | | 90 | 11 | 25 | 83 | 90 | 89 | 90 | 65 | | 17 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 987 |
| 9 | Jeremy Christie | 64 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 3 | | 4 | | 7 | 8 | | 83 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1,069 |
| 10 | Richard Johnson | | | 90 | 90 | 86 | 86 | 90 | 90 | | 6 | 90 | 77 | 75 | | | 23 | 5 | 25 | 82 | | | 14 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 915 |
| 11 | Vince Lia | | | | | | | | 75 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 79 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 83 | | 90 | 90 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 1,137 |
| 11 | Ross Aloisi | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 84 | | | 77 | | | | | | 8 | | 62 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 1,041 |
| 11 | Steven O'Dor | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 49 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 80 | | 4 | | | | | 1 | | 90 | | 13 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1,034 |
| 11 | Ahmad Elrich | | | | | | | | 45 | 86 | 90 | 79 | 34 | | 90 | 90 | 86 | 85 | 90 | 82 | 60 | 7 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 924 |
| 15 | Steven Old | 90 | | | 8 | | | 41 | 90 | | 90 | 10 | 90 | 89 | | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | | 12 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 868 |
| 16 | Tim Brown | | | | | | 13 | 20 | | 90 | 6 | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 65 | | | 90 | | 90 | 90 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 734 |
| 17 | Kristian Rees | | | | | | | | | | | | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 810 |
| 18 | Royce Brownlie | 14 | 28 | 8 | | | | | 15 | | | 11 | 13 | 15 | | | | | | 13 | | | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 117 |
| 19 | George | | | | | 4 | 4 | 49 | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 72 |
| 20 | Cleberson | 90 | 54 | | | | | | 90 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 234 |
| 20 | Kosta Barbarouses | | | | | | | | | 4 | | | | 13 | | | | | | | | 90 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 107 |
| 21 | Greg Draper | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 25 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 53 |
| 22 | Mark Paston | | | | | | | | | | 90 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 |
| 23 | Jacob Spoonley | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 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 | 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 | Total | Total |
| 1 | Shane Smeltz | 1 | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | 1 | | | | | | 2 | 1 | 1 | | | | 9 |
| 2 | Daniel | 1 | | | 1 | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | | | | 4 |
| 3 | Felipe | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 3 |
| 4 | Ross Aloisi | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| 5 | Steven Old | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 5 | Tony Lochhead | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 5 | Vaughan Coveny | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 5 | Ahmad Elrich | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 5 | Vince Lia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 5 | Michael Ferrante | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| 5 | Kristian Rees | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 1 |
* A goal was scored from a 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 | 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 | Total | Total |
| 1 | Vaughan Coveny | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | 1 | | | | 4 |
| 1 | Daniel | | | | | | 2 | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 3 | Shane Smeltz | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | 1 | | | | 3 |
| 4 | Vince Lia | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 2 |
| 4 | Tony Lochhead | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| 6 | Ross Aloisi | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 6 | Tim Brown | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 6 | Jeremy Christie | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 6 | Karl Dodd | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| 6 | Ahmad Elrich | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| 6 | Felipe | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 6 | Michael Ferrante | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 6 | George | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 6 | Steven O'Dor | | | | | | | | 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 | 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 | | | |
| 1 | Daniel | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | | |
| 2 | Ross Aloisi | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | 1 |
| 2 | Karl Dodd | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | |
| 4 | Ahmad Elrich | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | 1 |
| 5 | Tim Brown | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | | |
| 5 | Vince Lia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | | |
| 7 | Jeremy Christie | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | |
| 7 | Richard Johnson | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | |
| 7 | Tony Lochhead | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | |
| 10 | Steven Old | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | |
| 10 | Shane Smeltz | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | |
| 12 | Vaughan Coveny | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | |
| 12 | Felipe | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | |
| 12 | Michael Ferrante | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | |
| 12 | Glen Moss | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | |
| 12 | Kristian Rees | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | |
| 17 | Cleberson | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |

### Home attendance

| Date | Round | Attendance | Opposition | Stadium |
| 26 August 2007 | Round 1 | 14,421 | Melbourne Victory | Westpac Stadium |
| 9 September 2007 | Round 3 | 11,478 | Newcastle Jets | Westpac Stadium |
| 22 September 2007 | Round 5 | 12,127 | Adelaide United | Westpac Stadium |
| 30 September 2007 | Round 6 | 10,127 | Perth Glory | Westpac Stadium |
| 21 October 2007 | Round 9 | 10,560 | Central Coast Mariners | Westpac Stadium |
| 17 November 2007 | Round 13 | 8,062 | Sydney FC | Westpac Stadium |
| 30 November 2007 | Round 15 | 18,345 | Adelaide United | Westpac Stadium |
| 1 December 2007 | Exhibition | 31,853 | Los Angeles Galaxy | Westpac Stadium |
| 7 December 2007 | Round 16 | 8,032 | Perth Glory | Westpac Stadium |
| 14 December 2007 | Round 17 | 9,384 | Queensland Roar | Westpac Stadium |
| 4 January 2008 | Round 19 | 14,288 | Sydney FC | Westpac Stadium |
| Total | 116,824 excl. exhibition match | 116,824 excl. exhibition match | 116,824 excl. exhibition match | 116,824 excl. exhibition match |
| Average | 11,682 excl. exhibition match | 11,682 excl. exhibition match | 11,682 excl. exhibition match | 11,682 excl. exhibition match |

## Club
### Kit

Supplier: Reebok Sponsor(s): Sony
| Pre-Season | Home | Away |

### End-of-season awards

    See also List of Wellington Phoenix FC end-of-season awards
* Sony Player of the Year: Shane Smeltz
* Players' Player of the Year: Shane Smeltz
* Media Player of the Year: Shane Smeltz
* Golden Boot: Shane Smeltz – 9 goals