Wellington Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay has been named as the A-League Coach of the Year, joining three of his players among season honours.
The Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has announced the A-League Team of the Season, including Phoenix players Ulises Davilla, Liberato Cacace and skipper Steven Taylor.
The team, which comprises an 11-man line-up, six substitutes, coach and referee, is voted on by the players of each A-League club after the regular season.
In his first A-League season, Davila was voted into the team’s three-man midfield in recognition of his outstanding form.
Nineteen-year-old rising star Cacace was included in the team’s back four and Taylor joined the substitutes.
Talay’s first year at the helm of Wellington was honoured, with the players voting the former Australian youth international as the team’s head coach.
"To receive this award in my first year coaching in the A-League is unexpected and I appreciate the honour the players around the league have bestowed on me,"Talay says. "It’s very humbling, especially in light of the challenging season everyone has had over the past 13 months.
"Credit for this award needs to go to the 'Nix players, who have been fantastic and extremely coachable this season, and also to the Phoenix coaching staff and operations staff, whose work behind the scenes is vital to the club’s success."
The Phoenix finished third on the competition table - their highest-ever placing - but they were eliminated in the first round of playoffs, losing 1-0 against Perth Glory last Saturday night.
Melbourne City will play Sydney FC in the final this weekend.
