Wellington Phoenix have confirmed the appointment of Ernie Merrick as the club's new head coach.
The A-League's most successful ever coach has been brought in to replace Ricki Herbert at the helm of the New Zealand club and is looking forward to taking the reins after he departed Melbourne Victory in March 2011.
"My coaching philosophy has always been about winning. That's what I will be bringing to the Phoenix," Merrick, who has signed a two-year contract with an option for a third year, said.
"I'm also happy to be back in the A-League.
"I had six years at Victory but this is a new challenge entirely. It is unusual for one team to represent a country and it presents me with a great challenge.
"There is great potential at the club and there must be a lot of talented young players in New Zealand to draw on.
"I focussed on producing young players at the Victoria Institute of Sport and at Melbourne Victory, and one of my most important roles at the Phoenix will be to provide input into the type of structure that will groom up and coming players for the first team."
During his stint with Melbourne, Merrick won the 2006-07 and 2008-09 A-League title, A-League championships in 2006-07 and 2008-09 and was named the A-League Coach of the Year in 2006-07 and 2009-10.
