Soccer: Phoenix sign English striker

English striker Chris Greenacre has signed a two-year deal with the Wellington Phoenix, chief executive Tony Pignata said today.

The 31-year-old joins the Phoenix from Tranmere Rovers, where he was the club's top scorer for three of his four seasons at the League One club.

The Phoenix lost last season's star striker and A-League top scorer Shane Smeltz to new club Gold Coast United.

Pignata and head coach Ricki Herbert had targeted Greenacre prior to a recruiting mission to the United Kingdom in March.

"We've had tremendous feedback from a lot of people that we've spoken to about Chris, from coaches and managers to his fellow players.

"He's been Tranmere's top scorer for three seasons and has been part of a side this season that is pushing for promotion to the Championship.

"Chris has a proven pedigree as a striker and we're certain he will fit in very well at the Phoenix."

As well as representing Tranmere for four seasons, Greenacre's career has also seen him play at clubs including Stoke City, Mansfield Town and Manchester City.

"His qualities as a professional are second to none, and that was clear to Ricki and me within the first 10 minutes of meeting him. We're very excited about getting him here to join the Phoenix," Pignata said.

Greenacre is scheduled to arrive in Wellington in early June, and said he was looking forward to his stint at the Phoenix.

"I can't wait," Greenacre said. "I'm looking forward to a new challenge and a new chapter in my career."

The decision to travel to the other side of the world to join the Phoenix was a surprisingly easy one, he said.

"It wasn't a tough decision at all, certainly not from a football perspective. The more I learned about the club and about Wellington from Tony, the more it appealed."

A player with a canny sense for goal, Greenacre prides himself as a striker who can be "in the right place at the right time".

"I'm not so much a target man as the sort of player who can hold the ball up, score what some people might call the `ugly' goals, I guess - get in and around the box and on the posts and scramble them in.

"I'm not the sort of player who is going to take the ball on halfway, beat five guys then curl the ball past the keeper. It's more about using my knowledge and experience to get into good scoring positions and to be clinical in finishing."

Pignata said the Phoenix's search for a second top striker was continuing.

"We've got other options and Ricki wants a target man, so that's what we're looking for. We're taking our time because we want to make sure we get the right person, and we're hopeful that by the end of June we will have signed the bulk of our squad."

- NZPA