“To lose 5-0 at home with the season still to play for is unacceptable and I take full responsibility,” Italiano said in a press conference after the loss.
“I’ve told the club I’ve tendered by resignation. I think it’s easier for someone to come in with new energy and refocus the group.”
“I’ll probably go back to Sydney now and look for my next opportunity,” the Australian said.
Italiano joined the Wellington Phoenix ahead of the 2018-19 season as the team’s head analyst and Ufuk Talay’s second assistant coach.
He was promoted to assistant coach for the 2020-21 season while the team was forced to play all but two of their matches out of Australia.
After replacing Talay as coach he oversaw the club’s most successful season in his first 12 months in charge, with the Phoenix narrowly missing out on the Premiers’ Plate and falling just short of a place in the A-League grand final.
They failed to make the playoffs the following two seasons and currently in ninth look unlikely to this year.
Read match report: Auckland FC rout Wellington Phoenix 5-0 in record A-League derby win
