Soccer: Greenacre looking to the future

Greenacre, 34, was uncertain about his next role at the Phoenix, though he confirmed he had been involved in "positive discussions" with the club about next season. Photo / Getty Images.

Evergreen Wellington Phoenix striker Chris Greenacre will set about consolidating his footballing future this week when he fronts up for a UEFA A-Licence coaching course in England.

Greenacre, 34, was uncertain about his next role at the Phoenix, though he confirmed he had been involved in "positive discussions" with the club about next season.

Where those discussion will lead is unknown. But it appears likely Greenacre's future lies in coaching, possibly with both the senior side and the youth team the club is about to launch.

Greenacre took on a coaching position at the Phoenix before the start of last season, looking after the team's strikers as part of Ricki Herbert's reduced coaching staff.

With the additional responsibilities, the Englishman may have expected his playing time to decrease. But it was quite the opposite, with the striker being the only Phoenix player to appear in all 29 games, scoring six goals in the process.

Coaching has always been on the horizon for Greenacre, however, and he believed the time was now right to concentrate on that role.

"I've been talking about (the A-Licence) for three years but postponed it when I arrived in New Zealand and it has been on hold since," Greenacre said. "It is part of football that the majority of players have to think about what they will do for the rest of their life when they stop playing."

Greenacre said, now at an advanced point in his career, he had been spending significant time pondering his future. He had contemplated entering the world of business, among other options, but kept coming back to one certainty.

"The fact is, football has been my life and I would like that to continue. I would love to be able to pass on what I've learnt during the past 17 years, which has been a fantastic ride.

"If I can give something back to young players not only in the way of football skills, but also the life skills I have picked up along the way it would be satisfying.

"Hopefully that will be at the Phoenix and the family can stay in New Zealand."