Chris Greenacre

Chris Greenacre

Greenacre playing for Wellington Phoenix in 2009.
Personal information
Full name Christopher Mark Greenacre
Date of birth (1977-12-23) 23 December 1977
Place of birth Wakefield, England
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
Wellington Phoenix (assistant manager)
Youth career
1994 Leeds United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–2000 Manchester City 8 (1)
1997Cardiff City (loan) 11 (2)
1998Blackpool (loan) 4 (0)
1998–1999Scarborough (loan) 12 (2)
1999Northampton Town (loan) 0 (0)
1999–2000Mansfield Town (loan) 10 (5)
2000–2002 Mansfield Town 111 (44)
2002–2005 Stoke City 75 (7)
2005–2009 Tranmere Rovers 142 (46)
2009–2012 Wellington Phoenix 84 (19)
Total 457 (126)
Teams managed
2013 Wellington Phoenix

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 April 2012.


Chris Greenacre (born 23 December 1977) is an English retired footballer and assistant coach at Wellington Phoenix in the A-League.

Greenacre began his career with Manchester City in 1996. Whilst at Maine Road he was sent out on loan to Cardiff City, Blackpool, Scarborough, Northampton Town and Mansfield Town in order to gain first team experience. However he failed to make the grade at Manchester City and so joined Mansfield Town on a permanent transfer. He became a prolific scorer for the "Stags" scoring 58 goals for the club in three seasons. This led to Division One side Stoke City signing him in August 2002. However, despite arriving with high expectations he struggled to cope with the higher level and managed just 9 goals in three seasons at the Britannia Stadium.

He left for Tranmere Rovers where he found his level and in four seasons at Tranmere Greenacre scored 53 goals. After his contract expired at Rovers he decided to join New Zealand based, A-League side Wellington Phoenix. He played three seasons for Wellington helping the club to three consecutive finals series places before retiring in 2012.

Club career

Greenacre was born in Wakefield and at the age of 13 he signed schoolboy forms at Manchester City, having previously been on the books at Leeds United.[1] He signed as an apprentice at 16, and turned professional in 1995.[1] His senior debut came in February 1997 against Swindon Town, when he came on as a substitute, replacing Paul Dickov.[2] He made three further substitute appearances that season, without scoring. During his time at Manchester City most of his first team football came in the form of loan spells with lower league clubs. In his first start for Manchester City in October 1997, he scored the winning goal in a 1–0 win against Crewe Alexandra.[3] This was his only goal for the club, and he started only two further matches.

Greenacre subsequently went on to play on loan for Cardiff City, Blackpool and Scarborough before joining Mansfield Town in 2000. He became a prolific goalscorer at the Field Mill scoring nine goals in 1999–2000, 21 in 2000–01 and 28 in 2001–02. This attracted the attentions from bigger club's and in the summer of 2002 he joined Stoke City.[4] His start at Stoke was however hampered by injury.[5] Greenacre had a frustrating 2002–03 which saw him make 33 appearances scoring six goals which included a vital winner against Brighton & Hove Albion.[6] In 2003–04 he found himself out of the team after the arrival of Ade Akinbiyi and made 16 appearances scoring twice.[7] In 2004–05 he played in 34 matches but only scored once and was released at the end of the season.[8]

He joined Tranmere Rovers in July 2005.[9] Under the management of Brian Little, Tranmere finished 18th in League One in the 2005–06 season, but Greenacre himself finished top scorer with 18 goals in 49 games for the club. This included a hat-trick against Yeovil Town on 28 December and two goals against Oldham Athletic in August. In 2006–07 under Ronnie Moore when Greenacre again finished top scorer, this time with a total of 19 goals, and signed a two-year extension to his contract at Prenton Park. A further 14 goals in all competitions during the 2007–08 season saw him again finish the season as the club's top scorer. He scored his first goals for the 2008–09 season with a brace away at Peterborough in a 2–2 draw.

On 21 April 2009, it was announced that Greenacre had signed with Wellington-based, New Zealand A-League club Wellington Phoenix on a two-year contract.[10] He made his league debut on 9 August 2009 scoring in a losing effort to the Newcastle Jets. Before a bothersome knee injury, Greenacre had scored five goals in 16 appearances for the Phoenix.

Greenacre started season 2010–11 by scoring twice in the opening game of the season against the Gold Coast United at Westpac Stadium.[11]

Coaching career

On 22 July 2011, Greenacre accepted a player/coaching role with his club Wellington Phoenix FC. Greenacre already holds a UEFA B coaching licence and will reportedly be coaching the forwards as well as playing when chosen.[12] On 18 July 2012 he announced his retirement from the game and accepted a position as assistant manager at Wellington Phoenix.[13]

In October 2012, Due to the absence of Ricki Herbert due to international duties, Greenacre was appointed as the caretaker manager of the Wellington Phoenix for their Round 2 clash with Melbourne Heart.[14] Despite missing 7 first team players due to international duties, and despite playing an away clash, the Phoenix managed to obtain a 1-1 draw with the Heart, courtesy of a Paul Ifill penalty.

On 26 February 2013 Greenacre became the interim manager of Wellington Phoenix after Ricki Herbert resigned.[15] Greenacre will fill the role until the end of the season.[16]

Personal life

Greenacre is a Leeds United supporter.[17]

Career statistics

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester City 1996–97 First Division 4000000040
1997–98 First Division 3110000041
1998–99 Second Division 1000000010
Total 8110000091
Cardiff City (loan) 1997–98 Third Division 112000000112
Total 112000000112
Blackpool (loan) 1997–98 Second Division 4000000040
Total 4000000040
Scarborough (loan) 1998–99 Third Division 122000010132
Total 122000010132
Mansfield Town 1999–2000 Third Division 319000020339
2000–01 Third Division 46192141105321
2001–02 Third Division 44213512004828
Total 1214956533013458
Stoke City 2002–03 First Division 304320000336
2003–04 First Division 132201000162
2004–05 Championship 321101000341
Total 757622000839
Tranmere Rovers 2005–06 League One 45161110214918
2006–07 League One 44172210204919
2007–08 League One 40112310104414
2008–09 League One 132201040202
Total 1424676409116253
Wellington Phoenix 2009–10 A-League 246246
2010–11 A-League 318318
2011–12 A-League 295295
Total 84198419
Career Total 4571261914113131500144
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League Trophy.

Managerial Statistics

As of 7 April 2013
Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Wellington Phoenix 26 February 2013 31 March 2013 6 2 1 3 33.33
Total 6 2 1 3 33.33

References

  1. 1 2 "New in blue: Chris Greenacre". CITY magazine. 1 (2): 37. October 1995.
  2. James, Gary (2006). Manchester City - The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon. p. 461. ISBN 1-85983-512-0.
  3. James, Manchester City - The Complete Record, p. 463.
  4. "Greenacre joins Stoke". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  5. "Stoke's Greenacre frustration". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  6. "Stoke 1-0 Brighton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  7. "Greenacre still in the frame". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  8. "Greenacre is released by Potters". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  9. "Tranmere sign top summer target". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  10. Wellington Phoenix Sign English Striker Chris Greenacre
  11. "Wellington, Gold Coast draq". A-League. 13 August 2010. Archived from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
  12. "Greenacre joins Phoenix coaching staff". wellingtonphoenix.com. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  13. http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/Greenacre-takes-up-coaching-role/48176[]
  14. http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1124069/depleted-phoenix-won-t--park-the-bus-
  15. "Herbert calls time on Phoenix role". Football Federation Australia. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  16. "Herbert exit shocks players". Football Federation Australia. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  17. "Leeds fan Chris Greenacre relishing a reunion". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 11 October 2012.

External links

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