Giancarlo Italiano has big shoes to fill after being named Ufuk Talay's replacement as Wellington Phoenix head coach for the next two A-League Men seasons.
Talay announced last week that he would be leaving the Kiwi outfit at the end of this season, with his assistant Italiano confirmed on Tuesday as the man to fill the void.
The outgoing coach has the best win rate of any manager in the club's history and is on course to guide them to a third-straight finals appearance.
Italiano has been Talay's offsider for the last three years and has played a key role in their overseas recruitment, which has been lauded as some of the league's best.
Nicknamed 'Chiefy' the 40-year-old never had a professional playing career but previously worked at Sydney FC under Graham Arnold and Steve Corica.
"I don't have the luxury of being an ex-player at an elite level," Italiano said in a statement.
"I've always had to over-compensate with my knowledge of the game, my processes and thinking outside the box to make up that shortfall, whereas ex-players have the advantage of knowing the environment already.
"I think that's benefited me because I don't take anything for granted, I make sure that I'm thorough in all my work and I always make sure my work ethic is high."
