Resigned to losing his star prospect, Wellington Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay hopes Liberato Cacace can help deliver an A-League championship before he departs for Europe this month.
“We said to him ‘you can walk out of here a legend and the door will always be open whenever you decide to come back,’” Talay said.
“But he knows what’s at stake. He knows he wants to achieve something and win something before he does leave.”
Cacace has come a long way since making his Phoenix debut as a relatively unknown 17-year-old student out of St Patrick’s College in Kilbirnie.
From the schoolyard to schooling opposition players, he is now the best left-back in the A-League, a regular starter for both club and country, and he has clubs from all over Europe chasing his signature.
With 57 A-League games under his belt, it’s actually crazy to think he is still only 19.
“I was thinking in my head to keep focussed and when the time comes just give it your all as it’s an opportunity to decide your future, and I gave it my all,” Cacace said after his Phoenix debut.
But enjoy his surging runs down the sideline while you can because Saturday’s elimination final against Perth Glory could be the last chance to watch Cacace play in the A-League.
With a move to Europe imminent, the former Island Bay junior is expected to fly overseas to link up with his new club as soon as the Phoenix’s season ends.
That could be after Saturday’s elimination final, next Wednesday’s semifinal or next Sunday’s grand final.
“It’s great to see that he’s done well, and he’s done exceptionally well especially this season,” Talay said.
“He’s gone to another level in the way that he’s playing and I think he’s at that stage where he needs to take that next step.”
Plucked out of the academy by coach Darije Kalezic to cover the injured Tom Doyle, Cacace made his A-League debut in the second half of a 4-0 defeat to Sydney FC in February 2018.
