New Zealand age group international Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues has become the youngest player to play for the Wellington Phoenix in the club’s men’s A-League history.
At 16 years and 250 days, Sloane-Rodrigues came off the bench in the 89th minute of his side’s 1-0 loss to three-time champions Melbourne City at AAMI Park.
The winger replaced his captain, Alex Rufer, as the league-leading Phoenix pressed for a late equaliser.
His achievement eclipses that of the club’s previous youngest player, All White Ben Waine, who was 17 years, 1 month and 28 days when he made his debut.
Waine now plays for English Championship club Plymouth Argyle while the club’s third-youngest debutant, Liberato Cacace, plays for top-tier Italian club Empoli.
Sloane-Rodrigues played his junior football at Auckland’s East Coast Bays club before joining Auckland United for the 2021 season, and moving to Wellington in 2022.
He made his international debut in January 2023, playing for New Zealand at the Oceania U-17 Men’s Championship in Fiji.
His performances there, and his progress with the Phoenix, led to his selection for New Zealand at the 2023 FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup.
Sloane-Rodrigues has been training the men’s first team at the Phoenix since pre-season for the current Isuzu UTE A-League campaign.
Main photo: Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues … has set a new benchmark for the Phoenix men’s team.
The five youngest Phoenix men’s debutants
Source: Stuff
Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues; 16 years, 8 months, 6 days
Ben Waine; 17 years 1 month 27 days
Liberato Cacace; 17 years 4 months 6 days
Luke Supyk; 17 years 5 months 23 days
Alex Rufer; 17 years 7 months 28 days
READ MORE: Unbeaten run comes to end for Phoenix in scorching heat of Melbourne >>>>
Match highlights
Result
Game played on March 9, 2024
Melbourne City 1 (Samuel Souprayen 58′)
Wellington Phoenix 0
Standings
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