Liberato Cacace


Liberato Gianpaolo Cacace is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League.

Club career

Island Bay

As a youth, Cacace played for Island Bay United and was also a representative player of Capital Football for two years in their 1999 squad. He was chosen by former Wellington Phoenix and All Whites coach Ricki Herbert to be part of his junior elite academy.
Cacace also played for his school team at St Patrick's College in Wellington, helping them win the Wellington Premier Youth football league, scoring in the 2–1 final against Hutt International Boys' School.

Wellington Phoenix Reserves

Cacace started playing for the Wellington Phoenix Reserves in the New Zealand Football Championship in the 2016–2017 season, making 8 appearances, including 4 starts.
During the winter season, Cacace played with Wellington Phoenix feeder club Wellington United in the local Central League.

Wellington Phoenix

On 2 February 2018, Cacace made his debut for the senior side, coming on as a substitute in a 4–0 defeat against Sydney FC in the A-League. Following the end of the 2017-18 A-League season, and having made seven appearances for the club, Cacace signed a two-year professional contract with Wellington Phoenix.
In the 2018–19 season, following the departure of Scott Galloway and injury to Tom Doyle, Cacace became the first-choice left-back under new manager Mark Rudan, one month after his 18th birthday. Cacace scored his maiden A-League goal against Central Coast Mariners in an 8-2 victory on 9 March 2019. After playing more minutes than any other Wellington Phoenix player that season, Cacace won the club's Young Player of the Year award ahead of fellow starter Sarpreet Singh.
The following season, Cacace established himself as one of Wellington's most important players, with captain Steven Taylor calling him "the best left-back in the league without a shadow of a doubt". On 8 March 2020, Cacace played his 50th game for Wellington Phoenix against Central Coast Mariners, the youngest player in the club's history to do so.

International career

Cacace was part of the New Zealand U-17 team that won the 2017 OFC U-17 Championship, where he scored one goal. This meant that the team qualified for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India. Cacace then played at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, making his World Cup debut in the 1–1 draw with Turkey, before starting again in a 4–2 loss to Paraguay and a 3–1 loss to Mali.
Cacace was selected to join the All Whites squad in the 2018 Intercontinental Cup in June 2018. He made his All Whites debut in Mumbai on 5 June 2018, against Chinese Taipei, in a 1-0 victory.

Personal life

Cacace was born in Wellington to Italian immigrants. His father, Antonio, arrived in the country in 1992 from Massa Lubrense, a small commune in Naples, and operates an Italian restaurant in Wellington. He attended St Patrick's College.
Cacace is a supporter of his father's hometown team, Napoli.

Honours

International