Manaia Elliott

Manaia Elliott
Elliott playing for the Wellington Phoenix in 2026.
Personal information
Full name Manaia Poppy Elliott
Date of birth (2005-04-21) 21 April 2005
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
Wellington Phoenix
Number 11
Youth career
–2022 Melville United
2022–2023 Wellington Phoenix
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Wellington Phoenix 55 (8)
International career
2022 New Zealand U17 3 (0)
2022–2024 New Zealand U19 2 (3)
2024–2025 New Zealand U20 3 (1)
2023– New Zealand 6 (2)
Medal record
Football
Representing  New Zealand
OFC U-19 Women's Championship
Winner 2023 Fiji
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14 March 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 27 February 2026

Manaia Poppy Elliott (Māori: [ma.na.ia];[1] born 21 April 2005) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a defender for A-League Women club Wellington Phoenix and for the New Zealand national team.[2]

Early life

Elliott was born on 21 April 2005.

In her youth years, she played for Hamilton-based club Melville United before moving to Wellington to play for Wellington Phoenix's academy.[2]

Club career

Wellington Phoenix

An academy graduate, Elliott was one of Wellington Phoenix's four scholarship players for the 2023–24 A-League Women season.[2]

Elliott scored her first A-League goal in the 87th minute of a 3–0 away win over Western Sydney Wanderers on 22 October 2023. Having come off the bench as a substitute, she also assisted in this game.[2]

In May 2025, Elliot was awarded the best U-23 player award for the Wellington Phoenix alongside Corban Piper.[3]

On 25 January 2026, Elliott made her 50th appearance for the Phoenix. She made an assist in a 3–1 home win against Adelaide United at Jerry Collins Stadium, Porirua.[4]

International career

New Zealand U-17

Elliott was selected as part of the 21-player squad for the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup held in India.[5] She captained the team and started in all three matches in the group stage. The Young Football Ferns would exit the tournament at the conclusion of the group stage.[6][7][8]

New Zealand U-19 and U-20

Elliott was selected as part of the Junior Football Ferns squad for the 2023 OFC U-19 Women's Championship held in Fiji. She made two appearances and scored three goals.[9][10] New Zealand would go on to win the championship by defeating Fiji 7–0 in the final on 8 July 2023.

In August 2024, Elliott was named as one of 21 players selected for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Colombia.[11] She made three appearances and scored one goal.[12][13] Her goal was against Ghana in a 3–1 defeat.[14] New Zealand lost all matches and exited at the group stage.

New Zealand

Elliott was named as part of the senior Football Ferns squad for the first time in February 2025.[15] She made her debut against Costa Rica on 23 February 2025, after being substituted in for Macey Fraser.[16] On 27 February 2026, Elliott scored two goals against Samoa in an 8–0 win for the Football Ferns as part of the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification (OFC) campaign.[17]

International goals

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 27 February 2026 National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands  Samoa 6–0 8–0 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
2. 7–0

Honours

New Zealand U-19

References

  1. ^ https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPGLVtMidyW/?igsh=dm5pN29pd2szZnZ2
  2. ^ a b c d "Manaia Elliott". Wellington Phoenix.
  3. ^ "Longo and Barbarouses claim supreme honours". Wellington Phoenix. 6 May 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  4. ^ Rollo, Phillip (25 January 2026). "Wellington Phoenix end Adelaide United's unbeaten run and shoot to second". Stuff. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Young Ferns named for U-17 Women's World Cup". New Zealand Football. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  6. ^ "Chile vs New Zealand – Group Matches – FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup". FIFA. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  7. ^ "New Zealand vs Nigeria – Group Matches – FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup". FIFA. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  8. ^ "New Zealand vs Germany – Group Matches – FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup". FIFA. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Match: Group B – New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea". Oceania Football Confederation. 25 June 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  10. ^ "Match: Final – Fiji vs New Zealand". Oceania Football Confederation. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  11. ^ "Squad named for September's FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2024 in Colombia". New Zealand Football. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  12. ^ "Japan vs New Zealand – First Stage". FIFA. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  13. ^ "Austria vs New Zealand – First Stage". FIFA. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  14. ^ "New Zealand vs Ghana – First Stage". FIFA. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  15. ^ "Three debutants named in first Ford Football Ferns squad of 2025". New Zealand Football. 3 February 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  16. ^ Harding, Brie-Ellen (23 February 2025). "Indiah-Paige Riley goal helps Football Ferns draw with Costa Rica in San Jose". Stuff. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  17. ^ "Football Ferns dominate Samoa in FIFA World Cup qualifier". RNZ. 27 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.