Coveny, 35, signed a two-year deal with the new Hyundai A-League club - subject to Football Federation Australia approval - that will see him return to his hometown Wellington to continue a glittering career.

Coveny's signature brings to 13 the number of players signed to Phoenix FC. He joins six other New Zealanders at the club - Tony Lochhead, Tim Brown, Costa Barbarouses, Mark Paston, Glen Moss and Steven Old.

Earlier this year Coveny retired from international football after netting 30 goals in 75 appearances in an All Whites career spanning 14 years. Coveny heads the New Zealand goal scoring list from Jock Newall (28), Steve Sumner (27) and Brian Turner and Keith Nelson (25).

Phoenix FC coach Ricki Herbert was delighted to have a proven goal scorer sign with the club. Coveny played five internationals under Herbert's stewardship with the national side.

"After a long and distinguished career with New Zealand it's a delight to have Vaughan on board at Phoenix FC and to continue working with him," Herbert said.

"He is a proven goal scorer and has a tremendous, professional work ethic. I'm sure he will carry that on at Phoenix FC."

Coveny played the first two Hyundai A-League seasons at Newcastle Jets, scoring nine goals in 31 appearances.

Between 1995-2004 Coveny made his mark at South Melbourne in the Australian National Soccer League (NSL), scoring 82 goals in 240 appearances. He also played for the Melbourne Knights from 1992-94 (28 appearances, four goals) and Wollongong Wolves from 1994-95 (38 appearances, 15 goals).

Career highlights include being an NSL grand final winner in 1997-98 and 1998-99 and playing for New Zealand at the FIFA Confederations Cup in 1999 and 2003.

Coveny scored twice in New Zealand's historic 3-1 win over Georgia in Germany last May - the All Whites' first international win on European soil.

Player biography:

VAUGHAN COVENY

Date of birth: 13/12/1971, Wellington
Height, weight: 1.90m, 86kg
Playing position: Striker

Club history: 1990 Waterside Karori (Wellington); 1991-92 Miramar
Rangers (Wellington); 1992-1994 Melbourne Knights (Australia);
1994-1995 Wollongong Wolves (Australia); 1995-2004 South Melbourne
(Australia); 2004 Essendon Royals (Victoria); 2005 South Melbourne
(Victoria); 2005-07 Newcastle Jets (Australia).

Hyundai A-League statistics: 2005-06 Newcastle Jets 10 appearances (4
goals); 2006-07 Newcastle Jets 21 appearances (5 goals).

Representative honours: 1992-2006 New Zealand senior team (75
appearances, 30 goals); NZ under-23.