Auckland City FC

Auckland City Football Club is a New Zealand professional football club based in the suburb of Sandringham in Auckland, New Zealand. They currently compete in the ISPS Handa Premiership, the highest level of domestic football in New Zealand.[1] Auckland City have established themselves as a major force in both New Zealand and Oceania, having won eight league titles and nine OFC Champions League titles since their foundation.[1][2]

Auckland City
Full nameAuckland City Football Club
Nickname(s)City
The Navy Blues
Short nameACFC
Founded2004 (2004)[1]
GroundKiwitea Street
Capacity3,500
Coordinates36°53′51″S 174°44′13″E
ChairmanIvan Vuksich
ManagerJosé Figueira
LeagueNew Zealand Football Championship
2019–201st
WebsiteClub website

Formed in 2004 following the inception of the New Zealand Football Championship, Auckland City currently play their home matches at Kiwitea Street in Sandringham, New Zealand.[3] The club is the most successful in Oceania, having won seven consecutive OFC Champions League titles between 2011 and 2017 - the most consecutive continental titles of any football team in history.[4] This has resulted in Auckland becoming a regular fixture at the FIFA Club World Cup, famously achieving a third-placed finish in the 2014 edition.[5][6] Auckland City's youth team formerly played in the National Youth League, becoming the most successful team in competition history with seven titles.[7]

Auckland City's regular kit colours are faintly striped royal blue shirts and shorts with white socks. The current crest, in use since the club's inception, features the Sky Tower, an iconic Auckland landmark. The club has a strong Croatian influence, being strongly associated with and playing at the same stadium as Central United (formed in 1962 by Dalmatian immigrants).

History
The Auckland City team in 2011

Auckland City has won the regular season seven times, and the Grand Final six times. They represented the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) in the OFC Champions League, which they won most recently in 2017 for the ninth time (seventh in a row). With a third place in 2014, they also became the only OFC team to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup. They are also the only team to win the continental treble three times.

In 2017, Auckland City were invited to play in the Lunar New Year Cup, a friendly tournament hosted in Hong Kong.[8] Auckland City defeated South Korean champions FC Seoul in the semifinal, before defeating Hong Kong side Kitchee in the final to lift the trophy.[9] Auckland City were again invited for the 2019 edition, falling to Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng 2–1.[10]

Following the conclusion of the 2018–19 season, in which Auckland City won all but one game in their undefeated season but fell short in both the OFC Champions League and the league playoffs, long-term manager Ramon Tribulietx brought his association with the club to an end and was replaced by Team Wellington coach José Figueira ahead of the 2019–20 season.[11][12]

FIFA Club World Cup
2009
Main article: 2009 FIFA Club World Cup

Auckland City overcame local champions Al Ahli 2–0 in the opening play-off match, with goals by Adam Dickinson and Chad Coombes. In their quarter final clash against CONCACAF champions Atlante of Mexico, the side lost 0–3.

The play-off for fifth and sixth place was described by coach Paul Posa as "the greatest night in the history of Auckland City Football Club", as the team defeated CAF Champions League winners TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo 3–2. The goal scorers on this special occasion were Jason Hayne with two and Riki van Steeden.

These historic victories were the first recorded by a New Zealand team at the Club World Cup, and the first by an amateur side at this tournament. This was also the first time that a senior men's representative team from New Zealand has recorded a victory in a world FIFA competition.

2014
Main article: 2014 FIFA Club World Cup

White
Burfoot
de Vries

Auckland City played Moroccan league champions Moghreb Tétouan in a play-off for the quarter-finals on 10 December. The match finished goalless, with Auckland winning 4–3 in a penalty shoot-out and qualifying for a quarter-final clash against AFC Champions League winners ES Sétif.[13] Auckland City defeated ES Sétif 1–0, courtesy of a John Irving goal, and advanced to the semi-finals for the first time ever.

Auckland played Copa Libertadores champions San Lorenzo in the semifinals, but lost 2–1. A shock seemed possible when a second-half goal from Ángel Berlanga cancelled out Pablo Barrientos' first-half strike for San Lorenzo, but substitute Mauro Matos netted San Lorenzo's winner in extra time.[5]

They finished the tournament with a historic 4-2 penalty shootout win over CONCACAF Champions League winners Cruz Azul in the third-place playoff after a 1–1 draw at full time, with substitute Sanni Issa scoring the ultimate penalty just days after signing for the club.[14][15] The result gained the side worldwide acclaim, as the team of part-timers and amateurs defied all expectations in the competition. Club stalwart and defender Ivan Vicelich came third in the Golden Ball award for best player at the tournament, behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid.[16]

Current players and staff

First-team squad
As of 13 October 2019[17][18]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ESP Eñaut Zubikarai
2 MF  NZL Mario Ilich
3 DF  NZL Adam Mitchell
4 MF  CRO Mario Bilen
5 DF  ESP Ángel Berlanga (captain)
6 DF  VAN Brian Kaltak
7 MF  NZL Cameron Howieson
8 MF  ESP Albert Riera
9 FW  NZL Myer Bevan
10 MF  NZL Dylan Manickum
11 DF  NZL Tom Doyle
No. Pos. Nation Player
13 FW  ARG Emiliano Tade
14 DF  NZL Jordan Vale
16 MF  IRQ Yousif Ali Al-Kalisy
17 DF  NZL Andrew Blake
18 GK  NZL Conor Tracey
20 FW  NZL Logan Rogerson
21 FW  COK Maro Bonsu-Maro
22 MF  NZL Clayton Lewis
23 DF  NZL Alfie Rogers
24 GK  NZL Cameron Brown

Youth squad

Auckland City's youth squad currently competes in the National Youth League, and are the current champions, as well as the most successful side in the competition's history with six titles. They are managed by former New Zealand international Kris Bright.[19]

As of 9 October 2019

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  NZL Sam Bottomley
2 DF  NZL Nathan Lobo
3 DF  NZL Jackson Woods
4 DF  NZL Nicholas Milicich
5 DF  NZL Dhanush Chandra
6 MF  NZL Callum McNeill
7 MF  NZL Matt Hodgson
8 MF  ENG Miles Palmer
9 FW  ZIM Tawanda Marowa
10 MF  NZL Matt Ellis
11 MF  RSA DeAndre Vollenhoven
12 MF  NZL Jesse Gage
No. Pos. Nation Player
13 MF  NZL Malcolm Young
14 MF  NZL Colin Holthuis-Spann
15 MF  NZL Harrison Freeman
16 MF  NZL Corban Piper
17 FW  NZL Thomas Drillien
18 GK  NZL Luca Taylor
19 DF  NZL Bradley Wilson
20 MF  NZL Louis Middeldorp
21 MF  NZL Finn McCracken
22 MF  NZL Micaiah Papa
23 FW  NZL Aidan Carey

Coaching staff
Position
Manager José Figueira
Assistant Manager Ivan Vicelich
Team Manager Keith Coton
Goalkeeper Coach Simone Naddi
Fitness Coach Adrià Casals
Technical Analyst Jacob Weaver
Youth Manager Kris Bright

Medical staff
Position Name
Physiotherapist Matt Payne
Danny Kelly
Club Doctor Craig Panther
Massage Therapist Natalia Kozinska
Eva Nagy

Managers

Notable former players

The following players gained international caps for their respective countries. Players listed in bold represented their countries while playing for Auckland City.

Stadium
Kiwitea Street in 2011
Main article: Kiwitea Street

Freyberg Field, then a public park, was made available for use as a football field in 1965 for tenants Central United. Following intense development on what became affectionately known as Kiwitea Street, the field quickly became one of the best playing surfaces in New Zealand, and was made available to Auckland City following their foundation in 2004. Since then, the amenities at Kiwitea Street have been overhauled, including a new clubrooms and a resurfaced pitch in 2007.

The stadium seats 250 spectators, with additional standing room.

Seasons
Season New Zealand Football Championship Finals series Top goalscorer Managers
Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Name League
2004–05 1st 1st 21 14 4 3 53 24 46 Champions Grant Young 15 Allan Jones
2005–06 1st 1st 21 16 0 5 63 28 48 Champions Keryn Jordan 22
2006–07 1st 3rd 21 12 6 3 50 30 42 Champions Grant Young 11 Roger Wilkinson
Paul Marshall
2007–08 1st 2nd 21 16 2 3 44 16 50 Preliminary Finals Bryan Little 8 Colin Tuaa
2008–09 1st 2nd 14 8 1 5 27 15 25 Champions Keryn Jordan
Paul Urlovic		 5 Paul Posa
2009–10 1st 1st 14 9 4 1 33 13 31 Semi-finals Jason Hayne 7 Paul Posa
2010–11 1st 2nd 14 9 3 2 29 12 30 Runners-up Daniel Koprivcic 7 Aaron McFarland
Ramon Tribulietx
2011–12 1st 1st 14 11 3 0 43 11 36 Semi-finals Manel Expósito 9 Ramon Tribulietx
2012–13 1st 2nd 14 10 3 1 40 12 33 Runners-up Manel Expósito 11
2013–14 1st 1st 14 10 3 1 40 12 33 Champions Emiliano Tade 17
2014–15 1st 1st 14 12 0 2 39 14 42 Champions David Browne 7
2015–16 1st 1st 14 12 2 0 43 12 38 Runners-up Ryan De Vries 15
2016–17 1st 1st 18 11 3 4 35 15 36 Runners-up Emiliano Tade 13
2017–18 1st 1st 18 12 4 2 41 12 40 Champions Emiliano Tade 18
2018–19 1st 1st 18 17 1 0 46 18 52 Semi-finals Javier López 8

Continental
Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2005 OFC Club Championship Preliminary round Manumea w/o w/o w/o
Group Stage Sydney FC 2–3 3rd
A.S. Pirae 0–1
Sobou 6–1
2006 OFC Club Championship Group Stage Marist Fire 2–3 1st
A.S. Pirae 1–0
Sobou 7–0
Semi Final Nokia Eagles 9–1
Final A.S. Pirae 3–1
2007 OFC Champions League Group Stage Waitakere United 2–2 2–2 2nd
Mont-Dore 4–0 2–0
2007–08 OFC Champions League Group Stage Waitakere United 0–1 1–1 2nd
A.S. Manu-Ura 6–0 1–0
2008–09 OFC Champions League Group Stage Waitakere United 2–2 3–1 1st
Port Vila Sharks 8–1 2–0
Final Koloale 2–2 7–2 9–4
2009–10 OFC Champions League Group Stage Waitakere United 2–2 1–1 2nd
AS Magenta 2–1 1–1
A.S. Manu-Ura 5–0 2–0
2010–11 OFC Champions League Group Stage Waitakere United 1–0 1–1 1st
AS Magenta 3–0 1–0
A.S. Tefana 5–0 1–1
Final Amicale 4–0 2–1 6–1
2011–12 OFC Champions League Group Stage Hekari United 2–0 1–1 1st
Koloale 7–3 4–1
Amicale 3–2 0–1
Final A.S. Tefana 2–1 1–0 3–1
2012–13 OFC Champions League Group Stage Waitakere United 0–1 3–1 2nd
A.S. Dragon 1–3 1–1
Mont-Dore 12–2 2–0
Semi Final Ba 6–1 1–0 7–1
Final Amicale 2–1
2013–14 OFC Champions League Group Stage Nadi 3–0 2nd
A.S. Dragon 3–0
Amicale 1–0
Semi Final A.S. Pirae 3–0 1–2 4–2
Final Amicale 2–1 1–1 3–2
2014–15 OFC Champions League Group Stage Suva 3–0 1st
Western United 3–0
Amicale 3–0
Semi Final Gaïtcha FCN 1–0
Final Team Wellington 1–1 (4–3 Pens.)
2016 OFC Champions League Group Stage Lae City Dwellers 2–1 1st
Solomon Warriors 4–0
Amicale 3–1
Semi Final A.S. Tefana 4–2
Final Team Wellington 3–0
2017 OFC Champions League Group Stage Lae City Dwellers 2–0 1st
Western United 2–1
Malampa Revivors 11–0
Semi Final A.S. Tefana 2–0 2–0 4–0
Final Team Wellington 3–0 2–0 5–0
2018 OFC Champions League Group Stage Vénus 7–0 1st
Madang 5–0
Lautoka 1–0
Quarter Final Solomon Warriors 2–0
Semi Final Team Wellington 0–0 2–2 2–2
2019 OFC Champions League Group Stage AS Magenta 2–1 1st
Tupapa Maraerenga 15–0
Solomon Warriors 6–0
Quarter Final Toti City 4–0
Semi Final AS Magenta 1–2
2020 OFC Champions League Group Stage Ba 6–0 1st
Vénus 1–0
Lupe o le Soaga 2–0

FIFA Club World Cup
Year FIFA Club World Cup Top goalscorer Managers
Country. Pl. W D L GS GA Place
2006 Japan 2 0 0 2 0 5 6th - 0 Allan Jones
2009 UAE 3 2 0 1 5 5 5th Jason Hayne 2 Paul Posa
2011 Japan 1 0 0 1 0 2 7th - 0 Ramon Tribulietx
2012 Japan 1 0 0 1 0 1 7th - 0 Ramon Tribulietx
2013 Morocco 1 0 0 1 1 2 7th Roy Krishna 1 Ramon Tribulietx
2014 Morocco 4 1 2 1 3 3 3rd Three Players 1 Ramon Tribulietx
2015 Japan 1 0 0 1 0 2 7th - 0 Ramon Tribulietx
2016 Japan 1 0 0 1 1 2 7th Kim Dae-wook 1 Ramon Tribulietx
2017 UAE 1 0 0 1 0 1 7th - 0 Ramon Tribulietx

International
Season Competition Round Club Score
2006 FIFA Club World Cup Quarter-finals Al-Ahly 0–2
Fifth place play-off Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 0–3
2009 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals Al-Ahli 0–2
Quarter-finals Atlante 0–3
Match for fifth place TP Mazembe 2–3
2011 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals Kashiwa Reysol 2–0
2012 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1–0
2013 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals Raja Casablanca 2–1
2014 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals Moghreb Tetouan 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)
Quarter-finals ES Setif 0–1
Semi-finals San Lorenzo 2–1 (a.e.t.)
Match for third place Cruz Azul 1–1
(4–2 p)
2015 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2–0
2016 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals Kashima Antlers 2–1
2017 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals Al-Jazira 1–0

Honours

International
Bronze Medal (1): 2014

Oceanian

Champions (9): 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Champions (1): 2014

National
Premiers (11): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20†
Champions (8): 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2020†

† Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2019–20 season was concluded after 16 rounds. The remaining two rounds of the regular season and the finals series were cancelled. Auckland City, who were leading the regular season table, were declared champions and also awarded the Minor Premiership.[20][21]

Champions (5): 2011–12, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19
Champions (5): 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2017

Friendlies
Champions (1): 2017
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References
  1. "About Auckland City Football Club". Auckland City FC. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  2. "National League". www.ultimatenzsoccer.com. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  3. "Contact". Auckland City FC. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  4. FIFA.com (8 May 2017). "Seventh heaven for Auckland City". FIFA.com. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  5. "Auckland City FC win international praise for Club World Cup effort". Stuff. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  6. FIFA.com. "FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014 - Matches - Cruz Azul-Auckland City FC". FIFA.com. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  7. "NYL – Auckland City claim title". www.nzfootball.co.nz. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  8. http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/national/88525420/Auckland-FC-get-invite-to-prestigious-Hong-Kong-tournament
  9. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/domestic/88958905/auckland-city-fc-lift-nike-lunar-new-year-cup-in-hong-kong
  10. https://www.hkfa.com/en/match/28088
  11. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/domestic/113267961/long-serving-auckland-city-fc-coach-ramon-tribulietx-leaves-club
  12. https://www.aucklandcityfc.com/news/993/12/Jose-Figueira-named-Auckland-City-FC-coach-/
  13. "Moghreb 0 Auckland 0". Goal.com. 10 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  14. "Auckland sink Setif to book spot in semis". FIFA.com. FIFA. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  15. "'Maybe now they'll know me in Nigeria!' - Auckland City's Club World Cup hero Sanni Issa - Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  16. FIFA.com. "FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2018 - News - Ramos outshines the rest - FIFA.com". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  17. http://www.aucklandcityfc.com/players/premiership/
  18. http://www.aucklandcityfc.com/news/1026/12/Tracey-penalty-save-inspires-friendly-win-/
  19. http://www.aucklandcityfc.com/news/1017/12/Producing-players-is-our-aim-Kris-Bright-/
  20. "Premiership concluded, Auckland City champions". New Zealand Football. 18 March 2020.
  21. "Auckland City FC declared champions". Auckland City FC. 18 March 2020.
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