Auckland City FC

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Auckland City
Auckland City FC logo 2020.png
Full nameAuckland City Football Club
Nickname(s)City
The Navy Blues
Short nameACFC
Founded2004; 18 years ago (2004)[1]
GroundKiwitea Street
Capacity3,500
Coordinates36°53′51″S 174°44′13″E / 36.89750°S 174.73694°E / -36.89750; 174.73694Coordinates: 36°53′51″S 174°44′13″E / 36.89750°S 174.73694°E / -36.89750; 174.73694
ChairmanIvan Vuksich
ManagerAlbert Riera
LeagueNew Zealand National League
20211st (Northern League)
WebsiteClub website
Current season

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 Northern League. Auckland City have established themselves as a major force in both New Zealand and Oceania, having won eight New Zealand Football Championship titles and nine OFC Champions League titles since their foundation.[1][2]

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.

History[]

The Auckland City team in 2011

Auckland City has won the New Zealand Football Championship regular season eleven times, and the Grand Final eight 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]

After the first season of the New Zealand National League Auckland City finished 1st in the Northern League but didn't get to play in the championship phase due to Covid-19 affecting the Auckland Region. The club then announced that Albert Riera would take over as head coach for the next season.[13]

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

Soccer Field Transparant.svg

England
Irving
England
White
New Zealand
Burfoot
New Zealand
de Vries
2014 FIFA Club World Cup third-placed playoff starting lineup

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.[14] 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.[15][16] 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.[17]

Current players and staff[]

First-team squad[]

As of 23 January 2021[18][19]

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 Spain ESP Eñaut Zubikarai
2 MF New Zealand NZL Mario Ilich
3 DF New Zealand NZL Adam Mitchell
4 MF Croatia CRO Mario Bilen
6 DF Vanuatu VAN Brian Kaltak
7 MF New Zealand NZL Cameron Howieson
8 MF England ENG Adam Thurston
9 FW New Zealand NZL Angus Kilkolly
10 MF New Zealand NZL Dylan Manickum
11 DF New Zealand NZL Reid Drake
12 DF New Zealand NZL Sam Brotherton
13 MF South Africa RSA Deandre Vollenhoven
14 DF New Zealand NZL Jordan Vale
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 MF New Zealand NZL Aidan Carey
17 DF New Zealand NZL Andrew Blake
18 GK New Zealand NZL Conor Tracey
19 FW New Zealand NZL Myer Bevan
20 FW New Zealand NZL Addison Stewart
21 MF New Zealand NZL Ilham Hameedi
22 MF New Zealand NZL Kristoff Muller
23 DF New Zealand NZL Alfie Rogers
24 GK New Zealand NZL Cameron Brown
25 MF New Zealand NZL Matt Ellis
— FW Argentina ARG Emiliano Tade
— FW Somalia SOM Mohamed Awad

Coaching staff[]

Position
Manager Spain Albert Riera
Assistant manager New Zealand Ivan Vicelich
Team manager New Zealand Keith Coton
Goalkeeper coach Spain Eñaut Zubikarai
Fitness coach Spain Adrià Casals
Technical analyst New Zealand Jacob Weaver

Medical staff[]

Position Name
Physiotherapist New Zealand Matt Payne
Republic of Ireland Danny Kelly
Club doctor New Zealand Craig Panther
Massage therapist Poland Natalia Kosińska
Hungary 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.

The following foreign players made at least 50 appearances in a professional league prior to or following their time at 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.

Results[]

Domestic[]

Year Competition Position Played Won Draw Lost GS GA Points Finals series Top goalscorer Total
2004–05[20] New Zealand Football Championship 1st 21 14 4 3 53 24 46 Champions Grant Young 15
2005–06[21] New Zealand Football Championship 1st 21 16 0 5 63 28 48 Champions Keryn Jordan 22
2006–07[22] New Zealand Football Championship 3rd 21 12 6 3 50 30 42 Champions Grant Young 11
2007–08[23] New Zealand Football Championship 2nd 21 16 2 3 44 16 50 Preliminary Finals Bryan Little 8
2008–09[24] New Zealand Football Championship 2nd 14 8 1 5 27 15 25 Champions Keryn Jordan
Paul Urlovic		 5
2009–10[25] New Zealand Football Championship 1st 14 9 4 1 33 13 31 Semi-finals Jason Hayne 7
2010–11[26] New Zealand Football Championship 2nd 14 9 3 2 29 12 30 Runners-up Daniel Koprivcic 7
2011–12[27] New Zealand Football Championship 1st 14 11 3 0 43 11 36 Semi-finals Manel Expósito 9
2012–13[28] New Zealand Football Championship 2nd 14 10 3 1 40 13 33 Runners-up Manel Expósito 11
2013–14[29] New Zealand Football Championship 1st 14 10 3 1 40 12 33 Champions Emiliano Tade 17
2014–15[30] New Zealand Football Championship 1st 14 12 0 2 39 14 42 Champions David Browne 7
2015–16[31] New Zealand Football Championship 1st 14 12 2 0 43 12 38 Runners-up Ryan De Vries 15
2016–17[32] New Zealand Football Championship 1st 18 11 3 4 35 15 36 Runners-up Emiliano Tade 13
2017–18[33] New Zealand Football Championship 1st 18 12 4 2 41 12 40 Champions Emiliano Tade 18
2018–19[34] New Zealand Football Championship 1st 18 17 1 0 46 18 52 Semi-finals Javier López 8
2019–20[35] New Zealand Football Championship 1st 16 11 4 1 42 15 37 Not played due to Covid-19 Myer Bevan 15
2020–21[36] New Zealand Football Championship 1st 14 8 4 2 27 13 28 Runners-up Logan Rogerson 8
2021[37] Northern League 1st 18 15 1 2 63 19 46 – Angus Kilkolly 18

Continental[]

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Position
2005[38] OFC Club Championship Preliminary round American Samoa w/d1
Group A Australia Sydney FC 2–3 3rd
French Polynesia AS Pirae 0–1
Papua New Guinea Sobou 6–1
2006[39] OFC Club Championship Group A Papua New Guinea Sobou 7–0 1st
Solomon Islands Marist Fire 3–1
French Polynesia AS Pirae 1–0
Semi Final Fiji Nokia Eagles 9–1
Final French Polynesia AS Pirae 3–1 Champions
2007[40] OFC Champions League Group Stage New Zealand Waitakere United 2–2 2–2 2nd
New Caledonia Mont-Dore 4–0 2–0
2007–08[41] OFC Champions League Group Stage New Zealand Waitakere United 0–1 1–1 2nd
French Polynesia A.S. Manu-Ura 6–0 1–0
2008–09[42] OFC Champions League Group A New Zealand Waitakere United 2–2 3–1 1st
Vanuatu 8–1 2–0
Final Solomon Islands Koloale 2–2 7–2 Champions
2009–10[43] OFC Champions League Group A New Zealand Waitakere United 2–2 1–1 2nd
New Caledonia AS Magenta 2–1 1–1
French Polynesia A.S. Manu-Ura 5–0 2–0
2010–11[44] OFC Champions League Group B New Caledonia AS Magenta 3–0 1–0 1st
New Zealand Waitakere United 1–1 1–0
French Polynesia A.S. Tefana 1–1 5–0
Final Vanuatu Amicale 2–1 4–0 Champions
2011–12[45] OFC Champions League Group B Papua New Guinea Hekari United 2–0 1–1 1st
Solomon Islands Koloale 7–3 4–1
Vanuatu Amicale 3–2 0–1
Final French Polynesia A.S. Tefana 2–1 1–0 Champions
2012–13[46] OFC Champions League Group B New Zealand Waitakere United 0–1 3–1 2nd
French Polynesia A.S. Dragon 1–3 1–1
New Caledonia Mont-Dore 12–2 2–0
Semi Final Fiji Ba 6–1 1–0
Final Vanuatu Amicale 2–1 Champions
2013–14[47] OFC Champions League Group B Fiji Nadi 3–0 2nd
French Polynesia A.S. Dragon 3–0
Vanuatu Amicale 1–0
Semi Final French Polynesia AS Pirae 3–0 1–2
Final Vanuatu Amicale 2–1 1–1 Champions
2014–15[48] OFC Champions League Group B Fiji Suva 3–0 1st
Solomon Islands Western United 3–0
Vanuatu Amicale 3–0
Semi Final New Caledonia Gaïtcha FCN 1–0
Final New Zealand Team Wellington 1–1
4–3 (Pens.) 		Champions
2016[49] OFC Champions League Group A Papua New Guinea Lae City Dwellers 2–1 1st
Solomon Islands Solomon Warriors 4–0
Vanuatu Amicale 3–1
Semi Final French Polynesia A.S. Tefana 4–2
Final New Zealand Team Wellington 3–0 Champions
2017[50] OFC Champions League Group C Papua New Guinea Lae City Dwellers 2–0 1st
Solomon Islands Western United 2–1
Vanuatu Malampa Revivors 11–0
Semi Final French Polynesia A.S. Tefana 2–0 2–0
Final New Zealand Team Wellington 3–0 2–0 Champions
2018[51] OFC Champions League Group C French Polynesia Vénus 7–0 1st
Papua New Guinea Madang 5–0
Fiji Lautoka 1–0
Quarter Final Solomon Islands Solomon Warriors 2–0
Semi Final New Zealand Team Wellington 0–0 2–22
2019[52] OFC Champions League Group D New Caledonia AS Magenta 2–1 1st
Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga 15–0
Solomon Islands Solomon Warriors 6–0
Quarter Final Papua New Guinea Toti City 4–0
Semi Final New Caledonia AS Magenta 1–2
2020[53] OFC Champions League Group D3 Fiji Ba 6–0 1st
French Polynesia Vénus 1–0
Samoa Lupe o le Soaga 2–0
Notes
  • Note 1: Auckland City received a bye because Manumea were withdrawn by the Oceania Football Confederation.
  • Note 2: Team Wellington won on away goal rule.[54]
  • Note 3: On 4 September 2020, OFC announced that the knockout stage was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[55]

International[]

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
Season Competition Round Club Score
2006 FIFA Club World Cup Quarter-finals Egypt Al-Ahly 0–2
Fifth place play-off South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 0–3
2009 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals United Arab Emirates Al-Ahli 2–0
Quarter-finals Mexico Atlante 0–3
Match for fifth place Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Mazembe 3–2
2011 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals Japan Kashiwa Reysol 0–2
2012 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0–1
2013 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals Morocco Raja Casablanca 1–2
2014 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals Morocco Moghreb Tetouan 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)
Quarter-finals Algeria ES Sétif 1–0
Semi-finals Argentina San Lorenzo 1–2 (a.e.t.)
Match for third place Mexico Cruz Azul 1–1
(4–2 p)
2015 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0–2
2016 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals Japan Kashima Antlers 1–2
2017 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals United Arab Emirates Al-Jazira 0–1
2020 FIFA Club World Cup Withdrew due to COVID-19 pandemic[56]

Honours[]

Domestic[]

Premiers (11): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20†, 2020–21
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.[57][58]

Champions: 2021
Champions: 2011–12, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19
Champions: 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2017

International[]

Bronze Medal: 2014
Champions: 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Champions: 2014

Friendlies[]

Champions: 2017

References[]

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External links[]

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