Auckland Football Club is a professional football club based in Auckland, New Zealand that competes in the A-League Men, the top flight of Australian soccer. Established on 14 March 2024, the club is under licence from the Australian Professional Leagues. The club's home ground is the Mount Smart Stadium, currently known as the Go Media Stadium for sponsorship reasons, in Penrose.
 | ||||
| Full name | Auckland Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Black Knights | |||
| Short name | AFC | |||
| Founded | 14 March 2024 | |||
| Ground | Go Media Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 25,000 | |||
| Coordinates | 36°50′25″S 174°45′54″E / 36.8402°S 174.7650°E | |||
| Owner | Black Knight Football and Entertainment | |||
| Chairman | Bill Foley | |||
| Manager | Steve Corica | |||
| League | A-League Men | |||
| 2023–24 | Did not compete | |||
| Website | aucklandfc | |||
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Auckland was given an A-League licence under its chosen owner Bill Foley in November 2023, as part of the third tranche competition expansion.[1]
The club's main rivals are Wellington Phoenix. The rivalry between the two clubs is called the Kiwi Clásico.
History
editIn March 2023, the Australian Professional Leagues confirmed plans for the next two expansion clubs to be based in Canberra and Auckland ahead of the 2024–25 season.[2] In October 2023, the preferred bidder as owner of the new Auckland licence was confirmed to be Bill Foley,[3] with the licence officially awarded on 21 November.[4] Speaking at the time of the license awarding in November 2023, Foley stated there "was a lot of work to do" to determine the name and logo for the club and that he was "not wedded to any name at this point", despite expressing a personal preference for "Black Knights".[5]
On 14 March 2024, the club officially announced its name, logo and inaugural home kit at its headquarters in Auckland. The name was announced as Auckland FC and a stripe kit that featured electric blue and black as its main colours. The kit was manufactured by New Balance.[6] The nickname was unveiled to be "Black Knights," which is associated with several clubs that Foley owns and refers to the nickname of the sports teams at his alma mater, the United States Military Academy.[7] On the same day of the announcement, the club revealed Terry McFlynn as its director of football,[8] and Steve Corica as its inaugural head coach.[9] Auckland FC announced four player signings, the first before the 2024–25 season, in May.[10]
On 19 October 2024, Auckland played their inaugural A-League Men's fixture at the Mount Smart Stadium against Brisbane Roar. In front of a sell-out crowd of 24,492, the club secured a 2–0 win.[11]
Club badge and colours
editThe club colours are electric blue and black, associated with the traditional royal blue of Auckland.[12] The crest features an A in its centre to symbolise the city, representing Rangitoto Island and the Sky Tower. The black knight visor and stripes represent the club's owner Black Knight Sports & Entertainment.[12] The club's short name AFC is displayed on the crest.[13]
Sponsorship
edit| Period | Kit supplier | Shirt sponsor (chest) | Shirt sponsor (sleeve) | Shirt sponsor (back) | Short sponsor (front) | Short sponsor (back) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024– | New Balance | Anchor / Go Media | McDonald's | ANZ | Cupra | Barfoot & Thompson |
Stadium
editAuckland play their home matches at the Mount Smart Stadium, currently known as the Go Media Stadium due to sponsorship reasons, a 25,000-seat capacity venue located in the suburb of Penrose, approximately 10 kilometers south of Auckland's city centre.[14] The club's owner, Bill Foley, has stated that the ground will be used for a "few years" before a new 20,000-seat stadium is developed on the Auckland waterfront.[15] Due to scheduling conflicts with National Rugby League side New Zealand Warriors, the club uses the North Harbour Stadium as its training ground.[16]
Before the establishment of the club, Wellington Phoenix held matches as the home side in Auckland, playing matches at the North Harbour Stadium and Eden Park.[17][18] The club played their last match in Auckland on 16 March 2024 against Sydney at Eden Park.[19] Football Kingz, the first Auckland club to play in Australia, also named North Harbour Stadium and Mount Smart Stadium as their home grounds before dissolving in 2004 due to financial reasons.[20] The New Zealand Knights replaced Football Kingz in the 2005–06 season of the A-League and played at the same ground.[21] The Knights folded in the 2006–07 A-League season after the club's licence was removed from the Football Federation Australia (FFA) due to insolvency.[22][23]
Supporters and rivalries
edit
The Port are a supporters' group associated with the Black Knights.[24] The club also have a supporters' pub located in The Chamberlain, Auckland CBD.[25]
As the third Auckland-based club to compete in the top flight of Australia, succeeding from Football Kingz and New Zealand Knights, Auckland share a rivalry with Wellington Phoenix, who have been the only New Zealand club in the A-League Men since the 2007–08 season.[26]
In the first match between the sides on 2 November 2024, Auckland beat the Phoenix 2–0 away at the Wellington Regional Stadium, currently known as the Sky Stadium for sponsorship reasons, courtesy of two late goals from Jake Brimmer.[27]
Ownership
editThe owner of Auckland, Bill Foley, is a businessman and general partner of Black Knight Football and Entertainment. Under Black Knight, Foley also owns Premier League side AFC Bournemouth and the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League in the United States.[28] He holds a minor stake in Ligue 2 club FC Lorient and Scottish Premiership side Hibernian.[29]
After the unveiling of Auckland FC on 14 March 2024, Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray, co-founder of Zuru, were announced as co-owners of the club.[30] Williams is a former professional rugby union player and represented the New Zealand national team as a lock.[31] In June 2024, Tim Bezbatchenko was appointed president of Black Knight.[32]
Auckland FC Women and Academy teams
editAuckland FC announced on 14 March 2024 that a women's football team will enter the 2025–26 season of the A-League Women, as well as youth teams to act as the academy sides for both then men and women's squads. As director of football, Terry McFlynn will manage player and coach recruitment for both sides.[8]
Coaching staff
editTechnical officials
edit| Position | Name | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| Head Coach |  Steve Corica |
[33] |
| Assistant Coach |  Danny Hay |
[34] |
| Goalkeeping Coach |  Jonathan Gould |
[35] |
| Head of Recruitment | Doug Kors |
[36] |
| Team Manager | Cam Kilgour |
[37] |
| Head of Medical & Performance | Elias Bourkarim |
[38] |
Management
edit| Position | Name | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| Chairman |  Bill Foley |
|
| Chief Executive Officer | Nick Becker |
|
| Chief Commercial Officer | Mike Higgins |
|
| Head of Football |  Terry McFlynn |
[39] |
| Head of Consumer Business | Rafael Turnbull |
Players
editFirst-team squad
edit- As of 23 December 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Captaincy history
edit| Dates | Name | Honours (as captain) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024– |  Hiroki Sakai
|
Inaugural club captain[40] |
Player records
editMost goals
edit- As of 28 December 2024
- Does not include friendly matches.
| # | Name | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jake Brimmer
|
3 |
 Guillermo May
| ||
| 3 |  Neyder Moreno
|
2 |
| Nando Pijnaker
| ||
| Logan Rogerson
| ||
| 6 | Francis de Vries
|
1 |
| Hiroki Sakai
|
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ Jack Snape (21 November 2023). "New Auckland football club to join A-Leagues after Bill Foley secures licence". The Guardian.
- ^ "A-Leagues set to expand to Canberra and Auckland for 2024–25 season". ABC News. 14 March 2023. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ tomsmithies (10 October 2023). "Premier League owner confirmed as preferred bidder for A-Leagues expansion licence in Auckland". A-Leagues. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Auckland expansion team awarded full A-Leagues license". A-Leagues. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ Andrew Voerman (21 November 2023). "Auckland A-Leagues club has 'lot of work' to do on brand; owner not wedded to 'Knights'". Stuff.co.nz.
- ^ Sacha Pisani (14 March 2024). "Historic day for A-Leagues as new Auckland team reveals name, logo and inaugural jersey". A-Leagues.
- ^ "'Black Knights': A-League's newest club Auckland FC pick Inter-style kits". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ a b "A-Leagues expansion club AKL Football 24 unveil Director of Football". Auckland FC. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Auckland appoint Steve Corica as maiden Isuzu UTE A-League coach". Auckland FC. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Comito, Matt (29 May 2024). "Historic day for Auckland FC as A-Leagues' new club unveils first four signings". A-Leagues. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ Michael Burgess (19 October 2024). "Auckland FC v Brisbane Roar result: Black Knights claim victory in A-League debut". The New Zealand Herald.
- ^ a b Toogood, Will (11 May 2024). "Auckland A-Leagues franchise reveals name, kit and crest". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Auckland FC 2024–25 Home Jersey". Auckland FC. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Auckland FC named as newest A-League team". RNZ. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Football's big Auckland adventure - a new stadium on the cards?". Radio New Zealand. 26 November 2023.
- ^ "Auckland A-Leagues franchise team name set to be announced". Auckland FC. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Wellington Phoenix to host Melbourne City in Auckland". A-Leagues. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Eden Park confirmed for final 'home' match in Auckland". Wellington Phoenix. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ Chapman, Grant (17 March 2024). "Phoenix will miss Eden Park payday, support when Auckland join A-League". Newshub. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Soccer: The troubled journey of the Kingz". NZ Herald. 2 November 2001. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ Voerman, Andrew (15 October 2023). "Return of the Knights? Football club backer's preferred name a blast from the past". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Knights have licence revoked by soccer body". NZ Herald. 14 December 2006. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ "AUSTRALIA – FFA REVOKE NZ KNIGHTS A-LEAGUE LICENCE". Oceania Football Confederation. 15 December 2006. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ "LISTEN: Unofficial supporters' group get behind A-League's Auckland FC". Friends of Football. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ Gupwell, Seth (14 March 2024). "'Horrendous' or 'fire'? Auckland's A-League team revealed their name and kit and fans are torn". georgefm.co.nz. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "'Doesn't have a great track record': Phoenix ignite rivalry with new Auckland club". NZ Herald. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football/auckland-fc-v-wellington-phoenix-result-a-league-men-round-three/PO3OJGTYK5BN3EIJ6A36SC7MYQ/
- ^ Pisani, Sacha (21 November 2023). "Meet Bill Foley: The billionaire who's just been awarded the next A-Leagues license". A-Leagues. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Bill Foley gets go-ahead to complete investment in Scottish club Hibernian". Friends of Football. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Burgess, Michael (14 March 2024). "Power couple link with new Auckland football team". NZ Herald. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Ali Williams unplugged: Dyslexia, regrets and building Auckland FC". NZ Herald. 13 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Auckland FC's majority owner hires president to oversee global portfolio". Friends of Football. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Auckland appoint Steve Corica as maiden Isuzu Ute A-League coach". A Leagues. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Burgess, Michael (22 March 2024). "Auckland FC signs former All Whites coach Danny Hay as assistant coach for new A-League club". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ Pisani, Sacha (8 July 2024). "Auckland bolster coaching staff with ex-Scotland international who won 6 titles at Celtic". A-Leagues. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ "Auckland's A-League expansion club hires player recruitment specialist". friendsoffootballnz.com. 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ "New A-League club Auckland FC name Cam Kilgour as their first team manager". Friends of Football. 16 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "Our Staff". Auckland FC. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
- ^ Pisani, Sacha (4 December 2023). "A Leagues expansions club AKL Football 24 unveil Director of Football". A Leagues. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ^ "Sakai Appointed New Auckland FC Captain; Two Vice Captains Named". Auckland FC. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.