Auckland City FC

Auckland City Football Club is a New Zealand semi-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 ten OFC Champions League titles since their foundation.[1][2]

Auckland City
New Auckland City FC logo (updated 2022).png
Full nameAuckland City Football Club
Nickname(s)The Navy Blues, City
Short nameACFC
Founded2004; 19 years ago (2004)[1]
GroundKiwitea Street
Capacity3,250
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
LeagueNorthern League
2022Northern League, 1st of 12 (champions)
National League, 1st of 10 (champions)
WebsiteClub website
Current season

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]

HistoryEdit

 
The Auckland City team in 2011

Auckland City has won the New Zealand Football Championship regular season twelve 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 CupEdit

2009

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

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]

Colours and badgeEdit

 
 
 
 
 
 
Auckland's traditional home kit – first used 2004–05

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.

StadiumEdit

 
Kiwitea Street, home ground of Auckland City

Freyberg Field, then a public park, was made available for use as a football field in 1965 for tenants Central United. What became known as Kiwitea Street, 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.[18]

The stadium seats 250 spectators, with additional standing room.[18]

PlayersEdit

First-team squadEdit

As of 4 July 2022[19][20]

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 Conor Tracey
2 MF   NZL Mario Ilich
3 DF   NZL Adam Mitchell
4 DF   NZL Christian Gray
5 DF   ESP Ángel Berlanga
6 MF   NZL Matt Ellis
7 MF   NZL Cameron Howieson
8 MF   ESP Gerard Garriga
9 FW   NZL Angus Kilkolly
10 FW   NZL Dylan Manickum
11 FW   NZL Ryan de Vries
12 DF   NZL Sam Brotherton
13 DF   NZL Nathan Lobo
14 DF   NZL Jordan Vale
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 MF   NZL Aidan Carey
16 FW   NZL Joseph Lee
17 MF   NZL Reid Drake
18 GK   NZL Finn Dockerty
19 FW   NZL William Gillion
20 FW   ARG Emiliano Tade
21 MF   NZL Ilham Hameedi
22 DF   JPN Takuya Iwata
23 DF   NZL Alfie Rogers
24 GK   NZL Cameron Brown
DF   KOS Regont Murati
MF   NZL Michael den Heijer
DF   NZL Dan Morgan
DF   CHN Zhou Tong

Club officialsEdit

Technical staffEdit

Role Name
Manager   Albert Riera
Assistant manager   Ivan Vicelich
Team manager   Keith Coton
Goalkeeper coach   Eñaut Zubikarai
Fitness coach   Adrià Casals
Technical analyst   Jarrod Wallace

Medical staffEdit

Role Name
Physiotherapist   Matt Payne
  Danny Kelly
Club doctor   Craig Panther
Massage therapist   Natalia Kosińska
  Eva Nagy

ManagersEdit

List of Auckland City Managers
Name Nationality From To Ref
Allan Jones   England 1 July 2004 30 June 2006
Roger Wilkinson   New Zealand 2006
Paul Marshall   New Zealand 1 July 2006 30 June 2007
Colin Tuaa   New Zealand 1 July 2007 9 December 2008
Paul Posa   New Zealand 10 December 2008 30 June 2010
Aaron McFarland
Ramon Tribulietx
  New Zealand
  Spain
1 July 2010 30 June 2011
Ramon Tribulietx   Spain 1 July 2011 30 June 2019
José Figueira   England 1 July 2019 30 November 2021
Albert Riera   Spain 1 December 2021 present

Notable former playersEdit

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

Season by season recordEdit

Season Division League Chatham
Cup
Top scorer
P W D L F A Pts Pos Finals Name Goals
2004–05[21] New Zealand Football Championship 21 14 4 3 53 24 46 1st 1st   Grant Young 15
2005–06[22] 21 16 0 5 63 28 48 1st 1st   Keryn Jordan 22
2006–07[23] 21 12 6 3 50 30 42 3rd 1st   Grant Young 11
2007–08[24] 21 16 2 3 44 16 50 2nd EF   Bryan Little 8
2008–09[25] 14 8 1 5 27 15 25 2nd 1st   Keryn Jordan
  Paul Urlovic
5
2009–10[26] 14 9 4 1 33 13 31 1st SF   Jason Hayne 7
2010–11[27] 14 9 3 2 29 12 30 2nd 2nd   Daniel Koprivcic 7
2011–12[28] 14 11 3 0 43 11 36 1st SF   Manel Expósito 9
2012–13[29] 14 10 3 1 40 13 33 2nd 2nd   Manel Expósito 11
2013–14[30] 14 10 3 1 40 12 33 1st 1st   Emiliano Tade 17
2014–15[31] 14 12 0 2 39 14 42 1st 1st   David Browne 7
2015–16[32] 14 12 2 0 43 12 38 1st 2nd   Ryan De Vries 15
2016–17[33] 18 11 3 4 35 15 36 1st 2nd   Emiliano Tade 13
2017–18[34] 18 12 4 2 41 12 40 1st 1st   Emiliano Tade ♦ 18
2018–19[35] 18 17 1 0 46 18 52 1st SF   Camochu 8
2019–20[36] 16 11 4 1 42 15 37 1st [n 1]   Myer Bevan 15
2020–21[37] 14 8 4 2 27 13 28 1st 2nd   Logan Rogerson 8
2021[38] Northern League 18 15 1 2 63 19 46 1st QF   Angus Kilkolly 18
2022[39] Northern League 22 20 1 1 68 16 61 1st 1st   Emiliano Tade 12
National League 9 7 1 1 20 9 22 1st 1st   Emiliano Tade 5
Champions
Runners-up
Third Place
Did not make the Playoff
Top scorer in competition
EF Elimination finals
SF Semi-finals

International competitions recordEdit

ContinentalEdit

Continental results
Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2005[40] OFC Club Championship PR   Manumea w/d[n 2]
Group A   Sydney FC 2–3 3rd
  AS Pirae 0–1
  Sobou 6–1
2006[41] OFC Club Championship Group A   Sobou 7–0 1st
  Marist Fire 3–1
  AS Pirae 1–0
SF   Nokia Eagles 9–1
Final   AS Pirae 3–1
2007[42] OFC Champions League Group A   Waitakere United 2–2 2–2 2nd
  Mont-Dore 4–0 2–0
2007–08[43] OFC Champions League Group A   Waitakere United 0–1 1–1 2nd
  A.S. Manu-Ura 6–0 1–0
2008–09[44] OFC Champions League Group A   Waitakere United 2–2 3–1 1st
  Port Vila Sharks 8–1 2–0
Final   Koloale 2–2 7–2 9–4
2009–10[45] OFC Champions League Group A   Waitakere United 2–2 1–1 2nd
  AS Magenta 2–1 1–1
  A.S. Manu-Ura 5–0 2–0
2010–11[46] OFC Champions League Group B   AS Magenta 3–0 1–0 1st
  Waitakere United 1–1 1–0
  A.S. Tefana 1–1 5–0
Final   Amicale 2–1 4–0 6–1
2011–12[47] OFC Champions League Group B   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[48] OFC Champions League Group B   Waitakere United 0–1 3–1 2nd
  A.S. Dragon 1–3 1–1
  Mont-Dore 12–2 2–0
SF   Ba 6–1 1–0 7–1
Final   Amicale 2–1
2013–14[49] OFC Champions League Group B   Nadi 3–0 2nd
  A.S. Dragon 3–0
  Amicale 0–1
SF   AS Pirae 3–0 1–2 4–2
Final   Amicale 2–1 1–1 3–2
2014–15[50] OFC Champions League Group B   Suva 3–0 1st
  Western United 3–0
  Amicale 3–0
SF   Gaïtcha FCN 1–0
Final   Team Wellington 1–1 (4–3 p.)
2016[51] OFC Champions League Group A   Lae City Dwellers 2–1 1st
  Solomon Warriors 4–0
  Amicale 3–1
SF   A.S. Tefana 4–2
Final   Team Wellington 3–0
2017[52] OFC Champions League Group C   Lae City Dwellers 2–0 1st
  Western United 2–1
  Malampa Revivors 11–0
SF   A.S. Tefana 2–0 2–0 4–0
Final   Team Wellington 3–0 2–0 5–0
2018[53] OFC Champions League Group C   Vénus 7–0 1st
  Madang 5–0
  Lautoka 1–0
QF   Solomon Warriors 2–0
SF   Team Wellington 0–0 2–2 2–2[n 3]
2019[55] OFC Champions League Group D   AS Magenta 2–1 1st
  Tupapa Maraerenga 15–0
  Solomon Warriors 6–0
QF   Toti City 4–0
SF   AS Magenta 1–2
2020[56] OFC Champions League Group D[n 4]   Ba 6–0 1st
  Vénus 1–0
  Lupe o le Soaga 2–0
2022 OFC Champions League Group B   Hienghène Sport 5–0 1st
  Rewa 3–0
  Nikao Sokattack 4–1
SF   Central Coast 2–0
Final   Vénus 3–0
2023 OFC Champions League National PO   Wellington Olympic 5–3 1–1 6–4[n 5]
Champions

InternationalEdit

FIFA Club World CupEdit

Year FIFA Club World Cup Top goalscorer Managers
Country Pld W D L F A Place Player Goals
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
2022   Morocco 1 0 0 1 0 3 7th 0 Albert Riera
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 2–0
Quarter-finals   Atlante 0–3
Match for fifth place   TP Mazembe 3–2
2011 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals   Kashiwa Reysol 0–2
2012 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals   Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0–1
2013 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals   Raja Casablanca 1–2
2014 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals   Moghreb Tetouan 0–0 (4–3 p)
Quarter-finals   ES Sétif 1–0
Semi-finals   San Lorenzo 1–2 (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 0–2
2016 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals   Kashima Antlers 1–2
2017 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals   Al-Jazira 0–1
2020 FIFA Club World Cup Withdrew due to COVID-19 pandemic[59]
2022 FIFA Club World Cup Play-off for quarter-finals   Al Ahly 0–3

HonoursEdit

DomesticEdit

Premiers (12): 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 (9): 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2022

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.[60][61]

Champions (2): 2021, 2022
Champions (1): 2022
Champions (7): 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020
Champions (5): 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2017

InternationalEdit

Bronze Medal: 2014
Champions (10): 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022
Champions: 2014

FriendliesEdit

Champions: 2017

NotesEdit

  1. ^ Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Final Series was not held.
  2. ^ Auckland City received a bye because Manumea were withdrawn by the Oceania Football Confederation.
  3. ^ Team Wellington won on away goal rule.[54]
  4. ^ On 4 September 2020, OFC announced that the knockout stage was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[57]
  5. ^ Qualified for the group stage.[58]

ReferencesEdit

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  6. ^ "FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014 – Matches – Cruz Azul-Auckland City FC". FIFA. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  7. ^ "NYL – Auckland City claim title". nzfootball.co.nz. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
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  12. ^ "Jose Figueira named Auckland City FC coach".
  13. ^ "Auckland City Football signs club legend as new head coach". NZ Sports Wire. 1 December 2021.
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  15. ^ "Auckland sink Setif to book spot in semis". FIFA. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
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  60. ^ "Premiership concluded, Auckland City champions". New Zealand Football. 18 March 2020. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  61. ^ "Auckland City FC declared champions". Auckland City FC. 18 March 2020.

External linksEdit