Auckland FC
Full nameAuckland Football Club (provisional name)
Founded21 November 2023 (21 November 2023)
GroundTBC
OwnerBill Foley
ChairmanTBC
ManagerSteve Corica
LeagueA-League Men (from 2024/25 season)

Auckland FC is the provisional name of a professional football club to be based in Auckland, New Zealand. It will compete in the Australian A-League Men competition, under license from the Australian Professional Leagues. The club will commence playing in the league from the start of the 2024–25 season.

The club was established as part of the third tranche of expansion of the competition, and is likely to join the season prior to a team based in Canberra. Home matches will be played in Auckland. The club will also field a women's team in the A-League Women from the start of the 2025–26 season.[1]

History

In 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] The licence was officially awarded to Foley on 21 November 2023.[4] Foley is an owner or a minority shareholder of four professional sports teams, principally the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League in the United States, referred to as the Black Knight Football Club ownernership group.[5][6]

Stadium

Many A-League matches were played in Auckland prior to the installation of Auckland FC. Initially New Zealand Knights FC were the country's sole A-League team, and played home matches at North Harbour Stadium in the north of the Auckland region. When the Knights folded in 2007 and were replaced with Wellington Phoenix FC, the Phoenix played occasional home matches at Eden Park and Mount Smart Stadium, both of which are possible candidates for home stadiums for the new club.

In November 2023, the ownership suggested construction of a new 20,000 seater venue to be built on the Auckland waterfront.[7]

Identity

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".[8]

Season by season record

Season A-League Men Australia Cup Top scorer
P W D L F A GD Pts Pos Finals Name Goals
2024–25 - - - - - - +- - - -  – -
Key
  • R32 – Round of 32
  • season still ongoing
  • SF – Semi-finals

Honours

  • None

Players

First team squad

  • To be announced

Coaching staff

PositionNameRef.
Head CoachAustralia Steve Corica[9]
Head of FootballNorthern Ireland Terry McFlynn[10]

Club captains

  • To be announced

See also

References

  1. ↑ Jack Snape (21 November 2023). "New Auckland football club to join A-Leagues after Bill Foley secures licence". The Guardian.
  2. ↑ "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.
  3. ↑ tomsmithies (10 October 2023). "Premier League owner confirmed as preferred bidder for A-Leagues expansion licence in Auckland". A-Leagues. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "Auckland expansion team awarded full A-Leagues license". A-Leagues. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  5. ↑ Sarah Pisani (21 November 2023). "Meet Bill Foley: The billionaire who's just been awarded the next A-Leagues license". keepup.com.au.
  6. ↑ Will Toogood (11 October 2023). "Auckland A-League club: Bill Foley, Black Knight Football Club identified as 'preferred bidder' for expansion franchise". The New Zealand Herald.
  7. ↑ "Football's big Auckland adventure - a new stadium on the cards?". Radio New Zealand. 26 November 2023.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ "Auckland appoint Steve Corica as maiden Isuzu Ute A-League coach". A Leagues. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  10. ↑ Pisani, Sacha (4 December 2023). "A Leagues expansions club AKL Football 24 unveil Director of Football". A Leagues. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
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