Auckland FC Thread

[giggler99]

Auckland will enter the men's league in time for the A-League in 2024/25 season and the Women's league in time for the 2025/26 season. The licences has ben handed to Bill Foley.

Auckland expansion team awarded full A-Leagues license​

The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has announced the award of a full A-Leagues licence to Bill Foley.

The full licence award confirms Auckland’s entry to the A-Leagues for the 2024-25 season, with the men’s team due to join the Isuzu UTE A-League Men in Season 2024-25 and the Liberty A-League Women’s team in Season 2025-26.

Bill Foley is the founder and general partner of Black Knight Football Club, which owns AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League and has a significant investment in FC Lorient of France’s Ligue 1. He is also founder and owner of the US National Hockey League’s 2023 Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights.

Bill Foley, owner of the new Auckland A-Leagues licence said: “It’s an honour to bring a top football club to Auckland. Building a championship team from expansion has been my most exhilarating professional achievement, and I aim to do the same for the fans of New Zealand and particularly the community on the north island. It’s a special place and an area that I know will embrace this team.”

The Hon Stephen Conroy, Chair of the Australian Professional Leagues, said: “In Bill Foley we have a proven global sports investor and operator with a track record of building deep roots in the community, a passion for football, and a long-standing business and personal relationship with New Zealand. “We are delighted to welcome Bill and his team to the A-Leagues and look forward to seeing the club in action next year.”


James Johnson, Chief Executive of Football Australia, said: ““We are pleased to welcome Bill Foley’s involvement with the Auckland expansion club. His investment is an important step in the evolution of the A-Leagues, combining our regional interests with an international perspective. Bill’s experience in sports and his focus on community engagement are valuable as we look forward to the club’s debut in the A-Leagues, offering a fresh and engaging approach for our fans and players.”

Andrew Pragnell, Chief Executive of New Zealand Football, said: “The expansion of the A-Leagues into Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, and the league becoming truly Australasian, is a step change moment in the development of football in New Zealand.

“This is an exciting day and we welcome Bill Foley to the wider football system in this country. Bill has seen the potential of Auckland as a football city and is here for the long haul to help grow and develop the sport.

“The relationship between New Zealand Football and Football Australia has never been stronger and it has been great to see the benefits of co-hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 spread far and wide. This expansion has been in part made possible by these positive trans-Tasman football relations and we look forward to this continuing over the coming years.

“We are truly stronger together and the region as a whole benefits from football development when we are aligned.”

A-Leagues Commissioner, Nick Garcia, joined representatives from Football Australia and New Zealand Football in Auckland to formally award the licence to Bill Foley in Auckland.

Bill Foley also confirmed the appointment of New Zealander Nick Becker, former Premier League and A-Leagues executive, as Chief Executive Officer of the Club.

Supporters who would like to receive updates on the new club – the official name of which will be announced at a future date – can visit AKLfootball24.com.

Football Australia and New Zealand Football will now seek final approval by the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA.

Auckland expansion team awarded full A-Leagues license

Founder of Black Knight Football Club Bill Foley has been confirmed as the Auckland A-Leagues Licence Owner.

aleagues.com.au

A-Leagues Alumni

Welcome to the new A-Leagues Alumni section, which will allow fans to continue reading about the best stories involving the products who have come through the A-Leagues and are now flying the flag on the global stage.

keepup.com.au

 

[giggler99]

Lots of work still to be done to get the club up and running.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[Zidane98]

I wonder how relegation for the NZ teams works when it eventually starts. Would be quite expensive away trips for Australian based NSD teams. Or would Phoenix / Auckland be relegated into the NZ league?

 

[giggler99]

I wonder how relegation for the NZ teams works when it eventually starts. Would be quite expensive away trips for Australian based NSD teams. Or would Phoenix / Auckland be relegated into the NZ league?

Interested… never thought about that, Maybe they’ll be a clause that they can’t be relegated? but that wouldn’t be fair would it. Pro/rel is still a long long way off through so no need to worry about it just yet.

 

[Colonial]

at least they have a rectangular stadium.

Cant help but feel putting in another Kiwi side, no disrespect to Kiwis here, is an attempt for the league to mount a defence of having pro/rel when AFC come asking whats taking so long.

"We cant have promotion relegation some of our international clubs wouldnt survive" etc

 

[acm21]

I wonder how relegation for the NZ teams works when it eventually starts. Would be quite expensive away trips for Australian based NSD teams. Or would Phoenix / Auckland be relegated into the NZ league?

No reason why they can't participate in the nst.
Pro/rel wouldn't be until both comps are full time professional leagues. It's not going to be like they are being relegated into the npl.
Perth is after all further away from the east coast then new Zealand is.

 

[giggler99]

 

[giggler99]

McFlynn, now Corica Sydney FC 2.0

 

[giggler99]

EXCLUSIVE: Brimmer, Rojas headline Auckland A-League swoops​

A-League expansion outfit Auckland have signalled their intent to build a quality inaugural squad by swooping on Melbourne Victory’s Jake Brimmer and Brisbane’s short-term capture Marco Rojas.​

The Bill Foley owned franchise - which recently appointed former Sydney FC recruitment guru Terry McFlynn as its talent identification chief - enters the competition at the beginning of next season.
McFlynn’s stated aim is to construct a side bristling with homegrown Kiwi talent able to hit the ground running from the first whistle.
Asensio's Screamer Vs FC Barcelona Real Madrid Loading official content
Asensio's Screamer Vs FC Barcelona
In one of Real Madrid's most outstanding performances at the Camp Nou, Los Blancos beat FC Barcelona 3-1 in the Spanish Supercup. Real were leading 2-1 after Cristiano Ronaldo's 80th minute goal, but just before the final whistle, we sealed the win with this beautiful Marco Asensio strike.

To that end Rojas, who in January joined Brisbane until the end of the season following his stint with Chilean giants Colo-Colo, fits the criteria perfectly.

At 32, the ‘Kiwi Messi’ is still a potent presence and he will be one of a number of All Whites who end up signing for the newcomers.

One of the all time greats of the A-League - due to three productive incarnations with Melbourne Victory - 43-cap Rojas has also traversed Europe with spells at VFB Stuttgart and Greuther Furth in Germany, FC Thun in Switzerland, Heerenveen in the Netherlands and SønderjyskE in Denmark.

He has made three appearances for Brisbane since committing to the club for the short term.

Former Liverpool junior Brimmer, 25, is off contract at Melbourne Victory in June and has long been considered one of the competition’s most accomplished midfielders.

The loss of the former Perth Glory dead ball specialist’s will be keenly felt by coach Tony Popovic.

He has featured in 16 of Victory’s 18 games this season - with a total of 86 appearances across four seasons for the side currently sitting third on the ladder.

The scroll of homebred players set to sign for Auckland includes goalkeeper Michael Woud, who spent last season on loan at J2 League Ventforet Kofu from parent club Kyoto Santa.

Former Wellington Phoenix right back Callan Elliott - currently on the books of Scottish Premiership side Motherwell - is also on the hit list, along with fellow All Whites international Elijah Just, most recently contracted to second tier Danish outfit AC Horsens.

Defensive midfielder Bill Tuiloma, currently based with MLS side Charlotte FC, is another Auckland are eager to repatriate.

Sarpreet Singh is also on the wish list, though plucking the exciting attacking midfielder out of 2. Bundesliga side Hansa Rostock remains something of a long shot.

EXCLUSIVE: Brimmer, Rojas headline Auckland A-League swoops

A-League expansion outfit Auckland have signalled their intent to build a quality inaugural squad by swooping on Melbourne Victory’s Jake Brimmer and Brisbane’s short-term capture Marco Rojas.

www.ftbl.com.au

 

[giggler99]

Auckland kit name and logo revealed Thoughts?

 

[burge13]

Like the kit, logo is pretty average

 

[Zidane98]

Assume they'll go after Sarpeet Singh & Chris Wood for starters.

 

[mightyroos06]

Is that the eSports logo?

 

[Aucklander]

Like the kit, logo is pretty average

I listened to the announcement and it (logo) makes sense.

 

[acm21]

The logo is just very dark which doesn't help when the background is also very dark. It just gets lost. I think the addition of an outline of gold would make it easier to see

 

[Freomaniac]

at least they have a rectangular stadium.

Cant help but feel putting in another Kiwi side, no disrespect to Kiwis here, is an attempt for the league to mount a defence of having pro/rel when AFC come asking whats taking so long.

"We cant have promotion relegation some of our international clubs wouldnt survive" etc

12 Australian sides are enough in a 14 team league.

You got Qatar with their 12 team league and 4 AFC spots... Work that one out?

South Korea and Japan getting 3 or 4 AFC spots I can understand.

Australia has only one or 2 AFC spots and a spot in the new 2nd tier Asian comp.

 

[Colonial]

12 Australian sides are enough in a 14 team league.

You got Qatar with their 12 team league and 4 AFC spots... Work that one out?

South Korea and Japan getting 3 or 4 AFC spots I can understand.

Australia has only one or 2 AFC spots and a spot in the new 2nd tier Asian comp.

Think that was more a reaction from some of our “champion” clubs not giving a damn about it.

 

[acm21]

Think that was more a reaction from some of our “champion” clubs not giving a damn about it.

Very true

Afc comps are overall expensive to compete even if you win, and considering the relative richness of the aleague compared to others in Asia it can be money that can go elsewhere. Tbh all clubs in the aleague should be able to compete in Asia.

 

[Freomaniac]

Very true

Afc comps are overall expensive to compete even if you win, and considering the relative richness of the aleague compared to others in Asia it can be money that can go elsewhere. Tbh all clubs in the aleague should be able to compete in Asia.

well its not like europe isnt it?

Where crossing to another countrys border or captial city is a 3 hour drive or 1 hour flight in some stuations.

Its not like 40,000 A league team fans will rock up paying 50-100 australian dollars for it.

I did enjoy Adelaide United run to the final, even if it cost Nick Bianco $500,000 for the campaign.

There isnt any real financial incentive unlike the European chamipons league.

If the AFC group stage was $500,000 for a draw and $1 ,000,000 for a win, teams will take it seriously.

 

[Colonial]

well its not like europe isnt it?

Where crossing to another countrys border or captial city is a 3 hour drive or 1 hour flight in some stuations.

Its not like 40,000 A league team fans will rock up paying 50-100 australian dollars for it.

I did enjoy Adelaide United run to the final, even if it cost Nick Bianco $500,000 for the campaign.

There isnt any real financial incentive unlike the European chamipons league.

If the AFC group stage was $500,000 for a draw and $1 ,000,000 for a win, teams will take it seriously.

Not like the oil princes who run the AFC couldn’t afford that either.

 

[giggler99]

 

[acm21]

Good to have a consistent base before the potential to build their own place

 

[giggler99]

This has got to be peak rubbing it in your nose Auckland off to a good start kicking off the rivalry lol

 

[giggler99]

Auckland Fc inaugural squad

 

[Greasyrhys]

They may be one of the favourites for the spoon, but guarantee they’ll beat the Shoestring Reds at least once