The 2024–25 Auckland Football Club season is the club's first season in existence and their inaugural season in the A-League Men, the top flight of Australian soccer. The season will cover the period from 1 June 2024 until 30 June 2025.
Notable events
The Kiwi Clásico
The rivalry between Auckland and Wellington Phoenix FC – dubbed the 'Kiwi Clásico' by media, in allusion to El Clásico – saw its first match end in victory for Auckland on November 2, 2024. The game occurred at Sky Stadium. Alex Paulsen, who starred in goal for Wellington the season prior, kept a clean sheet for his new Auckland side. However, it was the Wellington goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi who caught headlines. His mistimed pass in the dying minutes only found the feet of Jake Brimmer, who slotted it past to take Auckland into a late lead. Brimmer then scored his double in the 97th minute; a tap-in on the receiving end of a mazy Luis Toomey run.[1]
The reverse fixture took place at Mount Smart Stadium, on a sunny December 7th afternoon. The build-up had been fiery: fuelled by comments from Wellington manager Giancarlo Italiano delegating Auckland's early success to luck. Steve Corica used this discourse, which he referred to as 'disrespectful', as motivation for his players. Auckland got ahead by two goals; courtesy of an unfortunate Isaac Hughes header into his own net and a Nando Pijnaker set-piece nod. Kosta Barbarouses scored late to give the travelling Wellington crowd hope, but the final whistle blew at 2–1.[2]
Players
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Transfers
Note: Transfers' in/out date may refer to the date of announcement and not the date of signing from the mentioned players.
Transfers in
Transfers out
| No. | Position | Player | Transferred to | Type/fee | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | FW | Joe Champness | Unattached | Mutual contract termination | 23 December 2024 | [21] |
Contract extensions
| No. | Position | Player | Duration | Date | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Right-back |  Hiroki Sakai
|
1 year | 18 February 2025 | Contract extended from end of 2024–25 to end of 2025–26. | [22] |
Pre-season and friendlies
| 31 July 2024 | Auckland United  | 2–2 | Auckland FC | Auckland |
| 19:35 NZST | Report (NZF) Report |
Stadium: Keith Hay Park Referee: Ashley Wilson |
| 7 August 2024 | Birkenhead United | Cancelled | Auckland FC | Auckland |
| 19:30 NZST | Source | Stadium: Shepherds Park | ||
| Note: Game was cancelled due to Birkenhead's rescheduled Northern League fixture.[23] | ||||
| 7 August 2024 | Auckland FC | 1–0 | East Coast Bays | Auckland |
| 19:30 NZST |
|
Report (NZF) Report |
Stadium: Fred Taylor Park Referee: Nick Waldron |
| 13 August 2024 | Newcastle Jets  | 2–2 | Auckland FC | Sydney |
| Report (Auckland FC) Report (Newcastle Herald) |
Stadium: Leichhardt Oval |
| 17 August 2024 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 4–2 | Auckland FC | Sydney |
| 13:00 AEST | Report | Stadium: Wanderers Football Park |
| 21 August 2024 | Central Coast Mariners | 2–2 | Auckland FC | Gosford |
| 13:00 AEST | Report | Stadium: Industree Group Stadium Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
| 21 September 2024 | Melbourne City | 3–1 | Auckland FC | Melbourne |
| Report |
|
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
| 25 September 2024 | Western United | 1–2 | Auckland FC | Melbourne |
| 13:00 AEST |
|
Report | Stadium: Ironbark Fields |
| 2 October 2024 | Auckland FC | 2–0 | Birkenhead United | Auckland |
| 18:30 NZST | Report (NZF) Report |
Stadium: North Harbour Stadium Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee: Luke Gardner |
| 2 October 2024 | Auckland FC | 2–0 | Western Springs | Auckland |
| 19:40 NZST | Report (NZF) Report |
Stadium: North Harbour Stadium Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee: Veer Singh |
| 6 October 2024 | Auckland FC | 5–0 | Melville United | Auckland |
| 13:00 NZST | Report (NZF) Report |
Stadium: Mount Smart Stadium Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee: Ashley Wilson |
| 11 October 2024 | Auckland FC | 1–1 |  Malaysia | Auckland |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Go Media Stadium Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
| 16 October 2024 | Auckland FC | 5–0 | Auckland United | Auckland |
| 11:00 NZST | Report (NZF) | Stadium: North Harbour Stadium Referee: Ashley Wilson |
| 16 October 2024 | Auckland FC | 5–0 | East Coast Bays | Auckland |
| 12:10 NZST | Report (NZF) | Stadium: North Harbour Stadium Referee: Benjamin Norman |
Competitions
Overall record
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | ||||
| A-League Men | 19 October 2024 | 3 May 2025 | Matchday 1 | 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 36 | 17 | +19 | 66.67 |
| Total | 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 36 | 17 | +19 | 66.67 | |||
Last updated: 1 March 2025
Source: Competitions
A-League Men
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland FC[a] | 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 36 | 17 | +19 | 40 | Qualification for Finals series[b] |
| 2 | Western United | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 36 | 27 | +9 | 32 | Qualification for AFC Champions League Elite and Finals series |
| 3 | Adelaide United | 18 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 38 | 34 | +4 | 32 | Qualification for Finals series[b] |
| 4 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 19 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 43 | 32 | +11 | 31 | |
| 5 | Melbourne City | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 25 | 17 | +8 | 31 |
Updated to match(es) played on 2 March 2025. Source: A-Leagues
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) wins; 5) head-to-head results; 5a) head-to-head points; 5b) head-to-head goal difference; 6) Fair Play points; 7) away goal difference; 8) away goals per match; 9) home goal difference; 10) home goals per match; 11) toss of a coin in an event of a tie of two clubs.[24]
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) wins; 5) head-to-head results; 5a) head-to-head points; 5b) head-to-head goal difference; 6) Fair Play points; 7) away goal difference; 8) away goals per match; 9) home goal difference; 10) home goals per match; 11) toss of a coin in an event of a tie of two clubs.[24]
Notes:
- ^ Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for Asian Football Confederation competitions as they are based in New Zealand, which is part of the Oceania Football Confederation.
- ^ a b The top two teams enter the finals series at the semi-finals, while the teams ranked third to sixth enter the finals series at the elimination-finals.
Results summary
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 36 | 17 | +19 | 40 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 11 | +11 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 6 | +8 |
Last updated: 1 March 2025.
Source: Ultimate A-League
Away figures include Auckland FC's 1–0 win on neutral ground in Unite Round against Macarthur FC on 24 November 2024.
Results by round
Updated to match(es) played on 1 March 2025. Source: Ultimate A-League
A = Away; H = Home; N = Neutral; B = Bye; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; X = Bye
A = Away; H = Home; N = Neutral; B = Bye; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; X = Bye
Matches
Win Draw Loss Fixtures
| 19 October 2024 1 | Auckland FC | 2–0 | Brisbane Roar | Auckland |
| 17:00 NZDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Go Media Stadium Attendance: 24,492 Referee: Daniel Elder |
| 27 October 2024 2 | Auckland FC | 1–0 | Sydney FC | Auckland |
| 16:00 NZDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Go Media Stadium Attendance: 14,253 Referee: Shaun Evans |
| 2 November 2024 3 | Wellington Phoenix | 0–2 | Auckland FC | Wellington |
| 17:00 NZDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Sky Stadium Attendance: 26,252 Referee: Adam Kersey |
| 24 November 2024 5 | Macarthur FC | 0–1 | Auckland FC | Sydney |
| 16:00 AEDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Allianz Stadium Attendance: 4,826 Referee: Ben Abraham |
| 30 November 2024 6 | Auckland FC | 2–0 | Newcastle Jets | Auckland |
| 17:00 NZDT | Report | Stadium: Go Media Stadium Attendance: 13,138 Referee: Tim Danaskos |
| 7 December 2024 7 | Auckland FC | 2–1 | Wellington Phoenix | Auckland |
| 17:00 NZDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Go Media Stadium Attendance: 26,253 Referee: Shaun Evans |
| 15 December 2024 8 | Melbourne City | 2–2 | Auckland FC | Melbourne |
| 17:00 AEDT | Report | Stadium: AAMI Park Attendance: 5,482 Referee: Ben Abraham |
| 21 December 2024 9 | Auckland FC | 0–4 | Western United | Auckland |
| 17:00 NZDT | Report | Stadium: Go Media Stadium Attendance: 13,681 Referee: Casey Reibelt |
| 28 December 2024 10 | Central Coast Mariners | 1–4 | Auckland FC | Gosford |
| 17:00 AEDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Industree Group Stadium Attendance: 6,338 Referee: Shaun Evans |
| 1 January 2025 11 | Auckland FC | 0–0 | Melbourne Victory | Auckland |
| 17:00 NZDT | Report | Stadium: Go Media Stadium Attendance: 14,997 Referee: Alireza Faghani |
| 11 January 2025 13 | Perth Glory | 1–0 | Auckland FC | Perth |
| 16:45 AWST |
|
Report | Stadium: HBF Park Attendance: 5,390 Referee: Nathan Shakespear |
| 18 January 2025 15 | Auckland FC | 3–0 | Melbourne City | Auckland |
| 17:00 NZDT | Report | Stadium: Go Media Stadium Attendance: 14,131 Referee: Ben Abraham |
| 22 January 2025 14 | Adelaide United | 2–2 | Auckland FC | Adelaide |
| 19:00 ACDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Coopers Stadium Attendance: 12,171 Referee: Alex King |
| 26 January 2025 16 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 0–1 | Auckland FC | Sydney |
| 17:00 AEDT | Report |
|
Stadium: CommBank Stadium Attendance: 7,410 Referee: Shaun Evans |
| 1 February 2025 17 | Auckland FC | 2–1 | Macarthur FC | Auckland |
| 17:00 NZDT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Go Media Stadium Attendance: 14,051 Referee: Lachlan Keevers |
| 15 February 2025 19 | Western United | 0–2 | Auckland FC | Melbourne |
| 18:00 AEDT | Report | Stadium: Ironbark Fields Attendance: 3,862 Referee: Tim Danaskos |
| 22 February 2025 20 | Auckland FC | 6–1 | Wellington Phoenix | Auckland |
| 17:00 NZDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Go Media Stadium Attendance: 27,009 Referee: Ben Abraham |
| 1 March 2025 21 | Auckland FC | 4–4 | Adelaide United | Auckland |
| 17:00 NZDT | Report | Stadium: Go Media Stadium Attendance: 16,709 Referee: Daniel Elder |
| 9 March 2025 22 | Newcastle Jets | v | Auckland FC | Newcastle |
| 17:00 AEDT | Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium |
| 16 March 2025 23 | Auckland FC | v | Central Coast Mariners | Auckland |
| 17:00 NZDT | Stadium: Go Media Stadium |
| 30 March 2025 24 | Brisbane Roar | v | Auckland FC | Brisbane |
| 16:00 AEST | Stadium: Suncorp Stadium |
| 5 April 2025 25 | Auckland FC | v | Western Sydney Wanderers | Auckland |
| 17:00 NZDT | Stadium: Go Media Stadium |
| 12 April 2025 26 | Sydney FC | v | Auckland FC | Sydney |
| 17:00 AEDT | Stadium: Allianz Stadium |
| 19 April 2025 27 | Melbourne Victory | v | Auckland FC | Melbourne |
| 17:00 AEDT | Stadium: AAMI Park |
| 27 April 2025 28 | Auckland FC | v | Perth Glory | Auckland |
| 17:00 NZDT | Stadium: Go Media Stadium |
| 3 May 2025 29 | Western United | v | Auckland FC | Melbourne |
| 18:00 AEDT | Stadium: Ironbark Fields |
Statistics
Appearances and goals
Includes all competitions. Players with no appearances not included in the list.[25]
- As of 1 March 2025
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | A-League Men | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||||
| Goalkeepers | |||||||||
| 12 | GK | NZL
|
Alex Paulsen | 18 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| Defenders | |||||||||
| 2 | DF | JPN
|
Hiroki Sakai | 15 | 2 | 15 | 2 | ||
| 3 | DF | AUS
|
Scott Galloway | 4 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 | ||
| 4 | DF | NZL
|
Nando Pijnaker | 18 | 3 | 18 | 3 | ||
| 5 | DF | NZL
|
Tommy Smith | 15 | 0 | 8+7 | 0 | ||
| 15 | DF | NZL
|
Francis de Vries | 18 | 1 | 18 | 1 | ||
| 17 | DF | NZL
|
Callan Elliot | 11 | 0 | 5+6 | 0 | ||
| 23 | DF |  FIJ
|
Dan Hall | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| Midfielders | |||||||||
| 6 | MF |  BEL
|
Louis Verstraete | 16 | 1 | 14+2 | 1 | ||
| 7 | MF | NZL
|
Cameron Howieson | 12 | 0 | 2+10 | 0 | ||
| 8 | MF | NZL
|
Luis Toomey | 5 | 0 | 0+5 | 0 | ||
| 16 | MF | NZL
|
Adama Coulibaly | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | ||
| 18 | MF | NZL
|
Finn McKenlay | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | ||
| 22 | MF | AUS
|
Jake Brimmer | 17 | 3 | 14+3 | 3 | ||
| 25 | MF |  COL
|
Neyder Moreno | 16 | 7 | 8+8 | 7 | ||
| 28 | MF |  CHI
|
Felipe Gallegos | 18 | 0 | 16+2 | 0 | ||
| Forwards | |||||||||
| 9 | FW | NZL
|
Max Mata | 15 | 2 | 7+8 | 2 | ||
| 10 | FW |  URU
|
Guillermo May | 18 | 7 | 18 | 7 | ||
| 11 | FW | NZL
|
Marlee Francois | 6 | 0 | 0+6 | 0 | ||
| 14 | FW | NZL
|
Liam Gillion | 12 | 0 | 11+1 | 0 | ||
| 21 | FW | NZL
|
Jesse Randall | 12 | 1 | 3+9 | 1 | ||
| 27 | FW | NZL
|
Logan Rogerson | 18 | 7 | 14+4 | 7 | ||
| 35 | FW | NZL
|
Jonty Bidois | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | ||
Disciplinary record
Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total cards are equal. Players with no cards not included in the list.[25]
- As of 1 March 2025
| Rank | No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | A-League Men | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
| 1 | 16 | MF |
|
Adama Coulibaly | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | 6 | MF |
|
Louis Verstraete | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 4 | DF |
|
Nando Pijnaker | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF |
|
Cameron Howieson | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 28 | MF |
|
Felipe Gallegos | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | 9 | FW |
|
Max Mata | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | FW |
|
Logan Rogerson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | 5 | DF |
|
Tommy Smith | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF |
|
Francis de Vries | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 17 | DF |
|
Callan Elliot | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18 | MF |
|
Finn McKenlay | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 21 | FW |
|
Jesse Randall | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 22 | MF |
|
Jake Brimmer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 23 | DF |
|
Dan Hall | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 25 | MF |
|
Neyder Moreno | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 30 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 0 | 1 | ||||
Clean sheets
Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total clean sheets are equal. Numbers in parentheses represent games where both goalkeepers participated and both kept a clean sheet; the number in parentheses is awarded to the goalkeeper who was substituted on, whilst a full clean sheet is awarded to the goalkeeper who was on the field at the start of play. Goalkeepers with no clean sheets not included in the list.
- As of 1 March 2025
| Rank | No. | Nat. | Goalkeeper | A-League Men | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 |
|
Alex Paulsen | 9 | 9 |
| Total | 9 | 9 | |||
References
- ^ Burgess, M. (2 November 2024). "Auckland FC v Wellington Phoenix result: New boys claim first derby in A-League round three". New Zealand Herald.
- ^ Burgess, M. (7 December 2024). "Auckland FC v Wellington Phoenix result: Black Knights take bragging rights in Kiwi derby. The New Zealand Herald". New Zealand Herald.
- ^ a b c d "Auckland FC unveil first signings ahead of debut season". Auckland FC. 30 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Voerman, Andrew (18 October 2024). "2024–25 A-League Men season preview: How will newcomers Auckland FC fare?". Stuff.
- ^ a b "AFC blend youth with experience as two more signings announced". Auckland FC. 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Max Mata Joins Auckland FC on season-long loan deal". Shrewsbury Town. 3 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Six players secure scholarship contracts with Auckland FC". Auckland FC. 20 June 2024.
- ^ "Auckland FC welcomes back-to-back championship winner Dan Hall to the club!". Auckland FC. 2 July 2024.
- ^ Rollo, Phillip (2 July 2024). "Why A-League winner Dan Hall is swapping Central Coast for new boys Auckland FC". Stuff.
Hall has committed to a two-year contract.
- ^ a b c "Three more signings for Auckland FC, with two bringing All Whites experience". Auckland FC. 3 July 2024.
- ^ @ByPhillipRollo (3 July 2024). "Elliot is three years but have asked for the rest" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Australian football superstar crosses the ditch to join Auckland FC". Auckland FC. 9 July 2024.
- ^ "磐田戦後 酒井宏樹、アレクサンダー ショルツあいさつ" [After the match against Iwata, Hiroki Sakai and Alexander Scholz gave speeches]. Urawa Red Diamonds (in Japanese). 30 July 2024.
- ^ "Japanese defender Hiroki Sakai joins Auckland FC". Auckland FC. 25 July 2024.
- ^ a b Pisani, Sacha (29 July 2024). "Auckland FC make two signings, incl. New Zealand international who played for A-Leagues rivals". A-Leagues.
- ^ "Auckland FC sign Alex Paulsen on loan from AFC Bournemouth: Full details". A-Leagues. 9 August 2024.
- ^ "All Whites Defender Nando Pijanker to Join Auckland FC". Auckland FC. 3 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "Three overseas imports bring quality and Experience to Auckland FC". Auckland FC. 17 September 2024.
- ^ "Auckland FC complete team with final signing". Auckland FC. 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Marlee François joins Auckland FC". Auckland FC. 9 January 2025.
- ^ Becker, Nick (23 December 2024). "Club Update". Auckland FC.
- ^ "Auckland FC captain Hiroki Sakai signs one-year contract extension". The New Zealand Herald. 18 February 2025.
- ^ "A-League's Auckland FC to play East Coast Bays in second pre-season friendly". Friends of Football. 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Ladder change reverts as A-Leagues confirms updated rules & regulations for season 2024-25". A-Leagues. 17 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Auckland FC – Squad". soccerway.com.