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This article is about the A-League Men professional football club. For the Northern League association football club, see Auckland City FC.
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. In October 2023, the preferred bidder as owner of the new Auckland licence was confirmed to be Bill Foley, with the licence officially awarded on 21 November. 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".
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. 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. On the same day of the announcement, the club revealed Terry McFlynn as its director of football, and Steve Corica as its inaugural head coach. Auckland FC announced four player signings, the first before the 2024–25 season, in May.
Auckland FC's first regular season A-League Men match was held on 19 October 2024 at it's home ground Go Media Stadium. In front of a sell-out crowd of 24,492 spectators, the Black Knights defeated Brisbane Roar 2-0.
Club badge and colours
The club colours are electric blue and black, associated with the traditional royal blue of Auckland. 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. The club's short name AFC is displayed on the crest.
Before the establishment of Auckland FC, Wellington Phoenix was named the home side in Auckland and played matches at North Harbour Stadium and Eden Park. The club played their last match in Auckland on 16 March 2024 against Sydney FC at Eden Park. Football Kingz, the first Auckland club to play in Australia, also named North Harbour Stadium and Mount Smart Stadium as their home ground before dissolving in 2004 due to finance. The New Zealand Knights replaced Football Kingz in the 2005–06 season of the A-League and played at the same ground. 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.
Auckland FC won the first match between the sides on 2 November 2024 at The Sky Stadium in Wellington 2-0, courtesy of two late goals from Jake Brimmer.
Auckland FC announced on 14 March 2024 that a women's football team would enter the 2025–26 season of the A-League Women with a youth team to act as an academy for the men and women squads. As director of football, Terry McFlynn will manage player and coach recruitment for both sides.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Current season
Steve Corica
Danny Hay
Jonathan Gould
Bill Foley
Terry McFlynn
Hiroki Sakai
