Auckland’s debut champions

From having no footballs to winning the league in a year, World Football's Mani Djazmi's been following the extraordinary rise of Auckland FC.

Football Director Terry McFlynn describes how they found the players and the fans, and defender Tommy Smith explains how the players started a dressing room culture from scratch, once they had been assembled.

But how much is Auckland’s success down to having a billionaire owner, Bill Foley, and being part of his Black Knight multi-club group, that’s headed by Bournemouth?

Photo: Auckland FC celebrate with the Premier's Plate following the round 28 A-League Men match between Auckland FC and Perth Glory at Go Media Stadium, on April 27, 2025, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Credit: Getty Images)