
Auckland FC: Guillermo May named MVP after historic A-League football season
Goalkeeper Alex Paulsen, who has played every minute so far on loan from English Premier League side AFC Bournemouth, was named the player's player of the season.
The former Wellington Phoenix star had another rock-solid campaign between the sticks, keeping 12 clean sheets.
On the night, Logan Rogerson was honoured for scoring the club's first-ever hat-trick in the Black Knights' 6-1 victory over the Wellington Phoenix in the third domestic derby.
That hat-trick was initially awarded to fellow forward Neyder Moreno before league officials overturned the on-field referee's decision after Rogerson was seen deflecting the shot into the net.
At the Phoenix's awards night on Tuesday, women's captain Annalie Longo and men's forward Kosta Barbarouses scooped the major accolades.
The pair won the members' players of the year, media players of the year, players' players of the year and the sponsor's players of the year honours.
Longo, the long-serving Football Fern who retired from the professional game after the women's final match, also collected the Lloyd Morrison Spirit of the Phoenix award for her leadership of the women's team.
Both Phoenix sides missed qualification for their respective A-League playoffs, while minor premiers Auckland FC find out their semifinal opponents after the elimination finals on Saturday.
Auckland FC's upcoming fixtures
Away semifinal
May 17: Auckland FC v (lowest-ranked elimination final winner), Australia
Home semifinal
May 24: Auckland FC v (lowest-ranked elimination final winner), Go Media Stadium, 6pm
Grand final
Bonnie Jansen Football Fever podcast, and was part of the Te Rito cadetship scheme before becoming a fulltime journalist.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


NZ Herald
16 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Auckland stadiums: Having four separate venues is unsustainable
Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray were backing the proposed Auckland Arena at Western Springs. Photo / Supplied The proposal was curious in that: Auckland FC's debut season averaged 18,101 attendees yet it proposed a 12,500-capacity stadium with TAU acknowledging 'larger games would still require the capacity of Mt Smart or Eden Park'. The location lacked critical infrastructure, including hospitality venues, public transport links, public car parking and crowd dispersal routes for the proposed capacity. A '$200m-$300m' cost estimate presented a substantial $100m gap, suggesting cursory planning. The per-seat cost was significantly below Te Kaha in Christchurch, even accounting for the absence of a roof. It's worth wondering: Why was TAU supporting the building of another stadium when it contradicts 15 years of consistent advice the council has received? In 2020, a review of Auckland Council's resources led by Miriam Dean stated: 'The harsh economic reality is Auckland neither needs nor can afford four stadiums.' The Long-Term Plan 2024–2034 provides for $146.3m of ratepayer money just to maintain (not improve) the aging stadium network. This pattern of inaction isn't new. In 2006, the government offered to fully fund a waterfront stadium. Remarkably, the then-Auckland Regional Council rejected this proposal, turning down what would likely be well over $1b (from taxpayers) in today's money, preferring to maintain four aging stadiums (funded by ratepayers). One key aim of the Super City amalgamation in 2010 was to rationalise water, transport and the four 'main stadiums'. A 2019 confidential presentation to council highlighted issues with the region's stadium stock, noting 'under-utilisation leading to poor financial outcomes'. Councillors were told 'doing nothing is not an option'. In 2023, when the council looked for expressions of interest to develop a new 'Main Auckland Stadium', they reiterated Dean's key point: 'Auckland neither needs nor can afford four stadiums.' We should learn from other cities. Warriors fans at Allianz stadium, where league, rugby and football teams all play. Photo / Photosport In Sydney (population 5.5m), Allianz Stadium is home to the Waratahs (rugby), Roosters (league) and Sydney FC (football). In Brisbane (population 2.8m), Suncorp Stadium hosts four professional sports team across rugby, league and football. In Melbourne (population 5.3m), impressively 10 AFL teams collectively use just two stadiums, the MCG and Marvel. These stadiums also host international matches, concerts and community events. Contrast this with Auckland (population just 1.7m) where, remarkably, we could have seen four professional sports teams across four disparate stadiums (Blues at Eden Park, Warriors at Mt Smart, Auckland FC at Western Springs and Moana Pasifika at Albany). How could any stadium (or business) be fully utilised or financially sustainable with just 13 regular season games (Auckland FC) annually – effectively guaranteed to be 'open for business' less than 4% of the year? These four stadiums also compete with each other for the small number of concerts that come to Auckland. Of course, the condition of the stadiums means many world-class performers simply bypass Auckland entirely, limiting Down Under tours to superior Australian venues. When artists such as Adele have to perform in torrential rain at Mt Smart, Taylor Swift's decision to skip Auckland in 2024 becomes entirely understandable. Adele soaks up the rain at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland. In the eight months since it was granted consent for 12 concerts a year, Eden Park has only hosted one artist, Luke Combs. For 2026, only the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has been announced. The loss of major events costs Auckland money through the hospitality, accommodation, transport and retail sectors. The financial implications for ratepayers are stark. They face mounting maintenance and operational expenses, while construction costs for any new stadium escalate. Meanwhile, we're counting the lost revenue from those lost events. With Christchurch's world-class Te Kaha Stadium opening in 2026 and already revitalising the city, Auckland will become the only major Australasian city not to open a modern stadium this century. Te Kaha, in Christchurch, is due to open next year. Photo / Christchurch City Council The Long-Term Plan allocates $16b for water, $14.5b for transport, and $4.2b for community and parks. Yet while other cities have invested in this vital cultural infrastructure, Auckland remains held back by the legacy of four disparate, underutilised and ageing stadiums. Auckland generates ample content for a premier venue. Imagine a modern covered stadium hosting Taylor Swift, the Warriors, Blues, Auckland FC and Moana Pasifika, national teams in black, unlimited concerts and community festivals such as the Pasifika, Diwali or Lantern festivals. If situated on the waterfront, the venue could also host the prestigious sailing events that have made Auckland the renowned 'City of Sails'. Hiroki Sakai, Ardie Savea, Taylor Swift, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Michaela Brake The cultural and economic benefits to the city would be transformative. This vision is entirely achievable, as every other major city in Australasia has shown. It's time for Auckland to emulate Wellington, Dunedin and now Christchurch in charting a pathway which reflects a visionary and aspirational Auckland investing strategically for future generations. Rather than remaining constrained by legacy, shoestring maintenance, and decades of inaction, perhaps the rise of Christchurch's impressive Te Kaha Stadium can finally focus Auckland on the advice urged by experts for 15 years. We can emulate Wellington, Dunedin and now Christchurch in charting a pathway which reflects a visionary and aspirational Auckland investing strategically for future generations. Auckland neither needs nor can afford four stadiums... but surely it makes sense to have one great one. Richard Dellabarca was head of the Wynyard Point consortium which proposed a new stadium built on the Auckland waterfront.

RNZ News
3 days ago
- RNZ News
Wellington Phoenix hire new controversial coach
The Wellington Phoenix have hired the former Canadian coach at the centre of the Olympic drone scandal in 2024. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.


NZ Herald
3 days ago
- NZ Herald
Wellington Phoenix: Why signing Bev Priestman is genius
When Bev Priestman was involved in the drone-gate scandal at the Paris Olympics in 2024, little did anyone think that - a little more than a year ago - the same coach would be announced as the Wellington Phoenix's women's manager.