Auckland FC awards night: Jesse Randall takes double, Verstraete named MVP

Sport Headlines | Wednesday April 29, 2026. Video / NZ Herald

Listen to this article — Auckland FC awards night: Jesse Randall takes double, Verstraete named MVP

Auckland FC have handed out awards to their top A-League and OFC Pro League players before some of their most important games of the season, with one All White winning big.

In the Black Knights’ second season, they have returned to the A-League finals after finishing in third place and will take on Melbourne City in the Elimination Final this weekend.

Meanwhile, the OFC Pro League team finished top of the regular-season ladder and start their next round of matches in early May.

All White Jesse Randall scooped two awards on the night, taking home trophies as the A-League Players’ Player of the Season and the Members’ Player of the Season.

Randall’s strong performances this season should see him picked in the All Whites squad for this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

He also highlighted how important he is to Auckland FC before his move to Scotland’s Dundee United.

Louis Verstraete took home the biggest award of the night by winning the A-League MVP award.

Some of Auckland FC's biggest stars took home the top awards at the club's awards night. Photo / Roshan Nama

The 27-year-old Belgian has been a rock in the middle of the park for the Black Knights this season, missing only two games and scoring just as many goals.

Sam Cosgrove won the club’s A-Leagues Golden Boot award in his first campaign, notching up 11 goals, which also makes him joint top scorer in the competition with Adelaide’s Luka Jovanovic.

Felipe Gallegos’ stunning volley against Adelaide United won him the Goal of the Season award. The moment of the season went to the team’s round-four victory against the Wellington Phoenix, where they finished the game with only nine men.

Dan Hall and Logan Rogerson, who were both sent off in that match, accepted the award.

Dan Hall and Logan Rogerson jointly accepted the club's A-League Moment of the Season. Photo / Roshan Nama

For the OFC Pro League team, Liam Gillion won the golden boot and goal of the season for his impressive solo run against South Melbourne, Daniel Normann took home the Player’s Player of the Season award and Ronan Wynne was named the club’s MVP.

Over in Wellington, the Phoenix also held their end-of-season awards, with Alex Rufer and Ifeanyi Eze being named joint men’s Player of the Year and Grace Jale given the women’s Player of the Year.

The Phoenix men’s season is over after they finished outside the finals spots, but the women’s team will face the Brisbane Roar in the A-League women’s semi-final first leg on May 3.