‘Within three years’: Bill Foley sets Auckland FC title target

Tuesday, 15 October 2024

The billionaire's new club will play in the A-League Men's comp from next year.

When Auckland FC owner Bill Foley set up his first sports franchise – the Vegas Golden Knights NHL ice hockey team – he had a simple mantra.

“Playoffs in three. Cup in six.”

The Golden Knights overachieved initially, making it to the finals in their first season in 2018, but falling short of a fairytale title.

When they eventually did get their hands on the Stanley Cup – the oldest trophy in American professional sport – it was exactly as predicted.

At the end of their sixth season in 2023.

Now Foley has his eyes on a different prize – the A-League Men trophy.

Bill Foley will attend Auckland FC’s inaugural A-League Men match against Brisbane Roar at Mt Smart Stadium this Saturday.

It was designed to look like a laurel wreath, but Australasian fans know it best by another name, inspired by something else it looks like that everyone is familiar with.

The Toilet Seat.

New Zealand’s first A-Leagues club, the New Zealand Knights, never came close to getting their hands on it.

It has eluded New Zealand’s only existing A-Leagues club, the Wellington Phoenix, for the past 17 years.

But Foley doesn't want Auckland to have to wait that long.

'Within three years, for sure,' was the ambitious goal he set as he prepared to fly out from Las Vegas for the new club's first match, on Saturday afternoon at Mt Smart Stadium against Brisbane Roar.

And he's on board with the cheeky moniker.

'I'd be happy to win the Toilet Seat.'

Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory and the Newcastle Jets won the first three A-League Men championships, so got there that fast.

Two of the five franchises that joined the competition after its inaugural season in 2005-06 have also done so – Western Sydney Wanderers, who found success straight away in 2012, and Western United, who got there in their third campaign in 2022.

Auckland coach Steve Corica has already won the competition twice as a head coach with Sydney FC, in 2019 and 2020, and is eager to get his hands on some silverware again.

“That’s my contract – three years – so I hope so,” he said on Tuesday when Foley’s target was put to him.

Auckland have confirmed former Japanese international Hiroki Sakai as their captain, four days out from their first match, with All Whites veteran Tommy Smith and Australian attacking midfielder Jake Brimmer to be vice-captains.