A young Phoenix fan wearing a mask looks on during the tense match. Photo: Photosport / Marty Melville
The Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC both enter the new A-League men's season with plenty to prove.
The league enters its 20th season this weekend with New Zealand's involvement doubling with the inclusion of new club from Auckland.
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Last season the Wellington Phoenix had one of their best results of the 17 seasons they've been involved.
While this season there is a lot of interest in the the arrival of expansion club Auckland FC.
The Phoenix finished second during the 23-24 regular season and were knocked out in the semi-finals of the play-offs. Central Coast won their third title and second in a row.
We can expect all the big clubs to be contenders again and Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano believes the majority of the teams are capable of success.
Into his second season in charge in Wellington, Italiano said the $2.8m salary cap has played a big part in that.
"We saw Mariners last year, very similar to us, they ended up winning the league with a small budget, a lot of young players, a good coaching staff and some good ideas," Italiano told RNZ.
"That just shows that the league is very very close and I think if you have a bad day in the league you'll get punished and I think that's very god, very healthy."
The trans-tasman competition has been a breeding ground for talent, with a long list of players moving onto bigger leagues overseas.
Auckland FC coach Steve Corica Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Phoenix captain Alex Rufer believes that has also played a part in producing an even competition.
"A big difference in the last few years is that there is probably more youth playing, but that doesn't mean the quality has dropped at all.
"I think the players have been very good, I think the standard is very good, the competitiveness is there."
Inaugural Auckland FC coach Steve Corica has had A-League success as both a player and a manager with Sydney FC.
It's been a tough start for Corica who has only had his overseas players for the last couple of weeks, but he is happy with the squad he's put together.
One of Corica's signings was defender Dan Hall, who was with the Mariners... Hall admits it will be a process for them to become competitive in the A-League.
"Not getting too far ahead of ourselves and just focussing on the process of what Steve and the coaching staff want us to do.
"I think building moment each week and hopefully by the end of the season we'll be flying."
While they did well last season Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano wants to present a new team this term.
He is concerned that everyone was satisfied with their performance last season.
Kosta Barbarouses celebrates after scoring. Photo: Photosport
"Like most things, everything needs to evolve to have success.
"Teams will get smarter when they play us, give us more respect, so we also need to evolve in terms of our ideas.
"Last year is last year, we'll build on the good things but it's only a memory now."
NZ Football CEO Andrew Pragnell said having two professional men's teams now will help with player development in the country and is a major boost for the fans.
He said the game here is probably in the best place it has ever been.
"2010 (World Cup) was critical for us, I feel in 2010 we shrugged off our inferiority complex around football.
"This is a milestone moment, we have the chance to go to the 2026 World Cup, our third men's World Cup and we've just hosted a women's World Cup.
With another professional side coming on I only see incredible times ahead."
Auckland FC open their season at home on Saturday against Brisbane Roar and the Phoenix are at home on Sunday against Western United.
The two New Zealand clubs will meet each other in round three in Wellington on 2 November.
The women's A-League starts in a fortnight with Auckland FC scheduled to have their women's team competing next season.
Chilean centre-midfielder Luis Felipe Gallegos, Belgium international Louis Verstraete and Uruguayan striker, Guillermo May. A-League club Auckland FC international signings, 2024. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
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