Auckland FC name Pedro Moreira head coach
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The search is over for Auckland FC's with experienced Portuguese manager Pedro Moreira, appointed as head coach.
Moreira joins the A-League champions with a resume in assistant and head coach roles in leagues in Uzbekistan, Portugal, Italy and Ukraine.
He replaces Steve Corica who was the club's inaugural coach and left for a coaching role in Japan.
Moreira began his managerial career in Portugal at SCU Torreense in 2022 and then Casa Pia AC. He was most recently in Uzbekistan with Pakhtakor FC, guiding the club to the later stages of the AFC Asian Champions League and at the beginning of their ride to a second-place finish.
Most of Moreira's coaching career has been working under fellow countryman Paulo Fonseca who is currently with Olympique Lyon in France's Ligue 1. The duo worked together for a decade across five different clubs.
The pair started working together with FC Paços Ferreira in 2012-2013 and went on to manage some of Europe's top sides, winning trophies in Portugal and Ukraine.
Moreira's world tour lands the 51-year-old in a competition currently at odds with its players as the players' union has yet to agree to terms in the Collective Bargaining Agreement for the upcoming season.
"Coming in to coach this side in a country that is still developing its love of the beautiful game is a unique opportunity that I can't wait to get started with," said Moreira.
"This is a young club, but a highly successful club that has set the bar in terms of performance. It's already won two trophies alongside the best fans in the league.
"Being able to bring more success here and to continue to develop these exciting young players is something I'm really looking forward to."
The club's director of football Terry McFlynn said replacing Corica was a "big challenge".
"We took our time and now have someone who the club has a lot of confidence in.
"Pedro brought into the vision of our club, particularly our focus on youth and developing player pathways.
"We now have our coaching line-up for the season settled. Everyone at the club is now keen to get started as we continue preparation for season three."
Moreira's first major game in charge will be the Fifa Intercontinental Cup match on 26 August against Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli.
Auckland qualified for the tournament by winning the new Oceania Football Confederation Pro League final and will send a team of players from both the A-League and OFC.
OFC coach Luke Casserley will be an assistant coach, Rafael Moreira, who is no relation to the new coach, is head analyst, Nathan Sherlock, head of performance and Danny Milosevic will be the goalkeeper coach.
The A-League kicks off in October with Auckland playiing at home against Melbourne City on 17 October.
