Auckland City weren't even coached by their normal coach, Paul Rosa, as personal circumstances kept him from heading to the United States with the team for the initial phase of the tournament, where the Navy Blues were led by a group of Adria Casals, Ivan Vicelich, Daewook Kim, and Jonas Hoffmann.

Their efforts at the FIFA Club World Cup earned the club over $7.5 million but the players are unlikely to see much of it.

Auckland City FC defender Christian Gray carved his name in New Zealand football history. At the same time, he stepped out of a large shadow. It probably was