Foley sets ambitious path for Auckland A-League club as talent pipeline for EPL
Renowned American sports magnate Bill Foley has unveiled his strategic plan for the newly established Auckland A-League club, positioning it as a crucial developmental hub for English Premier League (EPL) players.
Speaking on the CBS show Morning Footy, Foley, who already owns the EPL club AFC Bournemouth and holds a stake in France Ligue 1’s Lorient, outlined his vision for a multi-club system.
Foley’s A-Leagues license will see an Auckland-based men’s team enter the A-League in the 2024-25 season, with a women’s team debuting the following summer.
With an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion, the Texan financier has showcased his in-depth knowledge of football operations and expressed a hands-on approach to determining the playing style of his clubs.
Bournemouth, under Foley’s leadership, is on the brink of announcing the acquisition of a “highly promising South American player,” who may be loaned to one of the sister clubs within the system.
#AFCB owner Bill Foley on a certain soon to be announced South American player in the January transfer window. 👀🍒 pic.twitter.com/PhkE6ineKh
— Ollie Windsor (@OllieWindsor_) January 5, 2024
Foley’s innovative model involves nurturing talent at Auckland FC, progressing them to clubs like Hibernian in Scotland, Lorient in France and potentially a Belgian team before joining Bournemouth. This approach aims to provide players with valuable playing time and experience.
“We’ll progress them through that system initially to get the playing time and when they come to Bournemouth, we have an experienced 22-year-old who is ready to play premier league football,” Foley stated.
Having previously achieved Stanley Cup success with the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL, Foley’s football philosophy emphasises a strategic approach for the Auckland team. Recognising the challenges of competing with English clubs backed by sovereign wealth funds, Foley looks to the model of smaller clubs like Brighton and Hove Albion for inspiration.
New Auckland A-League team owner Bill Foley says his club will hit the ground running with key announcements to begin as soon as this weekend. ⚽️#Football #ALeaguehttps://t.co/tx0f9mhAHF
— The Roar (@TheRoarSports) November 22, 2023
Foley’s vision for success includes identifying “under the radar” players, adopting an attacking style of football and aiming for a higher position in the EPL table to secure a place in European football. The unexpected dismissal of coach Gary O’Neil at Bournemouth exemplifies Foley’s commitment to implementing a dynamic style under new coach Andoni Iraola, characterised by “high energy, high up the pitch” attack.
After going winless in their first nine games this season, Bournemouth have inched away from relegation danger courtesy of Iraola’s tutelage with seven wins and a draw from their last 10 games.
Highlighting the significance of character in player recruitment, Foley added, “It’s all about character and wanting to win.”
“That’s how I built the Golden Knights from the ground up. We have one of the best locker-rooms in the league.”
As Auckland prepares for its role as Foley’s latest venture in the football sphere, the ambitious strategy aims to create a robust talent pipeline contributing to the future success of Premier League teams.
