History
Waitakere United was formed as a special franchise club in 2004 to play in the New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC), New Zealand's top domestic football competition. The team represented 12 member clubs from Mount Albert, New Zealand, Mt Albert to the Kaipara District, Kaipara. In the inaugural season (2004–05) of the NZFC, Waitakere United finished runners-up to the champions Auckland City FC, Auckland City but they followed up with a very disappointing 6th place in the next season. In the following season, however, Waitakere finished as NZFC premiers but lost in the grand final once again to Auckland City FC 3–2. Due to the withdrawal of Vanuatu's Port Vila Sharks FC, Port Vila Sharks, Waitakere was given a berth in the inaugural OFC Champions League, for 2007 OFC Champions League, 2007, as NZFC premiers. They finished atop their group, edging out Auckland City and New Caledonia's A.S. Mont-Dore, AS Mont-Dore. They went on to defeat Ba F.C., Ba FC of Fiji in the final, becoming the first OFC Champions League, OFC-League champions. Commins Menapi scored a crucial away goal that proved the difference as the tie finished 2–2 in aggregate. Taking this championship qualified United to compete in the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan, where they lost in the 'play-in' match to Sepahan F.C., Sepahan 1–3. Waitakere United defended their championship in capturing the 2007–08 OFC Champions League, defeating Kossa F.C., Kossa in the final 6–3 in goal aggregate. During this season, Trusts Stadium, Douglas Field was under extensive renovation forcing Waitakere United to play most of their home fixtures at Fred Taylor Park in Whenuapai. Waitakere had a notable Auckland derby, rivalry with neighbours Auckland City FC, Auckland City. With the change of structure of Association football in New Zealand, football in New Zealand at the start of 2021, and the creation of the new New Zealand National League, this saw the end of Waitakere United, and consequently the end of the Auckland Derby.Honours
*New Zealand Football Championship **Championship (5): 2007–08 New Zealand Football Championship, 2007–08, 2009-10 New Zealand Football Championship, 2009-10, 2010-11 ASB Premiership, 2010-11, 2011-12 ASB Premiership, 2011-12, 2012–13 ASB Premiership, 2012-13 **Premiership (5): 2006–07 New Zealand Football Championship, 2006–07, 2007–08 New Zealand Football Championship, 2007–08, 2008–09 New Zealand Football Championship, 2008–09, 2010-11 ASB Premiership, 2010-11, 2012–13 ASB Premiership, 2012–13 *OFC Champions League (2): 2007 OFC Champions League, 2007, 2007–08 OFC Champions League, 2007–08 *ASB National Youth League (2): 2008, 2011 *ASB Phoenix Challenge: 2010 *Charity Cup, ASB Charity Cup: 2012Performance in OFC competitions
*OFC Champions League: 7 appearances ::Best: Champions in 2007 OFC Champions League, 2007 and 2007–08 OFC Champions League, 2007–08 ::2007 OFC Champions League, 2007: Champions ::2007–08 OFC Champions League, 2007–08: Champions ::2008–09 OFC Champions League, 2008–09: 2° in Group A ::2009–10 OFC Champions League, 2009–10: ''Finalist'' ::2010–11 OFC Champions League, 2010–11: 2° in Group B ::2011–12 OFC Champions League, 2011–12: 2° in Group A ::2012–13 OFC Champions League, 2012–13: ''Finalist''FIFA Club World Cup History
Current squad
''As of 23 January 2021''Staff
*Youth Team Coach: Mark Holt *Goalkeeper coach: Kevin O'LearyManagers
* Chris Milicich (2004–05) * Steve Cain (1 July 2006 – 30 June 2007) * Chris Milicich (1 July 2007 – 30 June 2009) * Neil Emblen (1 July 2009 – 30 June 2012) * Paul Marshall (1 July 2012 – 30 June 2013) * Paul Temple & Brian Shelley(1 July 2013–15) * Chris Milicich (2015 – 2019) * Paul Hobson (football manager), Paul Hobson (30 November 2019 – Present)References
External links