AFC Captain extends contract with A-League leaders

Auckland FC’s biggest star will call Go Media Stadium home for at least one more year.

Captain Hiroki Sakai has signed a one-year contract extension, keeping him at the Black Knights until the end of the 25/26 season.

The Japanese right-back has become an integral part of the team - scoring one, assisting another, and at the heart of a defence that has kept nine clean sheets, conceding the fewest goals in the competition.

He is also responsible for forcing two very memorable own goals. The first, and the team’s very first, was in Auckland’s opening game against Brisbane Roar and the second, in the 2-1 home derby win against the Wellington based team.

Loving life in Auckland and with the team, Sakai said the decision to extend his contract was an easy one to make.

“My family and I have really taken to Auckland. It is a beautiful city; we are all very settled and the support we have all received has been incredible. As for this team, they are fantastic. I love playing with them and running out in front of our fans – the love and support I have received from them is like nothing else,” says Sakai.

“I try not to look too far ahead, especially when there is still so much we can achieve over the next few months, but I just couldn’t image packing up and moving on at the end of the season.”

With 74 appearances for the Japanese national team, Sakai is the most high-profile of Auckland’s overseas imports and has been one of the stand-out players across the A-League.

The experienced 34-year-old has played in three Fifa World Cups and two Olympic Games. He’s one of eight Japanese players enjoying life in the A-League men’s competition, representing the largest group of overseas imports playing in the league.

“For all his quality he is a very humble guy,” says head coach Steve Corica. “He’s a great pro, a great influence on the younger guys and a player who is highly regarded by everyone at the club.

“On the pitch he’s just fantastic. He covers an incredible amount of ground and is technically very gifted. I think we all remember his last-man tackle against Melbourne Victory.

“Having Hiroki here for at least another season is great news for us and for the fans who enjoy seeing him perform every week.”

A seasoned European campaigner, Hiroki made 96 appearances at Hannover 96 in Germany’s Bundesliga and played over 145 matches for Olympique de Marseille in the French Ligue 1.

Fans can expect to next see him run out at Go Media in the derby against the Phoenix on Saturday, March 22. The match is expected to sell out with a limited numbers of tickets still available.

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission