Recently, School of Business students had the privilege of visiting Auckland FC, the city's premier football club. Our visit began at North Harbour Stadium, the club’s official training grounds, before we moved upstairs to the Auckland FC Lounge. The room featured striking artwork wrapped around the pillars, each symbolising a core value: Teamwork, Professionalism, Preparation, Resilience, Community, Pride, and Continuous Improvement.

We had the chance to meet two managers of the club who then conducted a tour of the grounds, changing rooms, personal gym, and rehabilitation area. In doing this, they provided some insights into how the club is run from a business standpoint, giving us a clear idea that any professional football club is managed like any other business organisation.

Another key takeaway regarding the club's performance was recognising how every aspect of the organisation and the teamwork behind it is essential to making success possible. The managers, coaches, player analysts, and even the medical staff work to ensure that everything goes smoothly in order to reach the club's goal. This showed us that collaboration is critical in order to achieve any success in business.

We also got the chance to ask questions about the organisation's activities and the preparations for the upcoming match against Tottenham Hotspur. We learned that the game against the Spurs is expected to be the toughest match for the Auckland team and that they will have about three months before the big game to prepare both physically and psychologically to do well for their fans and themselves, proving that they are the best.

Visiting Auckland FC proved to be an invaluable learning experience, deepening our understanding of the club’s inner workings and day-to-day operations. We also gained valuable insights into the importance of teamwork and the qualities that drive success, whether in sports, business, or everyday life.