Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is very proud to welcome legendary football star and inaugural Auckland FC Captain, Hiroki Sakai, to its Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, where he has started an MBA with the university on a part-time basis.
Majoring in Business Studies, the 36-year-old athlete, who played top-level professional football and represented Japan at three World Cups, says he is excited to have become an AUT student in the city he loves and the country he and his family now call home.
“Holding an MBA has been one of my long-term goals, so I’m very happy to be working towards this at one of New Zealand’s leading universities.
“AUT’s welcoming, supportive staff have made me feel part of their community at each step of the way, and I have really enjoyed being on campus in the heart of the city.
“It is also fantastic to meet other students. Like me, so many are from other parts of the world, enjoying Kiwi life.
“My family and I have really taken to Auckland. It is a beautiful, safe city with so much to offer. We are all very settled here, and the support we have received has been incredible,” says Hiroki.
He recently re-signed with the current A-League Champions team for the 2026/27 season and is a co-business owner of Football Assist in Japan, focused on youth development, professional athlete training, and career transition support for young athletes.
AUT has had a long-standing relationship with High-Performance Sport New Zealand and the University’s High-Performance Athlete Support programme delivers customised academic and wellbeing support programmes for students competing at elite and representative levels.
AUT Vice-Chancellor, Professor Damon Salesa, says AUT is thrilled Hiroki has chosen to embark on postgraduate study with the university.
“Aucklanders have watched Hiroki lead Auckland FC to victory with composure, expertise and passion for his team – and for this city. To have the opportunity to be able to support him on his study journey is our pleasure.
“Furthermore, AUT’s reputation for supporting top sports people through their study programmes to achieve their academic and sporting goals is widely known. It is why people like Hiroki are attracted to AUT. We think he will fit right into campus life, and AUT’s women’s and men’s football teams may also even get some tips and tricks along the way.”
AUT is the exclusive university partner of Auckland FC.
