Auckland FC have dominated the PFA Team of Season list, with six of our players plus Head Coach Steve Corica featuring in the team.
The Black Knights to feature are; Alex Paulsen in goal, Hiroki Sakai at right back, Francis de Vries at left back, Louis Verstraete in centre midfield, with Guillermo May and Nando Pijnaker on the bench.
What makes the PFA Team of the Season so special is that it is voted on by fellow professional players. At the end of each season, PFA members from the A-Leagues are asked to vote on their best XI.
The composition of the team is based on the number of votes tallied for each player in each position, with the substitutes bench comprising those players who finished below those in the starting XI positions. The player with the most votes is determined the Team of the Season’s captain.
All the players, bar Alex, are featured for the first time in their careers. It is also the first time our head coach and footballing legend, Steve Corica has been named as coach. He previously made the Team of the Season as a player in the 2009-10 season and was named on the bench in the PFA Team of the Decade.
This is the second consecutive year Alex Paulsen has been named in the squad and, if proof of his contribution to the league was ever needed, his second as captain.
A genuinely shocked Alex Paulsen said he was still taking it all in.
“I can’t quite believe this. I’m still taking it in to be honest,” said Paulsen.
“I’m thankful to everyone who voted for me, it means so much. I want to thank my teammates, the coaching staff and my family who have all supported me over this past year and encouraged me to become a better person and a better goalkeeper. It is a huge honour and privilege to be represented on behalf of Auckland FC.”
The inaugural PFA A-League Team of the Season was announced in 2009 and has been revealed annually in the A-Leagues Finals Series. Based on peer recognition, selection in the PFA Team of the Season remains one of the highest accolades a professional footballer can receive in Australia.
Corica said it was a privilege and honour to be named as coach and have so many players recognised.
“The players have all worked extremely hard all season, they certainly deserve this, and knowing it is voted on by those who play the game makes it extra special,” said Corica.
“But we’re a team, we go together and none of us could achieve any of this alone. It takes a village as they say.”
