Latest news with #OliSail
RNZ News
19 hours ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Oli Sail moves to third A-League club after Europe hopes dashed
Goalkeeper Oli Sail will play for his hometown in the A-League after stops in Wellington and Perth. Photo: Photosport Auckland FC goalkeeper Oli Sail's homecoming has happened sooner than he expected but after a couple of off-shore moves did not work out he is grateful for an opportunity to get his career back on track. It has been 13 years since Sail last lived in Auckland, when he left there was no professional football side in the city. Until a few days ago he was based a six-hour flight away from his Auckland-based family in Perth. But it was not long ago that he had dreams of being on the other side of the world. "It wasn't something I envisioned probably this early," Sail said of the return to the City of Sails. "I was hoping to pursue European opportunities only a couple of years ago. But it feels like the right move to me now." At this stage of Sail's career he wants to be a starting goalkeeper but he is aware that will not be a given in Auckland especially as he is a late-comer that got the call due to an injury crisis in the keeping ranks. A move down to the capital resulted in his first professional contract when he signed with the Wellington Phoenix in the A-League. He made his debut in March 2018 after first getting on the bench nearly a year earlier. After seeing out the last four games of the 2017/18 season between the sticks he spent the majority of the following season on the bench - making only four appearances in the Phoenix's 27 games. Between late April 2019 and February 2021 Sail was riding the pine or out of the Phoenix squad all together. On February 21 2021 he made the Phoenix goalkeeping position his own playing 25 games in a row, across the end of one season and the start of the next, before injury saw him miss two matches. He came back and played 17 of the next 18 games. Sail played every game of the 2022/23 season for Wellington before moving to Perth Glory for the last two seasons. Oli Sail of Perth Glory FC, playing against his new club Auckland FC in April this year. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ The move to Western Australia did not play out how Sail hoped as he was in and out a side that was at the bottom of the A-League table and was on the outer with the All Whites. He said with the FIFA World Cup less than a year away "every decision is important". "The last two years have been difficult for myself in terms of football the move hasn't gone at all the way I planned and in terms of putting my hand up the selection for that World Cup, I felt like this would give me the best platform and opportunity. "I'm very grateful for Perth for allowing me to pursue this, because they didn't have to. I was coming to the final year of my contract and they're going through a tough situation and they're looking to have a positive build on a rough couple of years. "So they could easily have asked me to stay and play there but they were good enough to let me pursue this." Sail was named in the All Whites squad for next month's two matches against Australia but that might be the first competitive game he has played since last turning out for Glory in the Australia Cup in July - when Perth lost on penalties to the Phoenix. Because he has already played for Perth in this year's Cup competition he can not play for Auckland for the remainder of that competition. Oli Sail of Perth Glory FC and Guillermo May of Auckland FC Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ Auckland play fellow A-League side Sydney FC on Saturday in the quarter-finals of the Australia Cup and Sail said he would be on Auckland keeper Michael Woud's cheer squad - for now. "I have the opportunity to come in here and lead and bring my experiences, and that'll help the group, hopefully, but for the time being it's Mikey's Jersey and he's playing well. "He's kept two clean sheets so far, and I know last year would have been frustrating for him. AP [Alex Paulsen] was playing superbly, and that's how it goes as a goalkeeper sometimes you get stuck behind something like that. "So he'll be hungry and I'll be hungry, and we'll push each other and that can only be good for the both of us in the group." Getting to be the go-to goalkeeper for coach Steve Corica will be a challenge for Sail . Corica said this week that Woud was the "number one at the his to lose and Oli just has to work hard make sure he's ready when he gets the opportunity. "We had two very very good goalkeepers last year and we wanted the same this year." With his experience Sail had to weigh up what game time he might get in Auckland before committing to the one year contract. "It's a unique position in that regard. The likelihood of injuries is slimmer, and the likelihood of replacements are slimmer, generally speaking. So it's something you have to consider, but this is a successful environment that I want to be a part of and with that comes the potential that you might have to bide your time and wait for your opportunity," Sail said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Several A-League players named in New Zealand squad for ‘Soccer Ashes' series against Australia
Nine A-League players have been selected in the New Zealand squad to face the Socceroos in two matches next month. Auckland FC has the strongest representation, with five players – Francis de Vries, Callan Elliot, Jesse Randall, Logan Rogerson and new signing Oli Sail – chosen in the 23-man squad for the Soccer Ashes series in Canberra (September 5) and Auckland (September 9). Also in the squad are Wellington Phoenix pair Tim Payne and Alex Rufer, Western Sydney Wanderers attacker Kosta Barbarouses and Brisbane Roar defender James McGarry. McGarry, who recently joined the Roar from Aberdeen, felt he was playing his 'best football' under Brisbane coach Michael Valkanis. 'As a result of this, I am honoured to get the call-up to represent New Zealand next month,' the 27-year-old left-back said. 🇳🇿🆚🇦🇰 The All Whites squad to face the @Socceroos next month has been announced with Ryan Thomas named for the first time since 2019 ðŸ'° ðŸ—'ï¸� 5 Sept ðŸ�Ÿï¸� GIO Stadium, Canberra ðŸ—'ï¸� 9 Sept ðŸ�Ÿï¸� Go Media Stadium, Auckland 🎟ï¸� Book tickets for the home game from — New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) August 18, 2025 The All Whites squad also includes Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood, who kicked off the English Premier League season with brace in his club side's 3-1 weekend win over Brentford. New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley said playing against the Socceroos was 'always a big deal'. 'We want to go out and put in two strong performances to build on the success of the last window and continue our momentum heading into the FIFA World Cup next year,' Bazeley said. Socceroos coach Tony Popovic, whose team has also qualified for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, will next week announce his squad to meet Bazeley's men.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Returning home: Oli Sail joins Auckland FC
Oli Sail lays down the law at Perth Glory. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ New Zealand international Oli Sail has joined Auckland FC as they boost their goalkeeping stocks. The 29-year-old, who had nine seasons with the Wellington Phoenix before a two-year stint with Perth Glory, has been recruited as the Auckland club reorganises in the wake of Alex Paulsen's departure back to Bournemouth , the English club which had loaned him to Auckland for a season. Sail will vie with All Whites international Michael Woud for the No 1 spot for the coming season. Woud could only watch on last year as Paulsen dominated in the role during the club's breakout inaugural season, which took them to the playoffs before losing to Melbourne Victory in the semifinal. Woud has kept a clean record in the club's current Australian Cup campaign, and will have the gloves for their quarterfinal against Sydney FC on Saturday. Sail will be with the team, but can't play as he has already played for the Glory in cup matches. "As was the case last year, we wanted two exceptional goalkeepers to help us achieve our goals," Auckland FC head coach Steve Corica said in a club statement. "Oli brings experience to the team as well as competition to the group. We saw last season his quality; he was great in both games against us last year, pulling off some exceptional saves. He will be an asset to the club." Woud had worked hard and kept clean sheets in Australian Cup matches, Corica said. "So it's a very competitive position.'' Sail is returning to his home town as he looks to make an impact with the club and revive his international career. "The chance to play professional football in the city I grew up in was a huge draw," says Sail. "I was there on the night the club lifted the Premier's Plate; that was some atmosphere and an incredible crowd. It would have been hard to imagine in Auckland not so long ago, so when the opportunity to be a part of the club was presented to me, there was only ever going to be one answer. He will reunite with assistant coach Danny Hay and former All Whites goalkeeping coach Jonathan Gould at Auckland FC. "I know both Danny and Jonathan really well; they have both supported me a lot during my career, and I'm looking forward to the coaching and encouragement they can provide." Sail played 43 games for the Glory in his two seasons there and has notched up 116 A-League games in his career, the majority with the Phoenix.
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Oli Sail joins Auckland FC in effort to reclaim All Whites No 1 spot
Goalkeeper Oli Sail has joined Auckland FC in a bid to reclaim his place as the All Whites No 1 before next year's World Cup. 'Every decision you make leading into the World Cup cycle is going to have an influence,' Sail told the Herald. When Auckland-born Sail
RNZ News
26-04-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Auckland FC v Perth Glory: All you need to know
Auckland FC players celebrate a goal against the Wellington Phoenix. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ Auckland FC v Perth Glory Kick-off: 5pm Sunday, 27 April (NZT) Go Media Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Live blog updates on RNZ Sport A sold-out crowd at Mount Smart will see more than 26,000 home fans celebrate Auckland FC when they lift the A-League Men's Premier's Plate on Sunday . With two games left in their regular season, Auckland FC sealed top spot and the Premier's Plate on Saturday night, after second placed Melbourne City drew 0-0 at home to Adelaide United. It has been an incredible achievement in a debut campaign, matching that of Western Sydney Wanderers in 2013, and a well-earned one, with the Black Knights leading the table for most of the season. Auckland FC will aim to go undefeated for the sixth game straight when they meet Perth Glory, the A-League's bottom-placed team. Luis Felipe Gallegos celebrates his goal, Auckland FC v Western Sydney Wanderers FC. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ One of the key reasons for Auckland's success this season has been a relatively low injury count. That continues into this fixture, with a full complement to choose from for head coach Steve Corica. Felipe Gallegos was the only injury doubt, but he has recovered from a knock against Melbourne Victory and is likely to feature. The one question will be around how Corica decides to set up. A recent switch to 5-3-2 proved fruitful against Victory, so it would be no surprise to see a similar line-up. Goalkeepers: Alex Paulsen, Michael Woud; Defenders: Hiroki Sakai (c), Nando Pijnaker, Dan Hall, Tommy Smith, Francis de Vries, Callan Elliot; Midfielders: Louis Verstraete, Cameron Howieson, Luis Toomey, Jake Brimmer, Felipe Gallegos; Attackers: Max Mata, Guillermo May, Jesse Randall, Logan Rogerson, Neyder Moreno, Marlee Francois, Liam Gillion. Phoenix goalkeeper Oli Sail reacts after allowing a goal to be scored during the 4-0 loss to Western Sydney Wanderers. Photo: Photosport It could be one All White keeper v another, with Oli Sail likely to deputise at the other end from Alex Paulsen. The Glory stopper will be hoping to keep the league leaders at bay in front of a hometown crowd. Captain Adam Taggart represents a potent threat in attack, while Jaylan Pearman is a young prodigy who Auckland will be wary of due to a previous experience. Seb Despotovski will be looking to make his debut and follow in the footsteps of his father Bobby, a Glory legend. Goalkeepers: Oli Sail, Cameron Cook; Defenders: Anas Hamzaoui, Tass Mourdoukoutas, Yuto Misao, Josh Risdon, Kaelan Majekodunmi, Tomi Mrcela, Takuya Okamoto; Midfielders: Nicholas Pennington, Adam Bugarija, Trent Ostler, Luke Amos, Jaylan Pearman, Will Freney; Attackers: Nikola Mileusnic, Adam Taggart (captain), Patrick Wood, Khoa Ngo, Seb Despotovski. 11 Jan, 2025 - Perth Glory 1-0 Auckland Auckland have lost just twice this season, but their most recent defeat did come against Perth at the start of the year. One of only three wins for the basement club this season, young prodigy Pearman grabbed the solitary goal. Auckland also finished the game with 10 men after Adama Coulibaly saw red. Auckland clearly struggled to handle their first mammoth commute to Western Australia with a forgettable showing, which they will look to avenge this weekend. Auckland Fc v Wellington Phoenix, Go Media Mt Smart Stadium. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ Auckland will not be taking this lightly - that January defeat will still loom in the mind of Corica and his players. Auckland are impressive at home while Perth have just one win in their past 17 A-League games on the road. All signs point in one direction - a comfortable Auckland win, but given the rollercoaster rides fans have been treated to so far this season, it wouldn't be a shock if the home side has to battle through this one. Getting over the finish line can be tough in football, but Auckland have shown time and time again that they have what it takes. Auckland FC 3-2 Perth Glory. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
