Morgan rejoins Auckland City FC

Words: ACFC Media

Tuesday 3 October 2017

Picture: Phototek

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Dan Morgan has joined Auckland City FC for a second time, leaving Waitakere United to join Ramon Tribulietx's side for the new season.

The 26-year-old midfielder was a mainstay for Waitakere United as they pushed Team Wellington all the way in last season's ISPS Handa Premiership semi-finals and a key figure for Birkenhead United during their Chatham Cup win in 2016.

Morgan finished a two-and-a-half-year spell at Auckland City FC in August 2012 by joining Waitakere United, having previously played at Kiwitea Street between 2009 and 2012 when he won the Junior Navy Blues Sportsman of the Year award.

The central midfielder was also a key figure as the Junior Navy Blues won the National Youth League title in 2009 and becomes the club's third new signing and third local acquisition alongside All Whites internationals Kris Bright and Liam Graham.

"Its good to be back again the club has always played good football. There's a style of football here based on keeping the ball and nobody wants to be chasing it," Morgan told the club's official website.

"I have enjoyed so much success at this football club in the past and I am determined to repeat it again and play some good football again.

"I would love to win the ISPS Handa Premiership and OFC Champions League titles again and to do that with Auckland City FC would be fantastic.

"Its been a long time since I last experienced that feeling and to do it here would be great," he said.

Morgan's career has taken in time with Three Kings United, Birkenhead United and Waitakere United but he was also part of the Auckland City FC side that finished fifth at the FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi in 2009.

Only coach Ramon Tribulietx, assistant coach Ivan Vicelich and property steward Arthur Egan remain from that era with most of the squad either retired or playing outside the New Zealand top flight with regional league clubs.

"The FIFA Club World Cup as a platform is just a different world. You don't worry about how you get to training, meals, travel - its just a completely professional environment.

"The best memory from that competition for me was Chad Coombes screamer in the first game with Al-Ahli when we won 2-0.

"The Club World Cup gives players from New Zealand an insight as to how the other half live all the time in a professional environment," he said.

Morgan played the entire second half of the 3-2 win over TP Mazembe as a fresh-faced 19-year-old as the Navy Blues notched two wins.

"Winning the first game was great then beating the champions of Africa at such a young age was awesome and I hope we can repeat something similar this time," he added.

Asked whether Auckland City FC had changed much since he left Morgan laughed.

"I was speaking to Takuya Iwata when we did our warm-up the other day and I said to him this is exactly the same routine we did when I was last here.

"That's a good thing because that methodology has brought the club the success it has enjoyed - why change something that is working so well?

"The club has won title after title because of that philosophy and I'm happy to be back," he said.

Last season he scored eight goals in 17 matches for the red and whites as they made their first return to the ISPS Handa Premiership knock out stages and addes quality to an area of the team already brimming with talent.

Coach Ramon Tribulietx was happy to see Morgan back at the Navy Blues.

"Dan played with us in the past and therefore he knows what we are about in regards of training and playing. He has the ability to play in different positions, up front and at the back and this is something important to us.

"He is technically notable and has a very good physical capacity which can complement the way we play very well, he also proved last year he is very capable in front of goal and we hope he can fit in quickly to our way of doing things.

"I'm looking at Dan as a player that can play further high in the front three and with the ability to shift to the back four if needed," Tribulietx said.

Auckland City FC's next pre-season friendly is scheduled for Saturday 7 October when they face Waitakere United at Auckland Grammar artificial surface.

The match kicks off at 11.00am.

Ends

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