Takapuna head coach Chris Milicich is helping out national champions Auckland City as they count down the weeks to their appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup tournament in Morocco.
Milicich has been named Group Manager to handle many of the off-the-pitch plans required to help the Navy Blues be ready for the competition.
“The role is operation and logistics-based and whilst Chris’s coaching records speak for themselves this appointment won’t require any input from him on that front,” Auckland City president Ivan Vukshich told the club’s website.
“Chris has vast experience in business, operations and logistics, and sport and I’m pleased to have him on board.”
Milicich said he was happy to take up the opportunity, despite the challenge of organising an international tour with the first game little more than six weeks away.
“As Ivan said, this role is about pulling together an operational plan, it doesn’t affect my coaching role with Takapuna AFC, nor do I have any input on football matters whatsoever,” he said.
“The FIFA Club World Cup is the pinnacle event for many clubs and I am excited to add my business expertise to put together this project in such a short period of time.”
Main photo: Chris Milicich … short-term role won’t affect coaching role with Takapuna. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Auckland City will return to Morocco in February for the tournament which will be the last run with a seven-club format before it expands to a four-yearly 32-team competition set to launch in 2025.
The Navy Blues will go to Morocco — where they won the bronze medal in 2014 — as the representatives of Oceania after winning the OFC Champions League this season.
Other clubs already confirmed for the tournament are Real Madrid (as Europe’s champions), Flamengo (South America) and Seattle Sounders, the first CONCACAF Champions League winner from the United States.
The 10-day tournament will run from February 2-12 (NZT) with games to be played in Casablanca, where the 67,000-seat Stade Mohammed V is expected to be the main venue used for the eight matches.
READ MORE: Auckland City to return to scene of past triumph for FIFA Club World Cup >>>>
Flashback to 2014: Auckland City win bronze in Morocco
To recognise Auckland City’s success at the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup, Friends of Football published this special edition of FANZ. You can read it online here:
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