New Zealand have enjoyed a presence in Australia’s national league for 15 years, firstly through the curiously monikered Auckland-based Football Kingz and then, in the early days of the A-League, via the New Zealand Knights. Success though, has largely been hard to come by for the Kiwis. It took until 2010 before Wellington Phoenix made their first play-offs, thanks in part to the talismanic qualities of coach Ricki Herbert. The achievement coming just a few months prior to the All Whites famed undefeated showing at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Phoenix repeated the feat over the following two seasons but have been less successful since.
