João Moreira: I was very happy in Auckland

João Moreira is a Portuguese footballer with a long career in football. The 34-year-old forward played for many clubs from Spain and Portugal but he made history playing for Auckland City in New Zealand. Currently playing for Team Wellington, another team from New Zealand, João Moreira talked to futebolalternativo.pt – a Portuguese website focused on alternative football – about his career.

Futebol Alternativo allowed Oceania Football Center to quote some parts of the interview in this article. You can read the full interview (in Portuguese) by clicking here.

Moreira scored 38 goals and gave 18 assists in 63 games for Auckland City, being the fourth best scorer in the recent history of this amateur club, founded in 2004. Despite being only 16 years old, the Navy Blues dominated the continent and won the Oceania Champions League for nine times – seven of them in a row from 2011 to 2017. João won the competition four times between 2014 and 2017.

Playing for Auckland City, you won the national championship twice and the OFC Champions League 4 times in a row, scoring in two finals. Was it the club where you most enjoyed playing?

Yes, I think Auckland City, alongside with Estrela (his childhood club) were the clubs where I was most happy, because I had stability there. I think that is essential to a football player, being stable so you can be at a great level and help your team. I think that in Auckland I was able to do both things, winning some titles and being important in some ocasions, which is gratifying.

New Zealand is a world power in rugby. Does football end up having little media attention?

Undoubtedly yes, in my opinion, football here will never be the main sport, it will always be secondary, or not even that. Here the main sport is rugby, with a similar popularity to cricket and I think football ends up losing its essence both in Australia and in New Zealand. Those who are part of football try to row against this situation, it’s sad, but that’s the reality here.

Today, you play for Team Wellington, Auckland City’s rival, where you made history. Was there any controversy during the transfer?

Yes, I still feel a little strange, but these are life situations, we have to look ahead. I was well received here in Wellington, they are a fantastic family. And there was never any controversy, because it is a secondary sport, not so relevant. But of course, I heard that some Auckland fans were sad, they expected that my return to the country would be to Auckland, but it didn’t happen. The coach who was there, who was a mentor to me, left the club, so I ended up in Wellington. I didn’t have the opportunity to face them due to the coronavirus, but it would certainly be strange.

João Moreira was present in three FIFA Club World Cup editions and he played two matches in the tournament’s history. The best ever participation of the Navy Blues was 2014, when they were defeated by Argentinian side San Lorenzo in the semi-finals by 2-1 at extra-time. In the third place play-off they defeated Cruz Azul from Mexico on penalties to bring the bronze medal to New Zealand.

Despite playing the 2019-20 ISPS Handa Premiership season for a Auckland City’s rival, he will surely be remembered by the Navy Blues fans for a long time.