The club has also announced the appointment of Ramon Tribulietx and Aaron McFarland as co-coaches.
They take over from Paul Posa, who has been head coach of the side for the past two seasons. Posa, a dentist who runs his own practice, was unavailable for re-appointment due to work commitments.
He will, however, remain closely involved in the club as a member of the executive board.
The signing of Mulligan, 28, is a real coup for the Sandringham-based club and he will bring a wealth of experience to the team.
He previously played for City’s main feeder club, Central United, before embarking on an eight-year professional career in England from 2000 that included spells at Barnsley (70 appearances), Doncaster Rovers (88), Scunthorpe United (29), Grimsby Town (7) and Port Vale (13).
He arrives at the club’s Kiwitea St headquarters after a two-year stint with the Wellington Phoenix.
A versatile footballer who can play in either midfield or defence, he has earned 25 international caps since debuting for New Zealand in 2002. He has also represented New Zealand at U-17, U-20 and U-23 level.
Both Tribulietx and McFarland are also familiar faces at Kiwitea St.
Tribulietx has acted as Posa’s assistant for the past two seasons, contributing significantly to the club’s NZFC and O-League double success in 2009 and also to the outstanding fifth-place finish at the FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi late last year.
McFarland was head coach of Central United from 2005 to 2007. During that time, he led the club to two Chatham Cup titles, including a league and cup double in 2007.
He was also a member of Auckland City’s coaching staff during the same period, leading the academy side to the National Youth League title in 2007 and assisting the first team as they became NZFC champions that same year.
More recently, he was assistant coach of the New Zealand side that competed at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria. This team created history by becoming the first Kiwi line-up to qualify for the Round of 16 at a FIFA World Cup finals tournament.
Auckland City chairman Ivan Vuksich is excited by the confirmation of these appointments.
“Both Ramon and Aaron are highly-skilled young coaches with excellent credentials. They are familiar with the surroundings at Kiwitea St and we are confident they have what it takes to lead our team to success in both the NZFC and O-League this season,” he says.
“We are also delighted to welcome David to Auckland City. He is an outstanding player with a huge amount of professional and international playing experience. His signing is not only great news for the club but will further add to the growing profile of the NZFC and the O-League.”
The full squad will commence pre-season training in early September, ahead of their first competition match – an NZFC clash away to Waikato FC on October 16.
Auckland City’s backroom staff remains largely unchanged from last season with the following positions also being confirmed: Paul Gothard (goalkeeping coach), David Stringer (logistics manager), Arthur Egan (property steward), and Katherine Ludbrook and Andrew Newmarch (physiotherapists). Former All Whites captain Chris Zoricich, along with Jose Figueira, will take charge of the academy side.
David Mulligan
Date of Birth: 24 March 1982
Place of Birth: Liverpool, England
Nationality: New Zealand
Position: Midfield / defender
Previous professional clubs: Barnsley, Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe United, Grimsby Town, Port Vale (all UK), Wellington Phoenix (NZL)
International Caps / Goals: New Zealand 25 / 3
International Debut: vs Estonia, Tallin, 13 October 2002
Aaron McFarland
Date of birth: 19 August 1972
Place of birth: Port Vila, Vanuatu
Nationality: New Zealand
Coaching experience: Central United FC, Auckland City FC, NZ U-15, NZ U-17
Honours: Head Coach – Chatham Cup winners 2005 and 2007, Northern Premier League champions 2007, National Youth League champions 2007, Northern Premier League runners-up 2006.
Assistant Coach – FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009 (Round of 16), Oceania U-17 Nations Cup Champions 2009, NZFC Champions 2007.
Ramon Tribulietx
Date of birth: 20 September 1972
Place of birth: Barcelona, Spain
Nationality: Spain
Coaching experience: Auckland City FC (NZL), UE Sant Andreu, UE Figueres, UE Castelldefels (all ESP)
Honours: Assistant Coach – FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009 (fifth place), NZFC champions 2009, O-League champions 2009, NZFC minor premiers 2010.