That was the start of a long and fruitful relationship with the Sandringham club, as they dominated local and Oceania football, with a record seven consecutive Fifa Club World Cup appearances between 2011 and 2017. He played 211 games for Auckland City FC and scored 138 goals (both records), plus did professional stints in Argentina and South Africa.
Emiliano Tade became a legend at Auckland City FC.
Across the past domestic season, he has turned out for Auckland United in the National League-North – managing 15 goals in 18 games – while also chipping in with three strikes on their run to the Chatham Cup final. Tade, who turns 38 in March, was often competing with teenagers or opponents in their early 20s but never tires of the challenge.
“I have not been chasing them – they have been chasing me,” laughs Tade. “The scoring, the stats and all the goals, speaks for itself, you know.”
Tade puts his longevity down to several factors. There are the usual things – training smart, gym work, rehab, nutrition and quality sleep – but he is also a big proponent of the mental side of the game.
“I do a lot of yoga, meditation,” said Tade. “I keep my brain healthy, I guess.”
There is genetics – “that’s obviously part of it” and an ultra-competitive streak that has sustained him across decades.
“That makes me want to keep doing it, stay healthy and stay fit and be ready to compete,” said Tade. “Competing is what I love the most … it’s the driver.”
Ask Tade for his favourite footballing memories, and they are plentiful. The standout is the 2014 Fifa Club World Cup in Morocco, when Auckland City were briefly the talk of the footballing world with their remarkable third-place finish, as they prevailed against the Moroccan champions, the African champions and the North American champions.
In the semi-final, they also pushed the South American champions (San Lorenzo), as they played for a spot in the final against European giants Real Madrid – with Tade pushing a shot narrowly wide at 1-1 with a few minutes of normal time remaining.
Emiliano Tade puts a shot narrowly wide in the semi-final of the 2014 Fifa Club World Cup.
“That campaign is something that will never erase from my mind,” said Tade, who had also scored a last-gasp winner in the Oceania Champions League final at Kiwitea St to book the ticket to Morocco.
Playing in South Africa was an amazing life experience. Scoring a goal to eliminate Cape Town City from the Cup was a highlight, while Durban’s AmaZulu was a highlight, and a league-winning campaign with Pretoria’s Mamelodi Sundowns.
He returned to New Zealand in 2019 for three more seasons with Auckland City FC. That period included an unbelievable 13-minute hat trick against Wellington Olympic in March 2023, after coming off the bench with the team 3-1 down, to take them into the Oceania Champions League.
The ageless Tade then spent two seasons at Western Springs (16 goals in 23 games) before his Auckland United spell in 2025. This, though, will be the final adventure.
“Definitely, mate,” he laughed. “It has to be the last dance. Has to be.”
Retirement has crossed his mind – it would be silly to say it hasn’t – but he is glad to have one last chance to shape his legacy. Auckland FC director of football Terry McFlynn says Tade’s recruitment was a “no-brainer”, especially given his vast experience of the Pacific region, with nine Oceania Champions League campaigns (seven titles) with Auckland City.
“It’s going to be a new experience,” said McFlynn. “So it’s crucial that we’ve got people with knowledge of the islands, knowledge of what to expect and to manage expectations in the dressing room as well as the coaching staff.”
Tade’s position includes an assistant coach role and support for the youth teams at the club, though he remains keen to play.
“Of course – that’s my nature,” said Tade. “If I get a chance, I want to play.”
The OFC Pro-League kicks off with the first circuit series in mid-January, with the opening match to be Auckland FC versus South Island United at Eden Park on January 17. followed by other circuits in Papua New Guinea, Australia, Solomon Islands, Fiji before the semi-finals and final in Auckland in May.
Auckland FC have also announced Kian Donkers, Bailey Ferguson, Zac Zoricich and Tass Mourdoukoutas among their first group of players. South Island United, who have former New Zealand Football technical director Rob Sherman as coach, have also made some key signings, including former Wellington Phoenix forward Oskar Van Hattum and Auckland City forward David Yoo.
Michael Burgess has been a sports journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.