Ramon Tribulietx has made the easiest selection decision of his Navy Blues coaching career by naming one of his most experienced squads for next month's FIFA Club World Cup in the UAE. 

"I believe the squad we are taking has a good mixture of experience, youth, talent and physicality.

"We have a lot of options within this squad we can tailor towards whatever is needed in the game and that is a very good asset to have. 

"We have good alternatives on the bench regardless of the situation we could face so we can make adjustments the way we need to," Tribulietx said.

The squad includes club top goalscorer Emiliano Tade who is set to claim the all-time player participation record at a FIFA Club World Cup with this campaign his seventh in a row. Tade currently shares the participation record with assistant coach Ivan Vicelich and former Navy Blues attacking midfielder Daniel Koprivcic. 

Five players with All Whites caps make the cut including strikers Kris Bright and Ryan De Vries, midfielders Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi and Cam Howieson and defender Liam Graham. Solomon Islands international Micah Lea'alafa is expected to join the squad en route to the UAE. 

Veterans Mario Bilen, Daewook Kim, Albert Riera, Marko Dordevic, Angel Berlanga, Takuya Iwata, Fabrizio Tavano and Darren White give the squad plenty of big match experience as does stand-out goalkeeper Enaut Zubikarai. 

Alfie Rogers, brothers Danyon and Reid Drake alongside Harry Edge were all part of the Navy Blues last venture onto the world stage and the Nike Lunar New Year Cup in Hong Kong last January. 

Only four of the squad have never previously experienced a FIFA Club World Cup with new signings Bright, Graham, Callum McCowatt and goalkeeper Conor Tracey all newcomers to the competition. 

Defender Harshae Raniga misses the cut while Dalton Wilkins and Owen Parker-Price are not considered due to injury.

The Navy Blues have penciled in two friendly matches scheduled for Wednesday 29 November and Friday 1 December with as yet to be determined opposition.

Tribulietx, who re-signed as Navy Blues coach in the off-season, said the two friendlies were perfect for recalibrating the sights on a new Club World Cup journey.

“I expect our opponents in the friendly matches to possess very good players and be of a similar playing style to Al Jazira, so it is a good opportunity to familiarise ourselves with the way the game is played in the Middle East.

"Matches like these push our performances to the next level so its a good opportunity for the team to re-experience what it means to play against sides of this calibre," he said.

Auckland City FC departs for the FIFA Club World Cup on Monday 27 November at 9.15pm NZST.

Ends

Extra Information

Auckland City FC squad - FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017

AC: Enaut Zubikarai (GK), Danyon Drake (GK), Conor Tracey (GK); Liam Graham, Dan Morgan, Darren White, Angel Berlanga, Marko Dordevic, Daewook Kim, Alfie Rogers, Takuya Iwata; Mario Bilen, Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi, Cameron Howieson, Albert Riera, Harry Edge, Reid Drake, Micah Lea'alafa, Emiliano Tade, Fabrizio Tavano, Ryan De Vries, Callum McCowatt, Kris Bright.

Coach: Ramon Tribulietx
Assistant coach: Ivan Vicelich
Goalkeeper coach: Simone Naddi
Fitness coach: Adria Casals Barris 
Technial Analyst: Ryan Faithfull
Team Manager: David Firisua
Physio: Matt Payne
Doctor: Dr Craig Panther
Masseuse: Tania Harris
Property Steward: Arthur Egan 

FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017
Wednesday 6 December 
Al Jazira (UAE) v Auckland City FC (NZL)
Al Ain, UAE
Kick-off: 9pm local time

Friendly Matches
Wednesday 29 November 2017 - Opposition TBC
Friday 1 December 2017 - Opposition TBC