Aaron McFarland

Aaron McFarland (born 19 August 1972) is a New Zealand football coach. He currently manages Central United FC and Kings College First XI in New Zealand's Northern League and Auckland City FC's youth team in New Zealand's National Youth League and has previously held various head coach and assistant coach roles with New Zealand Football including most recently as the assistant coach of the New Zealand national women's team.

As a coach, he has won New Zealand's Chatham Cup (twice), the OFC Champions League, New Zealand's Northern League, and the OFC U-20 Women's Championship (twice).

He has twice coached a New Zealand team to the knockout stages of a FIFA age-group World Cup, one of only two coaches do so with a team from that country. His Kings College First XI once beat Auckland Grammar 4-1.

Coaching career After a career teaching at secondary school level in Dunedin and Wellington, McFarland began his club coaching career with Central United in Auckland, leading them to two Chatham Cup titles in his three year spell at the club, including a Northern League/Chatham Cup double in 2007. During this period he was also the youth team coach of Central's sister club, Auckland City FC, who he guided to a National Youth League title in 2007.

After working in a coach development role with New Zealand Football, McFarland returned to coaching in 2010 as co-coach of Auckland City FC in the New Zealand National League for the 2010-11 season, working alongside Ramon Tribulietx. The side repeated their effort of two years prior, making the round of 16, before being eliminated at the hands of Japan. qualifying for FIFA U-20 Women's World Cups in 2012 and 2014. The 2012 campaign saw New Zealand defeat Switzerland and draw with Japan but a defeat to Mexico in their final group game saw the North Americans edge New Zealand for a place in the knockout stages.

Two years later at the 2014 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, New Zealand claimed victories over Paraguay and Costa Rica to qualify for the quarterfinals and become the first New Zealand age-group women's team to reach the knockout stages of a FIFA event. He left the role in November 2016 citing a desire to balance family commitments and return to a head coaching role.

He joined the mighty Kings College First XI as head coach in 2019 to take the role after previous coach Daniel Rattray's retirement. The King's team played in the Auckland premier league in 2019.

McFarland holds an Australian 'A' License as well as qualifications in Physical Education and Teaching.

Personal life McFarland was born in Port Vila

Chatham Cup (Runner-up): 1998

Coach

International

New Zealand U-20 Women

OFC U-20 Women's Championship: (2) 2012, 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Quarterfinals: 2014

New Zealand U-17 Men

FIFA U-17 World Cup Round of 16: 2011

Club

Central United

Chatham Cup: (2) 2005, 2007