Southern United, previously known as Otago United, is an amateur football club based in
Dunedin
Dunedin ( ; ) is the second-most populous city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from ("fort of Edin"), the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of S ...
, New Zealand. Founded in 2004, they play their home games at the Logan Park and
Forsyth Barr Stadium
Forsyth Barr Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand. At various stages of development it was also known as Dunedin Stadium or Awatea Street Stadium, or its non-commercial official name during the 2011 Rugby World Cup and 2 ...
. It is the southernmost football club playing in a top division league in the world.
History

Southern United was formed in 2004 as Otago United, competing in the
New Zealand Football Championship
The New Zealand Football Championship () was a men's association football league at the top of the New Zealand league system. Founded in 2004, the New Zealand Football Championship was the successor to a myriad of short-lived football leagues in ...
. Based in Dunedin, Southern United, the sole representative from its federation, was one of eight teams competing in the league at the time. The club had 21 feeder clubs and 4 associations from within the geographic area from
Timaru
Timaru (; ) is a port city in the southern Canterbury Region of New Zealand, located southwest of Christchurch and about northeast of Dunedin on the eastern Pacific Ocean, Pacific coast of the South Island. The Timaru urban area is home to peo ...
south to
Invercargill
Invercargill ( , ) is the southernmost and westernmost list of cities in New Zealand, city in New Zealand, and one of the Southernmost settlements, southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland Region, Southlan ...
.
Lutz Pfannenstiel
Lutz Pfannenstiel (born 12 May 1973) is a German former professional football goalkeeper, coach, scout, TV analyst, and the current sporting director for St. Louis City SC. He holds the record as the first of only two footballers to play profes ...
, the only player to play professionally on every FIFA continent, once called Otago United home.
In the
inaugural season, Otago United finished second from bottom, but improved to finish fifth out of eight in the next season. However, the club went from bad to worse in
the 2006–07 season, finishing in dead last and ending the season being humiliated 8–0 by league winners
Waitakere United
Waitakere United was a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They were one of the franchises in the ISPS Handa Premiership. They played their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeū and The Trusts Arena.
History
Waitakere Uni ...
. The following season was slightly better, finishing in seventh ahead of
Canterbury United
Canterbury United Dragons was a semi-professional Association football, football club from Christchurch, New Zealand. The team plays most of its matches at English Park in Christchurch, though they occasionally play in Nelson, New Zealand, Nels ...
, despite achieving the record for the fewest goals scored in a season.
The shortened
2008-09 season saw the team secure just two wins (both 2–1 over Canterbury United, home and away) and two draws (3–3 at home vs
Waikato
The Waikato () is a region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato District, Waipā District, Matamata-Piako District, South Waikato District and Hamilton City, as well as Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the nort ...
and 1–1 away vs
Team Wellington
Team Wellington Football Club was an association football club based in the suburb of Miramar in Wellington, New Zealand. They competed in the ISPS Handa Premiership. Team Wellington had traditionally been one of the most successful football c ...
). Despite the season been seven games shorter, they still managed to score three more goals than the previous season.
After a good start to the 2011–12 season Otago United lost several key players and slumped to a run of one draw and seven defeats. A 3–3 draw with Waikato in the final game of the season earned them sixth spot on the table. The high points of manager
Richard Murray's first year in charge were perhaps the blooding of several promising new young players and the selection of captain Tristan Prattley in the
New Zealand national under-23 football team
The New Zealand national under-23 football team, informally known as the "OlyWhites", represents New Zealand Football and New Zealand in international Under-23 football events, such as the Summer Olympics.
The OlyWhites qualified for the 2008 S ...
.
The loss of Prattley (to Waitakere United) and
New Zealand under-20 international representative
Joel Stevens to injury midway through the season severely hampered Otago, and they could only finish in 7th place with just two wins – avoiding the wooden spoon only on goal-difference. In 2020 due to financial constraints they did not field a team. In 2021 due to the national league restructure the club no longer exists.
Coaches
In their first season, Otago United was coached by former Fulham assistant Johan Koustall. The second season saw the arrival of former Irish international
Terry Phelan
Terrence Phelan (born 16 March 1967) is a football coach and former professional footballer. He is the technical director of Indian I-League 2nd Division side South United FC. He also works as a pundit for Sony Sports Network and Sports18.
H ...
to become the club's player/coach. This lasted for four seasons until the end of the 2008–09 season where, due to poor results, he was replaced by his assistant
Malcolm Fleming. Fleming coached for the 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons, but in August 2011 stepped down citing lack of funds to bring in players from outside the region, concerns that playing young local players could be detrimental, and the need for changes on the Otago United board.
In September 2011 it was announced that
Caversham AFC
Caversham is an association football club based in Dunedin, New Zealand. They compete in the ODT FootballSouth Premier League.
They are named for the suburb of Caversham to the southwest of Dunedin's city centre, best known for its former int ...
coach
Richard Murray would take the reins for the 2011–12 season. Richard Murray and assistant Andy Duncan were reappointed for the 2012–13 season, but after their worst ever points return in a season the reign of Murray and Duncan was over.
The coaching position for the
2013-14 season was taken by Brazilian Luiz Uehara who approached the job with a long-term view and a desire to use local players; nevertheless he stated his prime focus was "on performance and playing a good level of football". After Uehara's first season, a review following Southern United's second-last placing prompted the board to advertise the head coach position for the next two seasons. Uehara did not reapply for the position, stating he wanted to take a break from the game.
Mike Fridge was appointed for two seasons starting in 2014–15, with Tony Martin as his assistant. Fridge's poor performance led to his eventual demise, with Irishman Paul O'Reilly later appointed as the new coach in July 2016.
* Johan Koustall (2004–05)
*
Terry Phelan
Terrence Phelan (born 16 March 1967) is a football coach and former professional footballer. He is the technical director of Indian I-League 2nd Division side South United FC. He also works as a pundit for Sony Sports Network and Sports18.
H ...
(1 July 2006 – 30 June 2009)
* Malcolm Fleming (1 July 2009 – 30 June 2011)
* Richard Murray (1 July 2011 – 30 June 2013)
* Luiz Uehara (1 July 2013 – 30 June 2014)
* Mike Fridge (1 July 2014 – June 2016)
* Paul O'Reilly (21 June 2016 – 2019)
Staff
*Head Coach: Terry Boylan
*Goalkeeper Coach: Zane Green
*Medical: Jim Webb
*Technical Analyst: Stuart Moffatt
References
External links
Profile at New Zealand Football Championship website*
{{New Zealand Football Championship
Association football clubs in Dunedin
Association football clubs established in 2004
Sport in Otago
2004 establishments in New Zealand