Football: Auckland City FC welcomed home

Ivan Vicelich greets fans on the team's return to NZ. Photo / Brendan Manning

More than 50 fans and family members of Auckland City Football Club staked out Auckland Airport this afternoon to welcome the team members home following their third place win at the Fifa Club World Cup.

Sonja Vicelich, mother of the team's captain Ivan Vicelich, was waiting for her son at the airport.

She described Auckland City's success at the cup as "unbelievable".

"I think the team did fantastically to have got where they've got - it's just unbelievable."

The ASB Premiership club made history on Sunday as they beat North American champions Cruz Azul of Mexico on penalties to claim third place at Fifa's biggest club tournament.

There was also an individual honour for Vicelich, who was awarded the adidas bronze trophy for being third-best player at the tournament.

Long-time Auckland City fan Edward Lyons said he had followed the "good family club" for more than 10 years and was planning on greeting the team with a bottle of champagne he had brought to celebrate their success.

"Essentially if you're looking to bring back awe and magic and wonder into your life, follow this team.

"We thought they were special and now they've delivered, it's just fantastic."

Another fan, Paul Brown, also made the trip out to the airport to welcome the team home.

"I've followed the club since year dot, we're just long-term survivors of the band wagon," Mr Brown said.

"They would be the epitome of a team as far as I'm concerned.

"It's an amazing club - where else can you go along to watch a game of football and then help out by taking the goal posts in at the end of the day - you're not going to get that kind of connection with a professional side."