Auckland FC have had a perfect start to their inaugural season in the A-League, keeping five clean sheets to start their campaign undefeated and top of the table.

That success can be attributed to some fine performances from goalkeeper Alex Paulsen, as well as the impressive recruitment in Auckland's coaching ranks.

Auckland FC managed to sign experienced goalkeeper coach Jonathan Gould to oversee their goalkeeping in their first season.

"The biggest thing I see in Paulsen is his focus, for someone so young to be as focused as he is — he already knows what he needs to do to improve," Gould told 1News.

"His rise has been pretty quick and I think there’s a lot of people that have been surprised by that but, if you know him as a person and as an athlete, it comes as no surprise."

Gould said he knew straight away that he wanted to be involved with Auckland FC when he received a phone call earlier this year.

He's no stranger to coaching in New Zealand, having spent three different stints at the Wellington Phoenix, who happen to be Auckland FC's opponents this weekend.

Gould has fond memories of his time at the Nix, even sitting on the bench for them in 2009 as their reserve keeper because their usual No. 1, Mark Paston, was unavailable due to the birth of his first child.

Paulsen joined Auckland FC on loan from AFC Bournemouth this season after an impressive breakthrough season at the Phoenix in 2023-24.

"To handle in the last six months the massive move to Bournemouth, it’s every kids dream — not just in New Zealand but around the world — to go to a Premier League club.

"To come back here and to be questioned why you’ve done that. To get through the first game against the Wellington Phoenix where there was a lot of pressure on him, I think that speaks volumes for what motivates him and he’s been a joy to work with again."

Gould brings with him some invaluable experience to help guide Auckland's shot-stoppers.

Gould made 157 appearances for Celtic, winning the Scottish league in the 1997-98 season and also picking up two Scottish League Cup winners medals in his career there.

He also spent time at various UK clubs including Preston North End, West Bromwich Albion, Coventry City and Bradford City.

He started his footballing career in New Zealand as a defender at Napier City Rovers, winning a National League title with them in 1989. However, Gould was told that he wasn't fast enough to be an outfield player and he made a switch to start training as a goalkeeper.

Gould wrote to 92 clubs in the UK in the hopes of earning a trial. Just two clubs came back to him with a positive response — Arsenal and Derby County.

At the time, largely considered one of the best English goalkeepers of all time, Peter Shilton was the No. 1 at Derby.

"He was diligent in his work but he enjoyed himself as well. He was a fantastic mentor to have at that point in my life."

Shilton made 125 appearances for England from 1970 to 1990.

"I learnt everything from him. I learnt how important it was to make sure that technically, you were as refined as you could be."

Another mentor in Gould's life was his father, Bobby Gould, who managed Wimbledon to FA Cup glory in 1988 against Liverpool.

And Gould's family success doesn't end there as his brother Richard is the current CEO of the England and Wales cricket board.