Steve Corica named coach of the A-League’s new Auckland team

The A-League coaching roundabout has landed a championship winner in charge of the competition’s newest team in Auckland.

Former Sydney FC head coach Steve Corica has landed a new job. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

A month after being dumped by Sydney FC, two-time A-League championship-winning coach Steve Corica has been handed the reins of the new Auckland team.

Corica was chosen from a field of six short-listed for the job at the expansion team, which will come into the competition for the 2024/25 season.

Auckland boss, billionaire Bill Foley, said Corica was a “proven winner”, having taken Sydney FC to titles in 2019 and 2020, and three grand finals in a row.

But he was replaced last month by former Wellington Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay after a wobbly start to this campaign.

“Steve is a proven winner, both as a player, as a head coach, and he plays an attractive style of football. His philosophy is aligned with what we want to achieve at the club, to be successful and to entertain the fans,” Foley said.

Steve Corica will coach the A-League’s new Auckland team. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“He is passionate about developing young players to succeed in the A-League and we are confident his appointment will attract some of the best talent from around New Zealand. The next step is to start our player recruitment in the January transfer window.”

Corica said the new club had “all the ingredients needed to succeed”.

“I am really excited about joining the new Auckland A-League club. It has all the ingredients needed to succeed, both on the pitch and in the community,” he said.

“We want to build a club that is known for its attacking and entertaining style of football and Aucklanders are proud to call their own.

“Bill Foley is passionate about creating pathways for young talented Kiwis to firstly succeed in the A-League and then go overseas with the other clubs in the group. It’s a fantastic opportunity for everyone involved.”