A-League
Record-Breaking Start Earns Auckland FC’s Steve Corica Top Coaching Honors
Perfect Start for Auckland FC in Isuzu UTE A-League
Steve Corica, head coach of Auckland FC, has been honored with the Isuzu UTE A-League’s October/November Coach of the Month award, capping off a remarkable debut season for the Black Knights.
The accolade decided through a fan vote, recognizes Corica’s leadership in Auckland’s historic entry into the league, marked by an unprecedented run of victories.
Auckland FC’s first-ever season in the competition has been nothing short of stellar. Under Corica’s guidance, the team secured four consecutive wins, all accompanied by clean sheets. No debuting club had previously achieved either milestone, let alone both, in league history. Auckland has since extended this flawless record to five wins and five clean sheets, solidifying their status as a force to be reckoned with in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Fan Power and Expert Panels Decide Monthly Honors
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has partnered with FCA to give fans a voice in celebrating outstanding coaching performances. Through this collaboration, nominees for the Coach of the Month award are selected by an experienced FCA panel, with the final winner determined by fan votes. The October/November award considered matches played between October 18 and November 24, encompassing Auckland’s record-breaking opening streak.
The FCA panel—comprising experts like Gary Cole, Mara Watts, John Kosmina, and Ian Greener—put forward four nominees for the month. Corica competed against Wellington Phoenix’s Giancarlo Italiano, Adelaide United’s Carl Veart, and Melbourne Victory’s Patrick Kisnorbo. Winning 55% of the fan vote, Corica outpaced Italiano, who garnered 30%, while the remaining votes were split between Veart and Kisnorbo.
Historic Derby Adds to Corica’s Laurels
Among Auckland’s October/November triumphs was a milestone victory against Wellington Phoenix in the first-ever New Zealand Derby in Isuzu UTE A-League history. This weekend, Corica and his Black Knights will host the Phoenix again at a sold-out Go Media Stadium, promising another thrilling chapter in the budding rivalry.
