A-League: Auckland FC coach Steve Corica sets sights on Championship (2025)

It is a great story, but Auckland FC coach Steve Corica said it is not over yet.

The debut club picked up their first silverware by securing top spot for the regular season and with it the A-League Premiers Plate.

They now have their sights set on the Championship which will involves the top six sides.

"It's a great story," Corica told RNZ.

"To start up a new club with no players, it actually feels very special"

Corica, who has previously won the A-League title with Sydney FC, said they felt they could be successful reasonably early in the season after gathering a squad with plenty of experience.

"The boys started to believe we could do something special in the first six games when we went unbeaten.

"Obviously the belief grows and you start to think yes we can do it.

"Bill Foley (owner) is very ambitious and wants to win trophies and to do it in our first season is really amazing."

It has been a remarkable season so far. In 25 matches Auckland have been beaten just twice, winning 15 and drawing eight.

Their +24 goal differential is also the best in the league.

Corica said the plan from here is simple.

"Just got to continue what we're doing, it is important that we keep on doing that and don't change the way we play.

"The boys should be very proud of this so far, but it is not done.

"We're defending well and that will be a key factor in the finals, while we also have to take our chances when they come."

Auckland play at Western United this weekend to end the regular season and will then have a week off before they get involved in the finals series.

The third to sixth placed teams compete in the first weekend with the winners then meeting the top two sides in a home and away semi-final series.

The Grand Final is scheduled for the weekend of 31 May.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Copyright © 2025, Radio New Zealand

• Auckland FC want football finals at 'home' at Mt Smart

  28 Apr 2025

  

  Auckland FC could make New Zealand football history in the A-League - and they want to do it at home. Audio

  A-League: Auckland FC want football finals at 'home' at Mt Smart

• How sweet it is: Auckland FC fans savour first season silverware

  28 Apr 2025

  

  The rain couldn't stop football fans old and young coming out to celebrate their club's remarkable debut season.

  Auckland FC wins A-League Premier's Plate; fans savour first season silverware

• A-League: Auckland FC beat Perth Glory 1-0

  27 Apr 2025

  

  Having already secured the Australasian League's Premier's Plate in just their first season, Auckland FC capped it by beating Perth Glory 1-0.

  A-League: Auckland FC beat Perth Glory 1-0

• Auckland FC v Perth Glory: All you need to know

  27 Apr 2025

  

  It's party time at Mount Smart, with Auckland FC claiming the Premiers Plate - here's the squad lists, news and predictions.

  Auckland FC v Perth Glory: All you need to know

• Auckland FC to lift A-League Premier's Plate in front of bumper home crowd

  27 Apr 2025

  

  Auckland FC's dream debut season just got better, becoming the first NZ side to win the A-League Men's Premier's Plate.

  Football: Auckland FC to lift A-League Premier’s Plate in front of bumper home crowd

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs