One month after being awarded a full A-Leagues licence, Auckland have named former Sydney FC boss Steve Corica as their inaugural head coach.
Corica was sacked by the Sky Blues in November but will return to the A-League Men competition when Auckland debut in 2024.
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Steve Corica named Auckland's A-League Men head coach
Corica brings with him six years of head coaching experience in Australia's top flight.
He led Sydney FC to a grand final win in his maiden season before securing another championship, a premiership and an Australia Cup victory with the club.
The 50-year-old will work alongside former teammate Terry McFlynn in Auckland, who has been appointed as director of football.
"I am really excited about joining the new Auckland A-League club," Corica said.
"It has all the ingredients needed to succeed, both on the pitch and in the community.
"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.
"(Owner) 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.”
Why did Steve Corica leave Sydney FC?
Despite winning multiple trophies with the Sky Blues, Corica was sacked by the club following a disappointing start to the current A-League Men season.
Sydney suffered three defeats in their opening three matches and failed to score a single goal in that period.
The club won the Australia Cup in the pre-season but did not finish higher than fifth in the league table the two seasons prior.
When will Auckland join the A-League?
Auckland will join the A-League Men competition for the 2024-25 season, while entry into the A-League Women will come a year later in 2025-26.
Who is Auckland A-Leagues licence owner Bill Foley?
Foley was born in Austin, Texas in 1944.
He attended the United States Military Academy and joined the U.S. Air Force after graduating from West Point. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, helping negotiate multi-million dollar deals with Boeing.
After the Air Force, Foley earned his J.D. from the University of Washington in 1974 and moved into corporate law. He later bought Fidelity National Financial, helping turn around the struggling title insurance company into one of the largest American corporations.
He also serves as chairman of Black Knight, Inc., a software and data provider for the mortgage industry, Fidelity National Information Services and Cannae Holdings. In addition, Foley invested in several businesses throughout the years, including wineries, hotels, ski resorts and golf courses.
His portfolio has since expanded into sports, where he notably owns NHL team Vegas Golden Knights, English Premier League side AFC Bournemouth and Ligue 1 outfit FC Lorient.
You can read more about Foley here.
