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FIFA World Cup 2026 posterCorica plotting Auckland FC's next chapter after historic title
Sport Nation • May 26th, 2026 9:33 am
Steve Corica | Photo: Photosport
Steve Corica has lifted his fair share of A-League titles, both as a player and a coach, but he admits there was a different feeling about the occasion at Mt Smart on Saturday night.
The Black Knights prevailed in a dog-fight of a Grand Final against Sydney FC, edging the visitors 1-0 to claim the franchise's maiden title, just a year after winning the Premier's Plate in their debut season.
The championship was Corica's fifth in total, having previously won two as a player and two more as a coach with his vanquished opponents on Saturday.
Given the historic circumstances, the Australian said this year's "felt different".
"This one's really special," Corica told Sport Nation's Scotty & Izzy. "This club is special. The Auckland fans have been amazing.
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"But we've won the Premiership in the first year, and then the second year we've gone and won the grand final, the major one that we really wanted last year as well.
"This is great. We made history."
On Tuesday, the staff and players will shake off the dust of a few solid days of celebrations to reunite for lunch in a final chance to bid each other farewell before the off-season commences.
Corica says he's already started thinking about what the future may hold for the Black Knights next season - specifically, how they'll pave their way to back-to-back titles and perhaps go one better to make it earn the Plate/Premiership double.
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"The only thing we can do now is to win the double.
"I might have to throw that on them today, just to make sure that we're thinking about that over the pre-season and over their holidays.
"We won the premiership. We were in the grand final. Now you put it together next season and we have to win both trophies. So that will be our aim for next season.
"It's pretty ambitious, but let's try."
Listen to the full interview below:
