Steve Corica Honoured as A-League Coach of the Decade

Auckland FC head coach Steve Corica has been recognized for his significant impact on Australian football by being named the coach of the Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) A-League Team of the Decade for the period from 2015 to 2025. This accolade marks a notable milestone in Corica’s distinguished career, both as a player and a coach.

Corica’s connection to the Team of the Decade is not new; during his playing days at Sydney FC, he was selected as a substitute in the previous decade team, which covered 2005 to 2015. This time, however, his recognition comes after he led Auckland FC to success in their inaugural season, clinching the Premiers Plate in the 2024/25 season.

Prior to his role at Auckland FC, Corica had an impressive tenure as the head coach of Sydney FC from 2018. Under his leadership, the club secured two A-League Premierships and one Championship, solidifying his reputation in the league. The Team of the Decade was selected by PFA members, consisting of current and former A-League Men players, and features a 4-3-3 formation with a starting XI, substitutes, a coach, and a referee.

In a statement reflecting on the award, Corica expressed his gratitude: “This is a really special award. I was a little surprised as there are some big names who have had incredible coaching careers over the past 10 years but I’m happy and honoured to be recognised in this way.” He further acknowledged the support from everyone he has worked with throughout his career, including players, coaches, and staff. Corica also dedicated the recognition to his family, acknowledging the challenges faced by football families and celebrating the highs of his journey.

Auckland FC’s Chief Executive Officer, Nick Becker, praised Corica’s achievements, stating he is “incredibly deserving” of the award. Becker noted, “He has had an incredible A-League career, consistently winning silverware as a player, assistant coach and head coach. Everyone at Auckland FC is phenomenally proud of him and his achievements.”

Looking ahead, Corica has ambitions to broaden his coaching experience internationally. He remarked, “I have ambitions at some stage to coach overseas as well. As a player, I wanted to play overseas and try against the best level you can. As a coach, it’s no different for me. I’m quite ambitious; after 20 years in the A-League, I think at some stage I’d like to try overseas and see what happens after that.”

The full roster of the PFA A-League Team of the Decade for 2015-2025 includes:

– **Goalkeeper**: Danny Vukovic
– **Defenders**: Scott Jamieson, Curtis Good, Alex Wilkinson (C), Rhyan Grant
– **Midfielders**: Luke Brattan, Diego Castro, Miloš Ninković
– **Forwards**: Craig Goodwin, Jamie Maclaren, Kosta Barbarouses
– **Substitutes**: Jamie Young (GK), Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Aziz Behich, Anthony Caceres, Isaías, Bruno Fornaroli, Besart Berisha
– **Coach**: Steve Corica
– **Referee**: Alex King

This recognition not only highlights Corica’s contributions to the game but also sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting future as he seeks new challenges in his coaching career.