Steve Corica has led Auckland FC to their first A-League title and his third against the team he won two with as a coach.

It wasn’t an easy ride for the veteran coach after a tough end to the regular season with no wins in their last five matches, but Corica felt after their elimination final victory a title charge was destined to happen.

“Obviously our form leading into [finals] wasn’t great,” Corica said, “but again I said it before finals you know it doesn’t really matter what happened during the season whether we finished first, second or third you know as you saw last season we lost in the semi last season.

“So yeah we just obviously knew what we had to do and I knew the moment we beat Melbourne City that we were going to go all the way.

“I felt it, I could see the belief in these boys and how much hard work they needed to put into that game and I knew that was going to stand us in good stead for for moving forward.”

Corica’s men became the first team from New Zealand to win either the men’s or women’s competition through a very scrappy goal from Cam Howieson.

Steve Corica celebrates with Cam Howieson after Auckland FC won the A-League Men grand final. Photo / Photosport

The Black Knights were on top for most of the match and held firm in defence despite the occasional scare from Sydney FC.

Despite the tense finish, Auckland FC looked like a team who had been in this position before and played the way they needed to guarantee victory.

“I was just celebrating as well obviously for Cam to score as well because like you said he hadn’t scored in in the first two years so and I think we did actually speak about it today about him scoring in a in a final so it’s special,” Corica said of Howieson’s goal.

“I know the feeling that he would have been going through and for the next 20 years I still remember my goal that I scored so you’ll never forget it and it’s amazing that that was the one goal that has won us the game.

“It’s special, it’s really special.”

The Australian coach’s mind was on celebrating the result tonight, but hinted at a few changes for next season.

“I think there’s going to probably be players leaving at the end of the season, new players will come in.

“I think we just need to worry about that next season, we want to enjoy the moment right now as a group and have fun.”

As for Corica’s future, he’s locked in for at least another year.

“I’ve got another year contract so they got to put up with me for another season.”