Ambition, in its many forms, is surely one of the Human Condition’s greatest assets. The spirit to achieve something remarkable has the power to take us all further than any mode of mere transportation. But ambition, like machines, needs to be energised.

This is certainly true in professional football where the margin between perfection and mediocrity is so perilous. It’s understandable the sport hasn’t been as strongly represented in this country.

Auckland FC, of course sets to change that as the nation’s newest football team contesting the coveted trans-Tasman A-League championship. 11 months prior to us visiting their training session the team didn’t exist, now they have their sights set on becoming the first Kiwi team to secure the A-Legue trophy.

Ambitious? Sure, but with the right mix of people and, yes machines too (Cupra is powering Auckland FC’s journey as exclusive vehicle partner), the team is already unbeaten and at the top of the league after it’s first three games. Ever.

A key cog in the Auckland FC machine is coach, Steve Corica. Who likens excellence in football to excellence in cars.

“It’s all the little things. If you make continued improvement of fine details they all make a far greater difference in the net outcome. In training and off the field, we’re all just making lots of little adjustments to deliver a really commanding performance during the game” Says Corica.

And Steve knows all the little adjustments to make. A former Australian representative in the FIFA U-17s, player in the English First Division, Japan’s J1 League and celebrated Captain of Sydney FC and eventual Coach. Corica has been responsible for some of Sydney FC’s most dominant seasons in the league, including multiple championships.

Steve lives and breathes the sport but his transition from player top coach was driven more by a desire to perform, than mere love of the game.

“Everyone is different, not every player wants to be a coach and not every player is cut out to be one. For me it seemed obvious, there were things beyond playing I wanted to achieve. I stopped playing at 37 and went straight into coaching – but it was a measured transition, with a lot of preparation.”

“I was planning, I did a lot of my coaching badges before that, so I was prepared for when I did finish playing and I was going straight into a job, which I stayed at Sydney FC for a long time as a coach as well. I think it's just knowing what you want to do, what kind of role you're after, and again for me it was similar to playing, you've got to work hard. Whatever you do, you have to be committed, you have to sacrifice a lot of things and that's what you've got to do.”

Steve is still sacrificing as he gets Auckland FC into winning form, away from his Sydney based family, but there are moments that make that sacrifice easier.

Like the teams’ clean sweep of three wins form three games at the time of writing. And the energy New Zealand has for football is also reinvigorating him.

“Definitely here I think New Zealand has been starved of football. Obviously, they've had Wellington Phoenix, but there’s room for another team and now we're the new kids in town and as you can see from the first games the supporters have really got on board. Yeah, it’s very cool to just be part of that groundswell, not just for Auckland FC, but the sport in general here, it's new and it's fresh, everyone's enjoying themselves. It’s a very cool movement.”

Cupra firmly believe progress is built on the impulse to break barriers. This ethos lies at the heart of the brand, as a relative new comer leading a new era of electrification. Similarly, Auckland FC seeks to disrupt the A League and redefining the image of the sport in New Zealand. Mirroring the brand’s global alignment with FC Barcelona, Cupra New Zealand support Auckland FC with a fleet of sustainability focussed cars.

The fleet consists of Leon Sportstourers and the all electric Cupra Born. Steve’s vehicle of choice to moves him around his new home city with pleasing dynamism is the Cupra Leon Tourer.

“The car is seriously great. It’s a bit new on the scene, like Auckland FC which is cool and I love the interior layout and you know, being a sports guy, having space for whatever gear I need in the back is very practical.”

The Cupra x Auckland FC partnership brings to life this dynamic team and their collective efforts to push new boundaries.