Auckland FC defender Jake Girdwood-Reich Photo: Supplied
Auckland FC head coach Steve Corica has played a big role in young Australian defender Jake Girdwood-Reich's football career and now he has given him another lifeline in the A-League
Girdwood-Reich has joined Auckland FC on a one-year loan from Major League Soccer side St. Louis City to fill a void in the club's back line for the 2025/26 season.
Corica was Sydney FC head coach when he gave Girdwood-Reich his A-League debut in the 2022/23 season.
"Steve has supported me a lot during my career, giving me a chance and trusting me when I was still a teenager," Girdwood-Reich said.
After struggling for game time with St. Louis, where he played 23 games, and was "in and out of the team", Girdwood-Reich said his arrival with last season's Premiers Plate winners was an opportunity to "fight for a position to play more minutes".
With Tommy Smith leaving Auckland in the off-season and an injury for Nando Pijnaker, that could prevent him being ready for the start on the season on 18 October, Girdwood-Reich will have an opportunity to impress Corica over the next five weeks.
Girdwood-Reich played 45 times for Sydney FC in the A-League before leaving in 2024 and said he still had a lot to learn but he felt Auckland was the right place to do that.
"I am young and 21 but I would say I am bit more of a leader, talking a lot.
"Aggressive, good on the ball, playing out from the back and hopefully I can bring those qualities to this team."
Corica liked Girdwood-Reich's versatility and the player liked the game plan.
"He likes to play with the ball, likes to press, so that kind of suits my strengths," Girdwood-Reich said.
After watching Girdwood-Reich come through the ranks in Sydney, Corica knew he was a good player and a "really great guy".
"[He] will fit in really well for the culture here, can play a few different positions as well, which is good for us, but mainly we brought him in to be a centre back, we've a couple injuries at the moment there and it gives us competition for places during the season.
"He's a good passer of the ball; quick, strong and will set a great example to the other young players."
Girdwood-Reich is the fifth signing for Auckland FC this winter in the off-season, following the arrivals of Oli Sail, Lachlan Brook and Sam Cosgrove. Goalkeeper Scott Morris arrived early in the transfer window but was forced to retire following advice from medical specialists.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
