Sydney FC

Sydney FC – Quick Stats

Most Appearances: Iain Fyfe (120)
Top Goal Scorer: Sasho Petrovski (26)
A-League Championships: 2 (2005-2006, 2009-2010)
Best Regular Season Finish: 1st (2009-2010)
Best AFC Champions League Result: Group stage (2007)

About the Sydney FC A-League Football Club

Sydney FC formed in late 2004, just less than a year before the commencement of the first ever A-League season. Football Federation Australia had previously all but guaranteed that one of the initial eight A-League club licences would go to a team from Sydney, and after a rival bid named Sydney Blues withdrew their bid, Sydney FC were the obvious choice.

The fact that FFA chairman Frank Lowy was also a part owner of Sydney FC, raised eyebrows from many in the football community, who considered Lowy’s involvement with the club as a major conflict of interest. Lowy – and foundation chairman Walter Bugno – pushed on regardless and swiftly put together a strong looking playing squad ahead of the 2005-2006 season.

The club enticed several quality Australian players plying their trade in Europe to return home, including the likes of Steve Corica, David Zdrillic and Ufuk Talay. Sydney also signed a number of former NSL stars such as Mark Rudan and ex-Wollongong Wolves trio Sasho Petrovski, Robbie Middleby and Alvin Ceccoli. However, the jewel signing in the Sydney FC crown was that of former Manchester United star striker Dwight Yorke, who signed a two-year deal with the club believed to be worth around $900,000 a season. The deal easily made the then 33-year-old the most expensive player in Australian club football history, and his arrival in the harbour city created a media frenzy ahead of version one of the A-League.

Former German World Cup winner Pierre Littbarski was named as head coach and the sky blues were quickly installed as premiership favourites. Sydney’s preparation started in ideal fashion as they won a hastily scheduled pre-season tournament to decide the league’s representatives at the 2005 Oceania Club Championship, which in turn would decide the region’s candidate for the FIFA Club World Championships, held later the same year. Sydney went on to win the OCC and finished 5th at the CWC, which was contested during the A-League’s Christmas break.

The club had a successful run during the regular season, but were forced to settle for a second place finish behind the unfancied Adelaide United. However, Sydney outplayed Adelaide over their two-leg major semi final, which secured them a grand final place. They went on to claim the championship by defeating the Central Coast Mariners 1-0 in the decider, thanks to a second-half goal by Corica. Despite their on-field success, the club were unable to retain coach Littbarski or marquee Yorke for season two, due to budget issues. Littbarski was replaced by former English international Terry Butcher, who proved to be an unpopular choice with Sydney fans and media, largely due to his negative playing tactics. Butcher was let go at season’s end after Sydney had finished the season in fourth place, before bowing out to Newcastle Jets in the minor semi final.

The club signed former Sydney United manager Branko Culina as head coach shortly before starting their 2007 Asian Champions League campaign. The sky blues made an impressive start in their group, but would go on to miss the knockout stages after finishing just a point behind eventually champions Uruwa Red Diamonds from Japan. Former Brazilian international Juninho was unveiled as the club’s marquee player for the 2007-2008 A-League season. But despite his obvious quality on the pitch, he failed to attract the same media interest and crowd numbers as Yorke had two years earlier. Culina was sacked mid-season, following a string of poor results and was replaced by former Adelaide boss John Kosmina. He took Sydney into the finals for a third straight year, but they were again bundled out in the minor semi final, this time at the hands of the Queensland Roar. Kosmina did not enjoy the same success the following season, and – like his predecessors – he was promptly shown the door.

In 2009, Vitezslav Lavicka became the club’s fifth coach in as many years. With a talented squad at his disposal, he guided Sydney to a premiership/championship double, which culminated in a grand final penalty shoot-out win over arch rivals Melbourne Victory last season. However, the departure of several key players in the off-season including Corica, John Aloisi, Simon Colosimo and Karol Kisel has so far seen Lavicka’s side struggle to produce the same results in 2010-2011.

Current Key Players: Alex Brosque, Mark Bridge, Terry McFlynn, Nick Carle, Stuart Musalik.