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| Full name | Sydney Football Club[1][2] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Sky Blues | |||
| Founded | 1 November 2004 | |||
| Ground | Allianz Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 42,500 | |||
| Chairman | Scott Barlow | |||
| Manager | Ufuk Talay | |||
| League | A-League Men | |||
| 2023–24 | 4th of 12 | |||
| Website | Club website | |||
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Sydney Football Club is an Australian professional soccer club based in Sydney, New South Wales. It competes in the country's premier men's competition, A-League Men, under licence from Australian Professional Leagues (APL).[3] The club was founded in 2004 and entered the A-League as one of the eight original teams for the inaugural 2005–06 season.
Sydney FC is the most successful professional soccer club in Australia. The Sky Blues have won five A-League Men Championships, four A-League Men Premierships, two Australia Cup titles and one OFC Champions League title. The club has also appeared in the AFC Champions League on seven occasions, making the Round of 16 in 2016. The club experienced its most successful period from 2016 to 2020, when Graham Arnold and Steve Corica led the club to a combined three Championships and three Premierships, as well as an Australia Cup.
Before the 2018–19 season, the club's home ground was Allianz Stadium in Moore Park. When the NSW Government announced that the stadium would be redeveloped in the lead up to the 2019 New South Wales state election, Sydney FC played its home matches at the neighbouring Sydney Cricket Ground, along with the suburban Jubilee Oval and Leichhardt Oval grounds. In October 2022, the club returned to the newly built Allianz Stadium in Moore Park.[4] The clubs training and administration facility in North Ryde, known as Sky Park, was completed in 2023.[5][6]
As the only A-League team in the city for the first seven years of its existence, the club's fans hail from all across the Sydney Metropolitan Area.[7] Sydney's main supporter group is known as 'The Cove', named after the original title given to the colonial settlement of Sydney, Sydney Cove. The club has rivalries with Melbourne Victory, known as The Big Blue, and the Western Sydney Wanderers, named the Sydney Derby. Alex Brosque is the club's all time top goal scorer, having scored 83 goals. Rhyan Grant has the most appearances for the club, having played 339 games.
History[edit]
2004–2009: early years[edit]
The first steps towards the foundation of Sydney FC were taken in April 2004 when Soccer New South Wales (now Football NSW) announced its intention to bid for a licence in the new A-League competition.[8] The bid was lodged with the Australian Soccer Association (now Football Australia) on 19 July, challenged only by a consortium headed by Nick Politis, known as the "Sydney Blues",[9] for Sydney's place in the 'one team per city' competition.[10] A public row broke out between the two bidders after reports that the ASA were set to vote in favour of Sydney FC,[11] causing Politis to withdraw his support for a team,[12] and leaving Sydney FC as the only candidate remaining.
Sydney FC was officially launched as a member of the new 8-team A-League on 1 November 2004, with a 25% stake in the club held by Soccer NSW, the remainder privately owned.[13] Walter Bugno was announced as the inaugural chairman of the club. On 11 December 2004, Soccer NSW announced that it would pull out of its involvement with Sydney FC amid concerns over part owner Frank Lowy's autocratic style in establishing the club and lack of consultation with Soccer NSW on key Sydney FC issues. These included the choice of the Sydney Football Stadium over Parramatta Stadium as the team's home ground, and the erosion of Soccer NSW's initial 100 per cent involvement to just 25 per cent.[14]
By February 2005, Sydney FC had filled 16 of its allowed 20 squad positions—attracting Socceroos Alvin Ceccoli, Clint Bolton, Steve Corica and David Zdrilic as well as youth internationals Justin Pasfield, Mark Milligan, Wade Oostendorp, Iain Fyfe and Jacob Timpano.[15] German Pierre Littbarski was signed as head coach, assisted by former Norwich City player Ian Crook. Sydney FC played its first ever match against Manly United on 25 March 2005, winning 6–1.[16] Shortly after, Sydney FC set off on a tour to the United Arab Emirates to play against local teams FC Hatta, Al Ain and Al Jazira, winning all three.[17][18][19] While in Dubai, Sydney FC announced that it had agreed to terms with former Manchester United player Dwight Yorke as the club's "marquee player"– one paid outside of the $1.5million salary cap— for two seasons.[20]
Sydney FC's first competitive match was against Queensland Roar at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford as part of the 2005 Australian Club World Championship Qualifying Tournament. After winning 3–0, Sydney went on to defeat Perth Glory and Central Coast Mariners to qualify for the 2005 Oceania Club Championship, held in Tahiti. Despite an early scare against New Zealand club Auckland City,[21] Sydney FC won all of its matches and qualified for the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship in Japan. The start of the 2005 A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup marked Sydney FC's first match at Allianz Stadium, as well as Dwight Yorke's first appearance for the club. Yorke scored the first goal of Sydney FC's 3–1 win which stretched its unbeaten run to 9 competitive matches (15 including friendlies). Upon reaching the semi-finals, Sydney's unbeaten run finally ended at 11 with Perth Glory midfielder Nick Ward scoring in injury time to inflict the new club's first ever loss.[22]
Sydney FC's first season was ultimately a success. Finishing second behind Adelaide United they went on to defeat Central Coast Mariners 1–0 in the 2006 A-League Grand Final with Steve Corica scoring in the second half of the game. However, the club's success wouldn't last long, with German manager Pierre Littbarski leaving the club after refusing to accept a lower salary[23] and inaugural marquee player Dwight Yorke being signed by Premier League club Sunderland.[24] Former English international Terry Butcher was signed as Sydney FC's new coach for 2006–07.[25] However it was regarded as an overall failure, with Sydney playing poorly despite the signing of Alex Brosque and Benito Carbone as a Guest player. Sydney also had 3 points deducted during the season, after it was found that they had breached the Salary cap, involving player David Zdrillic.[26] Despite the off field problems, Sydney managed to scrape into the finals series, however they lost in the semi-final to Newcastle Jets. Although Butcher led the club into the finals, Sydney fans were unhappy with his tactics. In the end Butcher and Sydney FC went their separate ways at the end of the season.[27] Sydney FC would go on to sign Branko Čulina for its 2007 AFC Champions League campaign, where they finished second in the group, one point behind ultimate champions and J-League heavyweights Urawa Red Diamonds. Despite the ACL success, Sydney FC's start to the 2007–08 season was poor, and the club sacked him, replacing him with former Adelaide United manager John Kosmina.[28] Sydney FC played well for the rest of the season but were knocked out in the finals by Brisbane Roar. Kosmina couldn't repeat the success of the previous season, replacing Brazilian international Juninho with Socceroos hero John Aloisi on a million dollar contract.[29] The club also unveiled Newcastle Jets championship winners Mark Bridge and Stuart Musialik as well as Socceroo Simon Colosimo for the 2008–09 season.[29][30] The season did not live up to expectations even with these key signings. Aloisi didn't perform very well during the season and came under heavy fire. So too did manager Kosmina, whose tactics were seen as controversial. His relationship with the media often became angry and frustrated which didn't help causes. Many players fell out of favour with the coach, including Steve Corica and Clint Bolton.[31] For the first time in the club's history, they failed to make the Finals. As a result Kosmina was fired when Russian billionaire David Traktovenko became owner in March 2009.
2009–2012: Lavicka tenure[edit]
The fresh change at the club was about to bear fruit, when Sydney announced they had signed Czech Republic manager Vítězslav Lavička.[32] Lavicka completely changed the structure of the club, and for its first time turning it into a serious, European style soccer club. He kept faith in Steve Corica and John Aloisi and several others who had threatened to walk out, and as a result, Sydney FC won its first premiership. Sydney made it to the Grand Final of the fifth season of the A-League after defeating Wellington Phoenix in the preliminary final. The Grand Final was played against Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. Sydney took the lead after 61 minutes through a Mark Bridge header, just seconds after Melbourne had a goal disallowed for offside. Melbourne equalised through Adrian Leijer in the 81st minute, and the game went to a penalty shootout with no goals scored in extra time. Melbourne skipper Kevin Muscat missed his penalty, with his shot hitting the post. Sydney FC won the Grand Final 4–2 on penalties which handed the club its second Hyundai A-League Championship.
Sydney FC's title defence did not go smoothly. The club lost key players from its championship-winning side including Steve Corica (retired),[33] Karol Kisel (return to Europe),[34] Simon Colosimo,[35] John Aloisi,[36] and Clint Bolton[37] (all Melbourne Heart). The club however picked up the services of former Socceroo Nick Carle from his stint in England with Crystal Palace. This wasn't enough to steer the team in the right direction. The club was winless for the first ten rounds of the competition. Sydney FC managed to pick up a few points over the next few rounds but another five-game losing streak ensured they would not qualify for the finals competition, finishing ninth. The third season under Lavicka began with the major signing of Blackburn Rovers player Brett Emerton on a three-year deal.[38] The signing was significant in that Emerton became the first player to directly exchange the FA Premier League for the A-League by terminating his Rovers contract one year early.[39] The season however, only provided minimal success as the club scraped through to the finals series with a 3–2 win over Newcastle Jets in the final round of the regular season. Before the end of the season the club announced that head coach Lavicka's contract would not be renewed for the following season.[40][41]
2012–2014: Farina reign[edit]
"This is huge for Sydney FC, huge for the A-League and huge for Australian football [sic]. We feel honoured that Alessandro has decided to play for Sydney FC and we share his excitement that a move to Sydney FC will create a lasting legacy for football in this country."
—Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow, The Sydney Morning Herald
The 2012–13 season was one of high drama. There was a new head coach Ian Crook[42] and a high turnover of players in the off season. The expectations changed from a year of rebuilding to title contenders when the club acquired the services of international superstar Alessandro Del Piero.[43][44] He signed on for $2 million per year and became the highest-paid player ever in the A-League.[45]
After only six weeks into the regular season Sydney were forced to find a new coach with the shock resignation of Crook. He cited the role was "a constant burden" and was adversely affecting his health.[46][47] Frank Farina was confirmed as Crook's successor for the season two games into Steve Corica's interim spell.[48] During the January transfer window, Farina bolstered his defensive stocks with Socceroos captain Lucas Neill[49][50] and Brazilian Tiago Calvano[51] joining the team. The pair made nil significant impact and with a 3–1 loss away from home to Brisbane Roar, Sydney were unable to pick up a vital point that would have seen them play in the finals, finishing seventh.
For the 2013–14 pre season, the club became the first club in A-League history to tour in Europe, as Sydney toured in Venice, Italy, where the club played against Del Piero's first professional club, Padova, Udinese Calcio, Vicenza Calcio, A.S. Cittadella, Venezia and Reggiana.[52][53] Sydney won half of these six games however upon returning home lost five consecutive friendly games in the lead up to the season proper. Two-thirds of the way into the season and with Sydney FC only accumulating 4 points from 8 games, fans began to express concerns over the vision for the club. Banners at the club's home game against Adelaide included sentiments like "We want Farina gone."[54] There was also a mass exodus from the club's active supporter group, The Cove.[55] The club then held a fan forum to receive questions and communicate the direction of the club.[56] During the last nine rounds, Sydney FC only lost two games making the finals. The club lost to Melbourne Victory in the first week of the finals. This marked the end of the Frank Farina reign.[57][58]
2014–2018: Arnold era[edit]
