Former Wellington Phoenix boss Ufuk Talay has been announced as Steve Corica’s replacement at Sydney FC.
Talay, 47, has penned a contract until the end of the 2024-25 season.
Talay had been a free agent since departing Wellington Phoenix at the end of last season, but now returns to the Isuzu UTE A-League with the club where he made 85 appearances, scored 11 goals and won a Championship as a player, and also claimed a title as assistant coach.
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He guided the Nix to their best ever finish of third and secured finals football in three of his four seasons at the helm of the New Zealand club.
Most recently, he acted as assistant to Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold for international fixtures against Mexico, Argentina, England and New Zealand.
“I am pleased to announce Ufuk Talay as Head Coach of Sydney FC’s A-League Men’s squad,” Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow said.
“Ufuk is a talented and dynamic coach who will bring his positive, attacking style of football to Sydney FC.
“He has proven he is an astute tactician with excellent player management skills, and he has the ability to bring the best out of our young squad.
“As a former Sydney FC player and coach, Ufuk is well aware of the high expectations and targets we have at the club, and we believe he is the right man to achieve them.”
Talay joined the Sky Blues as a player for the inaugural 2005-06 season of the Isuzu UTE A-League and was part of a squad that won the Championship that season.
In 2019, he returned to the club as an assistant coach under Corica, who departed this week after a remarkable 19 years involved with Sydney FC in a range of capacities.
“I’m very happy to be coming back to Sydney FC for a third time, and I can’t wait to start working with the players tomorrow,” Talay said.
“I have won a Championship as a player and as an assistant coach here, and now I want to do it as Head Coach.
“This is Australia’s most successful club, and it matches my own expectations of challenging for league titles every season.
“We have a high-quality group of international calibre players, as well as some extremely talented young players, and I’m excited to see what we can produce.”
