Sydney FC has been given a massive boost ahead of the new Hyundai A-League season, re-signing striker Alex Brosque for a further three seasons.
Brosque, who was entering the final year of his current deal with the Hyundai A-League champions, has opted to sign a contract extension that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2013/14 season.
The 26-year-old has been one of Sydney’s leading players over the last couple of seasons and played an instrumental role in the club’s double-winning campaign last season.
Brosque was also named as one of two vice-captain of the club alongside veteran defender Hayden Foxe, with Northern Irish midfielder Terry McFlynn to lead Sydney for the upcoming season.
Speaking at the club’s season launch on Thursday, Brosque said it was a simple decision to remain at the club.
“I feel really settled here, we’ve got a great bunch of players and the coaching staff has been sensational,” Brosque told Sportal.
“I’ve been here a number of years now and we’ve got a lot of younger players now so I see myself as a bit of a leader.”
“To remain at the club for as long as I will is a huge honour and hopefully we can have a lot more success.”
It will be very much a new-look Sydney side that will take the field for the Hyundai A-League kick off with Simon Colosimo, John Aloisi, Clint Bolton (all Melbourne Heart), Steve Corica (retired) and Karol Kisel (released) all no longer part of the squad.
But coach Vitezslav Lavicka has managed to recruit the likes of Qantas Socceroos Nicky Carle and Scott Jamieson, as well as experienced keeper Liam Reddy with another striker high on his list of priorities.
While admitting the Sky Blues have lost a wealth of experience, Brosque is confident the team has the quality to become the first club to win back-to-back Hyundai A-League titles.
“We’ve recruited well and the coaching staff has really made a point of having a strong enough team to back it up this year,” he said.
“It’s one thing to win it but we know how hard it is to back it up.”
“No one’s done it yet, everyone’s out there to try and knock us off but with the squad that we’ve assembled we can definitely do it again.”
Sydney begins its pre-season Festival of Football tournament against Greek side AEK Athens on Sunday before further matches against Rangers and Blackburn.
The Sky Blues then face Melbourne Victory in their Hyundai A-League season opener at SFS on Saturday August 7.
