Sydney FC stalwart Rhyan Grant has been named the club’s new captain ahead of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Preparing to enter his 16th season in Sky Blue, Grant takes over the armband following the departure of Luke Brattan, who left Sydney to join Macarthur FC at the end of last season.
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“This is a massive honour and privilege,” said 33-year-old Grant after head coach Ufuk Talay bestowed the captaincy upon him for the upcoming campaign.
“This is the next step for me in my career and I feel very honoured to be named captain.
He added: “Thank you very much to the staff and to the boys as well for their support in this.”
With 339 matches and 18 goals in all competitions under his belt, Grant already sits clear as Sydney’s all-time leading appearance maker and will soon become the first player in their history to play 300 Isuzu UTE A-League games given he currently sits on 291.
“I think he will honour and cherish that leadership role within the team,” said Talay following his decision to award Grant the captaincy.
“Rhyan embodies the values and the culture of this club and I think he is at a stage of his career where I think he deserves the armband.”
The Sky Blues get their 2024-25 season underway on Tuesday evening when they face NPLM VIC outfit Oakleigh Cannons in the Australia Cup Round of 32, a game which marks their first defence of the trophy they won last year having defeated Brisbane Roar 3-1 in the final.
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After reaching the Semi-Final stage of last season’s Finals Series, Sydney head coach Talay is currently overseeing his first pre-season in charge of the Sky Blues having only taken charge in Round 4 of the previous campaign.
The Sky Blues are likely to field a youthful side during the Australia Cup Round of 32 as Talay and his coaching staff continue to replenish a squad shorn of many of last season’s senior players.
With attacking midfielder Anas Ouahim and goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares their only two recruits so far the Sky Blues are on the look out for replacements for the likes of Robert Mak, Jack Rodwell, Gabriel Lacerda, Fabio Gomes and Brattan – all of whom left the club at the end of last season.
