Sydney FC star Rhyan Grant said he could not picture himself playing elsewhere after signing a two-year contract extension.
Grant’s new deal will see Sydney’s record appearance maker complete 18 seasons with the Isuzu UTE A-League club.
The 33-year-old has spent his entire career with the Sky Blues, having emerged from the youth team to debut in 2008, winning four Championships and three Premierships since.
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“It’s a great feeling to be re-signing,” Grant said. “As you get older, you question if you’re good enough and if the club wants you.
“I’ve got a family too and you’ve got to weigh up a lot of options, but my priority was always to stay in Sydney; and if the club were happy to have me, I couldn’t see myself going anywhere else.”
Grant has made 328 appearances across all competitions for Sydney, scoring 18 goals.
The 21-time Socceroo scored in last week’s derby triumph away to Western Sydney Wanderers while wearing the captain’s armband.
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“This contract will take me to 35, so I’ll have to see how the body feels,” Grant said when discussing retirement.
“Hopefully, I can play for a couple of years afterwards, but I definitely want to retire a one-club man.
“By the time this contract ends, it’ll be 18 years with the club, so I’d like to think I could stay for the rest of my career.
“But that’s a long time away, and we’ll have to see how that plays out.”
Grant has played 18 A-Leagues matches this season, scoring a joint career-high three goals amid Sydney’s resurgence under head coach Ufuk Talay.
Talay has transformed the Sky Blues, implementing an aggressive pressing style that has catapulted the club up to fifth in the standings, just two points behind third-placed Macarthur FC with a game in hand.
“We’ve been doing really well and playing some good football, which has gone hand-in-hand [with the goalscoring],” Grant said.
“How we play suits my game, where you can be on the front foot and on the throat of the opposition.
“I love the way we are playing and the vision for the club is a major factor of why I wanted to stay.”
Meanwhile, Talay added: “Rhyan embodies passion, excellence, respect, and team-work which is much of what Sydney FC is all about.
“His performances and attitude have been integral to us this season and in all of his previous 15 years at Sydney FC.
“He is showing great maturity in the way he plays, and he will continue to perform an integral leadership role within our club, helping to bring through the next generation of stars.”
