When it comes to foreign Isuzu UTE A-League signings, especially in recent times, Sydney FC’s Joe Lolley is clearly one of the success stories.
Lolley swapped EFL Championship outfit Nottingham Forest – now taking the Premier League by storm in 2024-25 – for the Harbour City two years ago and the Englishman has not looked back.
After his match-winning two-goal haul in Sydney’s 3-0 Big Blue triumph over 10-man Melbourne Victory on Saturday night, the 32-year-old attacker has now scored 22 A-Leagues goals since arriving in 2022-23 having bagged four so far this term.
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Since moving to Australia, only all-time leading goalscorer Jamie Maclaren (39) – now playing for Mohun Bagan in India – has managed more goals and assists than Lolley (36).
“There are some players that come from the UK that you go this is sort of like you’ve come to us to have a bit of sun and have a nice time. But he’s made a real life choice there, and he is a really talented player,” A-Leagues Download host Max Rushden started by saying on this week’s episode.
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A-Leagues great Archie Thompson added: “He’s incredible.
“I think Sydney FC when they do attract, I think of (Adam) Le Fondre. When he came he was so exciting for Sydney FC and scored loads of goals. You probably would say that he could easily have just stayed longer, I think he was in the Championship at the time.
“Sometimes it’s just maybe as a footballer you want to look at different experiences, maybe an opportunity to go over to a country where it’s great weather. You’re probably thinking that too, football be okay, I can have a bit of longevity possibly. You might have been offered a good contract.
“I think of Joe Lolley, he’s just an excitement machine. I’m so glad that he’s getting his body right. He played in a position that was unfamiliar, as the number nine. He said after that game in an interview, he hadn’t played a number nine role for over 10 years.
“He was great. That second goal that you you talked about with that great delivery. I watched his movement there. He sort of paused a little bit, and it was like a perfect number nine run, where he went at the back of the defender in between and met the ball perfectly. Could have had four goals.”
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