As Steve Corica fronted the media to unveil Sydney FC’s new international star Robert Mak, the disappointment of 2021-22 reared its head.
For Sydney, it was the first time in six years they had missed the Isuzu UTE A-League Finals Series.
And for head coach Corica, it was unfamiliar territory after three consecutive trips to the Grand Final and two Championships.
It’s something that still burns Corica.
“It was going really nicely,” Corica said on Tuesday.
“Last season was a tough year for everyone. A lot of games, Champions League involved in that but everyone went through it. We just have to be better this season.”
But Slovakia international Mak is part of the solution and at the front of Sydney’s redemption story in 2022-23, which also includes the excitement of opening their new state-of-the-art Allianz Stadium against Melbourne Victory on October 8.
And Corica was bullish when questioned whether Sydney can challenge for the A-League Men title this coming season.
“Definitely,” was his reply.
Mak brings international and European experience to the Sky Blues. Not to mention silverware.
A champion at Russian powerhouse Zenit, 73-time international Mak has signed a two-year contract.
Only three other players have scored more goals for Slovakia than the 31-year-old winger (14).
“I spoke with the two guys from Slovakia and they only said good things about the league, the club,” Mak said in reference to Sky Blues legends and countrymen Karol Kisel and Filip Holosko.
“Obviously the new stadium coming up will be fantastic to play here.
“My decision was really easy when they contacted me to come here.
“Hopefully I will help the team get back to where they are supposed to be, like champions.”
Having emerged from Manchester City’s youth team in 2008, Mak moved to German outfit Nurnberg, where he twice received the Peter Dubovsky Award – a title for the best Under-21 Slovak Footballer of the Year – following his exploits in the Bundesliga over four seasons.
A transfer to Greek powerhouse PAOK followed in 2014 and it resulted in 2017-18 Greek Cup success, and 28 goals in 80 appearances.
He also scored the winning goal in a 1-0 victory at Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League.
“Robert, I’m sure, he is going to light up this league,” Sydney CEO Adam Santo told KEEPUP.
“He is electrically quick. He scores with both feet.
“He is going to be a fan favourite, in the same way Filip was a fan favourite.”
At Zenit, Mak won two Russian Premier Leagues (2018-19 and 2019-2020) and Russian Super Cup (2016 and 2020) before eventually joining Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros in 2020 following a brief stint with Konayspor in Turkey.
In the past two seasons with Ferencvaros, Mak won back-to-back league titles and the Magyar Kupa (Hungarian Cup).
At international, he featured at Euro 2016 and Euro 2020 while winning the 2018 King’s Cup with Slovakia.
“Robert is a class player. We’re very excited,” said Santo.
“He had some other offers which were far more lucrative but ultimately we persuaded him to come down here and we’re very happy he’s done so.”
