History of Sydney FC
[2] By February 2005, Sydney had filled 16 of their allowed 20 squad positions – attracting Socceroos Clint Bolton, Steve Corica and David Zdrilic as well as youth internationals Justin Pasfield, Mark Milligan, Wade Oostendorp, Iain Fyfe and Jacob Timpano.
[13] Sydney FC's first competitive match was held against Brisbane Roar at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford as part of an Australian qualifying tournament to enter the 2005 Oceania Club Championship.
Upon reaching the semi-finals, Sydney's unbeaten run finally ended at 11 with Perth Glory midfielder Nick Ward scoring in injury time to inflict the new club's first ever loss.
[15] Sydney FC entered the inaugural A-League season as heavy favourites for the title,[16] and hosted their first league match against Melbourne Victory on 28 August 2005.
Over two legs, they defeated Adelaide 4–3 on aggregate, ensuring a home Grand Final which produced a sell–out crowd of 41,689 (above the stated capacity of Sydney Football Stadium).
The club's administration had spent far more than it had earned over the course of the past two years, and subsequent budget cutbacks included the sale of marquee forward Dwight Yorke, a significantly reduced advertising campaign, and the loss of German coach Pierre Littbarski.
The team's displays on the field were widely reported by Australian sports media to have ranged from showing glimpses of strong form to marked disappointment,[20] and no real challenge for the premiership was mounted.
[21] The Sydney FC squad also suffered through remarkably bad fortune with regards to injuries; at one point, only thirteen players were fit & available on the team sheet, including regular second-choice keeper Justin Pasfield.
For the third Hyundai A-league season, Sydney FC's playing squad retained a majority of players from the previous AFC Champion's League campaign, but was nonetheless altered through activity in the transfer market.
[27] Kosmina got the side off to a flying start under his tenure, winning a clash with table-topping rivals Central Coast in a thrilling 3–2 victory before a crowd of nearly 18,000 at the SFS – a sign of bigger things to come for the Blues.
An entertaining 0–0 draw at the Telstra Dome with rivals Melbourne Victory followed, as Sydney FC – still undefeated under Kosmina – began climbing the competition's ladder.
Marquee player Juninho, who had been in and out of the team all season with various leg and back problems, had been ruled out with a knee injury that he picked up in training, and Ruben Zadkovich was announced as his replacement.
The Roar scored in the 14th minute through their Brazilian import Reinaldo, and Sydney FC was subsequently defeated and knocked out of the running for the 2007/2008 A-league championship and AFC Champions League qualification.
Sydney FC again recruited heavily going into the fourth season of the A-League, with three major signings to the club; Socceroos stars John Aloisi from the Central Coast Mariners and Simon Colosimo from Perth Glory were acquired, along with the only goal scorer in the 2008 grand final, Olyroo Mark Bridge.
The season began with early wins against Perth Glory, the Mariners, and Adelaide United, as well as draws against rivals Melbourne Victory, Queensland Roar, and Newcastle Jets.
This was the first season where the harbour city team had failed to qualify for the finals series, and coach John Kosmina was swiftly, officially sacked on Saturday, 31 January 2009.
Brendon Santalab, Robbie Middleby and Jacob Timpano left, but would reunite at new franchise club North Queensland, whilst Adelaide-born Iain Fyfe headed home to Adelaide United.
Dutch player Bobby Petta and American midfielder Mike Enfield were released by the club, and Dez Giraldi's loan spell finished with a return to the NSWPL.
During the January transfer window, Farina bolstered his defensive stocks with Socceroos captain Lucas Neill and Brazilian Tiago Calvano joining the team.
The pair made zero impact and with a 3–1 loss away from home to Brisbane Roar, Sydney were unable to pick up a vital point that would have seen them play finals football, finishing seventh.
Sydney FC's season began with the highly anticipated match-up against the newly re-branded Melbourne City and guest superstar David Villa.
Sydney FC continued on an eight-game undefeated streak that ended when Perth Glory came from behind to score two goals in the final seven minutes to claim victory at Allianz Stadium.
During this break, Sydney FC were able to bolster their stocks, signing Senegalese internationals (and cousins) Mickaël Tavares and Jacques Faty as injury replacement players.
Despite losing the opening match to Urawa Red Diamonds in Saitama, Sydney managed to upset Guangzhou Evergrande 2–1 at Allianz in front of a crowd of 18,149, with Robert Stambolziev and Miloš Dimitrijević scoring.
Arnold reformed Sydney for the 2016–17 season, beginning with the signings of Socceroos centreback Alex Wilkinson, and leftback Michael Zullo both from Melbourne City.
The Sky Blues went on a successful FFA Cup run in 2017, starting with an 8–0 thumping of Northern Territory amateur side Darwin Rovers, with Bobô scoring a club record 4 goals in the match.
The Sky Blues ran out 5–1 winners, with a brace from Bobô sealing their date with destiny in the 2017 FFA Cup final to play Adelaide United.
Sydney finished their disappointing 2018 campaign in 3rd place, two points behind eventual champions Kashima Antlers, unable to progress to the knockout stage for the second time.
[42] In the semi-final against The City Derby rivals Melbourne Victory Sydney won comprehensibly 5–1 at Campbelltown Stadium, with striker Leena Khamis scoring a brace.
However, Nathan Sherlock, Jared Lum, Luke Austin, Joel Chianese, Blake Powell, Dylan Mitchell were all selected in the senior squad for the 2011 Asian Champions League.
