It’s been 15 years since we first met Adelaide United in a Semi-Final clash, facing the Reds over two legs in 2006 for a spot in the inaugural Grand Final.
Playing the first leg in Adelaide there was nothing to split the sides with two first half goals each seeing the squads travel to Sydney locked at 2-2 on aggregate.
With over 30,000 Members and fans packing out Aussie Stadium, tensions were high, however goals to Sasho Petrovski and Mark Rudan sealed a memorable 2-1 second leg win for the Sky Blues, and a berth in the 2006 Grand Final.
As we prepare for our next Semi-Final instalment against the Reds, let’s look back at where the starting lineup from that second leg clash are at now.
Clint BOLTON (GK):
Voted Sydney FC’s Player of the Year in their inaugural season after helping the club to their 2006 Grand Final win, Bolton enjoyed another four seasons at the club, winning the 2010 Premiership and Championship. He then departed for Melbourne Heart before retiring in 2013 and moving into the club’s administration. Currently Bolton works with Croc Media, calling Melbourne City games, and part time work with the PFA.
Iain FYFE:
Fyfe featured for two more seasons in Sky Blue after claiming the 2006 Championship before moving to Adelaide United in 2009. Two seasons at the Reds saw the centre back earn a move to the K-League, before he returned to Australia for stints in the A-League and then the Iran Pro League before hanging up his boots after five years in the NPL SA. Fyfe is currently amongst the coaching ranks at Campbelltown City in the NPL SA.
Alvin CECCOLI:
After two seasons in Sky Blue, Ceccoli earned a moved to Japan to link up with former Sky Blues’ Head Coach Pierre Littbarski. Following a season in Asia he returned for short spells in Australia with the Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United before moving to Wollongong to be closer to his family. Named in Sydney FC’s Team of the Decade in 2015, Ceccoli currently coaches in the Illawarra Premier League for Albion Park.
Mark RUDAN:
The big blue man spent three seasons at Sydney FC before moving to Japan and later the Swiss Super League. Featuring for Adelaide United for one season before retirement, Rudan moved into punditry whilst coaching NPL NSW sides Rockdale and Sydney United 58. Rudan was named a Sydney FC Hall of Fame Member in 2015, before coaching the Wellington Phoenix in season 2018/19 and most recently Western United for two seasons until 2021.
Matthew BINGLEY:
A goalscorer for the Sky Blues in the 2005 Oceania Club Championship final, Bingley enjoy a successful season at Sydney FC before being released after the 2006 Grand Final. The midfielder returned for eight games as an injury replacement in season 2006/07 before departing to play locally in Newcastle. He is currently Assistant Coach at Blacktown City in the NSW NPL.
Steve CORICA:
Current Head Coach Steve Corica enjoyed a successful spell at the Sky Blues, scoring in the inaugural Grand Final and picking up a Premiership and Championship medal in 2010. Voted into the club’s Hall of Fame in 2015, Corica enjoyed success as the club’s youth team Head Coach and as Assistant Coach to Graham Arnold, before picking up where the current Socceroos boss left off, winning two A-League Championships and a Premiership in his first two seasons in charge of the A-League side.
Sasho PETROVSKI:
A renowned goalscorer during his time at Sydney FC, earning a Socceroos call up off the back of his performances, Petrovski ended his career with stints at the Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets before hanging up his boots following time with the South Coast Wolves. Petrovski currently does security work with Spotless Securities.
David CARNEY:
A fan favourite at the Sky Blues during the 2005/06 and 2006/07 seasons, Carney’s form for the Sky Blues launched the midfielder into an illustrious European and national team career, playing in the English Championship, English Premier League, Dutch Eredivise and at a FIFA World Cup. After a spell back in the A-League with the Newcastle Jets, Carney re-signed for Sydney FC in 2016, becoming a member of the ‘record breakers’ squad, winning two Premierships, a Championship and an FFA Cup before retiring in 2018.
Mark MILLIGAN:
After three seasons in Sky Blue, Milligan became a perennial nemesis of the club during his time at Melbourne Victory, interlaced with spells overseas in China, the UAE, Scotland and England. A regular feature for the Socceroos in World Cups and AFC Asian Cups, Milligan is currently preparing for a Semi-Final clash against Melbourne City this Sunday for A-League new boys Macarthur FC, while he announced earlier this month that he’d be retiring from football after this season.
Dwight YORKE (C):
Bringing the ‘bling’ to Sydney FC for their inaugural A-League season, Yorke played a major part in the Sky Blues’ success in 2005/06, earning the Joe Marston Medal for the best player in the Grand Final before earning a transfer back to England with Sunderland. Yorke ended his time with the Black Cats in 2009, retiring to begin working on his coaching badges. He currently does punditry work for Sky Sports in the UK whilst also working as a Manchester United Ambassador.
Ruben ZADKOVICH:
Zadkovich featured sporadically for the Sky Blues across three seasons before earning a move to Derby County in England in 2008. After struggling with injury during his time in the Championship he returned to the A-League with the Newcastle Jets and later Perth Glory before retiring from football in 2016. Zadkovich moved into coaching in both the Northern NSW NPL and NPL NSW before earning a role as an Assistant Coach at Perth Glory in 2020 where he currently remains.
