Sydney FC midfielder Milos Dimitrijevic has swept the board at the Sky Blue Ball, Sydney FC’s glamorous annual red carpet and Player of the Year awards night.
The Serbian picked up the Hyundai A-League Player of the Year award, the Hyundai A-League Players’ Player of the Year award and the Members’ Player of the Year award – the first time a Sky Blues player has picked up all three voted for awards.
In a night celebrating ten years of Hyundai A-League football, Sydney FC has also named its prestigious ‘Team of the Decade’ tonight.
The team features players who have graced Sky Blues’ squads from 2005 until 2015 and was voted for by Members who chose from a shortlist picked by a panel of experts.
The panel included long serving club officials, football journalists and Members and fans with connections to the club. They delved through all 127 names to provide three players per position to line up in a four-four-two diamond formation.
The Team of the Decade is coached by Premiership and Championship winner Vitezslav Lavicka and captained by Steve Corica and is as follows:
Goalkeeper: Clint Bolton.
Left back: Alvin Ceccoli.
Centre backs: Simon Colosimo, Mark Rudan.
Right back: Sebastian Ryall.
Defensive midfielder: Terry McFlynn.
Left midfielder: Alex Brosque.
Right midfielder: Karol Kisel.
Attacking midfielder: Steve Corica (c).
Striker: Alessandro Del Piero, Marc Janko.
Subs: Vedran Janjetovic, Byun Sung-hwan, Milos Dimitrijevic, Terry Antonis, Dwight Yorke.
Captain of the Team of the Decade, and Hall of Fame Member, Steve Corica, said it was an honour to be named in the squad as he reflected fondly on the 10 years of Hyundai A-League football that he’s seen with the Sky Blues.
“To make the Sydney FC Team of the Decade is a great achievement,” said Corica.
“It’s a proud moment, I love this club and to be voted for by the Members is a recognition I’m very proud of.
“To be named captain as well is something I’m truly humbled by. I’ve had the pleasure of playing with and working with all of the players in this squad and I can say that they are all deserving members of this team and their place in Sydney FC history.”
In a night of awards, Sky Blue midfielder Milos Dimitrijevic was delighted to have picked up a treble of accolades following a stellar 2014/15 season that has seen him become a lynchpin of Head Coach Graham Arnold’s squad.
“I am very pleased to have won these awards,” he said.
“To win such trophies at a big club like Sydney FC is very special and I am glad that I could help the team reach our goals for this season. I would like to thank all of our fantastic Members and fans for their support and it is a big honour to be chosen by them for their Player of the Year.
“Now we must focus on the A-League Finals Series and look to achieve our goal of winning the Grand Final.”
Westfield W-League import Jasmyne Spencer earned the Sydney FC W-League Players’ Player of the Year award following her scintillating form for the Sky Blues that saw her score eight goals in 13 games en-route to the W-League semi-finals while Foxtel National Youth League Golden Boot George Blackwood earned the Sydney FC Youth League Players’ Player of the Year award.
Marc Janko picked up the Sydney FC Golden Boot while long serving Head Physio Stan Ivancic and Equipment Manager Joe Niutta were presented with the Chairman’s Award after ten years of loyal service.
Hosted by Network 10’s Mel McLaughlin and Fox Sports’ Matt Russell the Sky Blue Ball highlighted all the achievements of the Hyundai A-League, Westfield W-League and the Foxtel National Youth League players from the current season.
Entertainment was provided by the winner of the last season of Channel Nine’s hit show The Voice, singer/songwriter Anja Nissen who performed her new single ‘I’m So Excited’ featuring her mentor from the show will.i.am together with Cody Wise.
Sydney FC are next in action in their elimination semi-final on Saturday 9 May at Allianz Stadium (kick off 7:30pm). Purchase your tickets today and cheer your Sky Blues on to the Grand Final.
Sydney FC take on English Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur in a football classic at ANZ Stadium on Saturday 30 May. Purchase your tickets today for this not to be missed football event!
