Sydney FC has appointed two-time Championship winner Ufuk Talay to be the club’s new Isuzu-UTE A-League Head Coach.
Talay has signed a contract until the end of the 2024/25 season.
He returns to Sydney FC having won the Championship as an inaugural player in 2006 and an assistant coach in 2019.
On leaving the Sky Blues he guided Wellington Phoenix to their best ever A-League finish of third and led the New Zealand club to finals football in three of his four seasons in charge.
His exciting brand of football won many plaudits and his achievements with Wellington, particularly while displaced during Covid, were highly praised.
He remains the Phoenix’s most successful Head Coach.
Since leaving the club in April, Talay has been Socceroos’ Assistant Coach to Graham Arnold.
He joins after assisting in the international fixtures against Mexico, Argentina, England, and New Zealand.
Sydney FC Chairman Scott Barlow said: “I am pleased to announce Ufuk Talay as Head Coach of Sydney FC’s A-League Men’s squad.
“Ufuk is a talented and dynamic coach who will bring his positive, attacking style of football to Sydney FC.
“He has proven he is an astute tactician with excellent player management skills, and he has the ability to bring the best out of our young squad.
“As a former Sydney FC player and coach, Ufuk is well aware of the high expectations and targets we have at the club, and we believe he is the right man to achieve them.”
Talay joined Sydney FC as a player for the 2005/06 season, winning the inaugural Grand Final.
He spent three seasons in Sky Blue following a ten-year spell in Turkey, including seven seasons at European giants Galatasaray.
He expressed his delight at returning to Sky Blue once more.
Talay said: “I’m very happy to be coming back to Sydney FC for a third time, and I can’t wait to start working with the players tomorrow.
“I have won a Championship as a player and as an assistant coach here, and now I want to do it as Head Coach.
“This is Australia’s most successful club, and it matches my own expectations of challenging for league titles every season.
“We have a high-quality group of international calibre players, as well as some extremely talented young players, and I’m excited to see what we can produce.”
As a Sydney FC player Talay made 85 appearances in midfield, scoring 11 goals.
He was also part of the Sydney FC side who won the Oceania Club Championship in 2005.
Ufuk Talay will take the reigns this weekend against Adelaide United and will be on the touchline for his home debut against Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday 25th November at Allianz Stadium.
*Based on points per game / 10 game minimum.
