Double winning Sydney FC Captain Alex Wilkinson will return in Sky Blue for another year after signing a new contract which will take him through to the end of the A-League 2021/22 season.
It will be Wilkinson’s sixth season with the club as he goes looking for a fourth A-League crown.
NEWS: Max Burgess Returns to Sky Blue
NEWS: Sydney FC Thank Departing Players
The 36-year old will lead the Sky Blues again and can’t wait to challenge for trophies on four fronts.
“I’m feeling good and I’m extremely pleased to be captaining this fantastic group of players once more,” he said.
“With the FFA Cup returning and another AFC Champions League campaign to contend with, plus our challenge for more Premiership and Championship titles, it’s going to be a tough and very exciting season,” he said.
“It’s our final season before we head back to our brand new stadium at Moore Park and what better way to return than with four trophies under our belt.”
The defender has missed only three A-League games in five seasons, two of which were the decision of the Head Coach to rest him for Finals, and he was the club’s only player to play every second of last season.
Only MacArthur FC goalkeeper Adam Federici played more minutes (30 mins more) than him across the entire A-League competition, and that was due to the Bulls playing extra time during the Finals series.
Wilkinson has won more Premierships (five) than any player in Australian National League history (since 1977) and also holds the A-League record for most Finals appearances (27) and Grand Final (7) appearances.
Alex is also one of only five players to make 300 appearances in the A-League, despite having missed three seasons playing in Korea, where he won two titles; and next season he is expected to enter the top five of Sydney FC all time appearance makers.
Head Coach Steve Corica praised Wilkinson’s ability and desire to win.
“He’s one of the best professionals and best players this country has ever produced,” he said.
“We are very fortunate to have Wilko and our success in recent times has been in no small part down to him.
“He is showing no sign of slowing down and started every game last season.
“His performances will be key in leading our club to more success next season and I’m delighted he is returning.”
Wilkinson is one of a number of players to confirm their futures with the club in recent days.
Sydney FC has 20 contracted players ahead of the A-League 2021/22 season.
Sydney FC Contracted A-League Squad 2021/22 Season
1. ANDREW REDMAYNE
3. BENJAMIN WARLAND
4. ALEX WILKINSON
7. MICHAEL ZULLO
8. PAULO RETRE
10. MILOS NINKOVIC
11. KOSTA BARBAROUSES
16. JOEL KING
17. ANTHONY CACERES
18. LUKE IVANOVIC
21. HARRY VAN DER SAAG
23. RHYAN GRANT
25. CALLUM TALBOT
26. LUKE BRATTAN
28. CALEM NIEUWENHOF
29. ANTON MLINARIC
30. ADAM PAVLESIC (GK)
33. PATRICK WOOD
99. ADAM LE FONDRE
TBC. MAX BURGESS
