Sydney FC’s latest signing Lucas Neill says he’ll be doing all he can to help the club make the Finals Series and challenge for the A-League Championship.
Sydney FC-s latest signing Lucas Neill says he-ll be doing all he can to help the club make the Finals Series and challenge for the A-League Championship.
The Socceroos captain is eager to get involved and help drive the club towards success this season.
“When the opportunity became very real to join Sydney it was a difficult decision but an easy one from a family point of view, and being born in Sydney and raised in Sydney,” he said.
“It-s exciting times at Sydney FC. I-ll bring hunger, it-s a short period of time so whatever impact I can make I-m excited by.
“It feels good, there-s already a belief and a confidence within the group and hopefully I can add some more,” he said at his arrival press conference on Sunday.
“I-ve not come here just to make up the numbers. I want to push for Sydney to get into the play offs and from there anything is possible.”
Sydney FC coach Frank Farina is delighted to bring Neill to the club having worked many times with him while coach of the Socceroos.
“When you-ve got the national team captain in your city and he is from your city, it was really a no brainer that we were going to try and get him,” said Farina.
“It-s fantastic to have Lucas as part of our team and I-m sure he can bring something extra to us in terms of our battle to make the top six.
“Apart from being a good defender, he-s a good leader, a good talker, a good organiser and he-s the Socceroo captain. All those attributes are what I looked at when the opportunity came along to sign Lucas and he will be a massive boos t for us.
The centre half will come into contention to face the team he almost joined, Melbourne Heart, next Sunday when the Sky Blues travel to AAMI Park.
“I wouldn-t sign the Socceroo captain if he wasn-t going to play,” said Frank. “We haven-t got him here for his looks, he-s here to play and to give this team something.”
The first chance to see Socceroos captain Lucas Neill in action in Sydney will be at the Allianz Stadium against the current league leaders Central Coast Mariners on Saturday 9th March (kick off 5.30pm) when Sydney will look to make it six wins in a row at home. Tickets are available by clicking here from Ticketek.