Hyundai A-League Champions Sydney FC has boosted its squad for the 2019-20 season with signing of two talented young players.
22-year old centre-half Patrick Flottmann returns to the club after a season spent playing in Thailand.
Flottmann was a member of the Sky Blues 2018 AFC Champions League squad having progressed through the club’s Academy ranks and returns to sign his first Hyundai A-League contract, keeping him at the club for the next two years.
Midfielder Chris Zuvela has re-signed for two more seasons after missing most of last year’s Championship winning campaign with an ACL knee injury.
The 22-year old Academy product has made seven appearances for the club after making his debut alongside Flottmann in the 8-0 FFA Cup win in Darwin two years ago.
Zuvela has never lost a game for Sydney FC and put in strong performances away to eventual Champions Kashima Antlers (1-1) and Suwon Bluewings (4-1) during the 2018 AFC Champions League campaign.
Head Coach Steve Corica believes both can have a big impact this season.
“We’ve kept an eye on Patrick since he left the club and have been very impressed with the way he has developed overseas.
“We are delighted to be able to bring him back and I expect him to be fighting for a starting position which gives us great squad depth.
“Chris was showing extreme promise before injury curtailed his season last year.
“He is definitely someone we see as having a big future here.
“He has worked very hard to come back and is looking good.
“I expect him to give me some real headaches when selecting our midfielders this season and he will come into contention for a starting role.”
On his return Flottman said: “I’m extremely excited to be coming back to play for my home club.
“Heading overseas has given me invaluable experience of playing first team football week in, week out and I can’t wait for the challenge of the Hyundai A-League this season.”
Zuvela says the fans will see the best of him once he returns.
“I felt I was starting to find my feet at this level before my injury at the start of last season which was frustrating,” he said.
“But I’ve put in a lot of hard work over the past nine months to get to this point and I’m looking forward to feeling it pay off once I fully return.”
Both players were involved in Sydney FC’s National Youth League and National Premier League Men’s 2 Championships under then Coach Rob Stanton in 2016.
Flottmann will come into contention for tomorrow night’s game against St George FA at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium and will head to China with the squad to face PSG next week.
Zuvela will continue his rehabilitation from his knee injury and is expected to be back in contention shortly after the start of the season.
Sydney FC Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Squad List
1. ANDREW REDMAYNE
2. PATRICK FLOTTMANN
3. BENJAMIN WARLAND
4. ALEX WILKINSON
5. ALEX BAUMJOHANN
6. RYAN McGOWAN
7. MICHAEL ZULLO
8. PAULO RETRE
9. ADAM LE FONDRE
10. MILOS NINKOVIC
11. KOSTA BARBAROUSES
12. TRENT BUHAGIAR
13. BRANDON O’NEILL
16. JOEL KING
17. ANTHONY CACERES
18. LUKE IVANOVIC
19. CHRIS ZUVELA
20. TOM HEWARD-BELLE (GK)
23. RHYAN GRANT
26. LUKE BRATTAN
Sydney FC’s pre-season fixtures (all kick off times AEST):
- Tuesday, 23rd July vs St George City FA at Jubilee Stadium (H), kick off 7:30pm.
- Tuesday, 30th July vs Paris Saint-Germain at Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre (A), China, kick off 10:00pm.
- Wednesday, 7th August vs Brisbane Roar at Leichhardt Oval (H), kick off 7:30pm. (Round of 32 FFA Cup)
- Wednesday, 14th August vs Wollongong Wolves at WIN Stadium, Wollongong (A), kick off 7pm.
- Saturday 21st September vs Newcastle Jets at Apex Oval, Dubbo (A), kick off 3pm.
