Hyundai A-League 2010 Champions Sydney FC today signed one of Australia’s most outstanding football talents with 16-year-old Terry Antonis joining the Sky Blues on a three year contract.
Hyundai A-League 2010 Champions Sydney FC today signed one of Australia-s most outstanding football talents with 16-year-old Terry Antonis joining the Sky Blues on a three year contract.
Regarded as a future national team star and possessing ball handling skills well beyond his years, Antonis will be a contracted Sydney FC National Youth League (NYL) player.
From Bankstown in Sydney-s South West, Antonis, whose junior clubs include Sydney Olympic and Marconi, spent last season playing for the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).
Courted by some of the world-s biggest clubs, Antonis said it was always a dream of his to play for Sydney FC and he couldn-t be happier now that it is reality.
“It is great and I am really happy about joining Sydney FC. They are very professional and honest. The facilities here are really good and the coaching and club staff has been great to me already,” Antonis said.
“I want to thank my Mum and Dad, Peter and Anna, and my brother and sister George and Dimity for supporting me through everything and helping me get here. And also to my previous coaches who I have learnt a lot from since very early on.
“Developing my game further is the most important thing and I feel I can do that the best here. I learnt a lot whilst I was at the AIS and playing against some of the best young players around really helped.
“We play Everton this Saturday so it doesn-t get much bigger than that and I hope to get on and play. Sydney is the A-League champions, has the Asian Champions League later next year and some big games in the preseason. It is very exciting to be this young and be involved in that.”
Antonis becomes the fourth player to be officially unveiled by Sydney FC this preseason – all of which are Sydney juniors.
“It is great that we have been able to secure the services of a player so highly regarded as Terry,” Vice Chairman Scott Barlow said. “It is a testament to the club, the coaching staff, the facilities we have and the clear pathway that Sydney FC provides for young players such as Terry.
“We have the coaching and medical staff, the right football philosophy and the right set-up to nurture the talents of Terry and provide him with what he needs and to develop him.
“We added three experienced players in the offseason, all of whom are Sydney boys, and have now added a 16-year-old talent Sydney junior, which fits right in with our focus on youth development.”
Antonis played for Sydney FC against the Macarthur Rams less than two weeks ago and turned in a stellar performance, highlighted by a number of brilliant individual runs and passing movements.
He will commence training with the club-s A-League squad this morning and will do so for the remainder of the year.
Terry Antonis
DOB: 26 November 1993
Place of birth: Bankstown, Sydney
Clubs:
Sydney Olympic
Marconi Stallions
Australian Institute of Sport
Sydney FC
