From the brilliance of Alex Brosque to the finesse of Adam Le Fondre – Sky Blues supporters have been treated to many Sydney Derby heroes over the fixture’s ten-year history.
Since the fixture’s inception in 2012, Sydney FC have beaten the Western Sydney Wanderers in the derby fourteen times – six more than their crosstown rivals.
The Sky Blues also boast the fixture’s most successive wins (5), longest undefeated run (9 games) and most goals (48) – treating Sydney fans to some of the best players and coaches in derby history.
Alex Brosque
When searching for Sydney Derby heroes, look no further than Sky Blues legend Alex Brosque.
The former Sydney FC captain, who won seven trophies with the club, is the all-time top scorer in the derby, netting six times against the arch-rivals.
The attacking midfielder scored in comprehensive 4-0 and 5-0 wins away at Stadium Australia, but Sydney’s all-time leading goalscorer had his best derby moment in a stunning 3-2 comeback victory at Allianz Stadium in 2014 – scoring the winner in front of the Cove.
Graham Arnold
As influential as anyone in Australian football’s biggest fixture, Socceroos coach Graham Arnold holds the greatest derby record as a head coach.
Throughout his four-year tenure at Sydney FC from 2014-2018, Arnold only ever lost one match against the Wanderers – winning seven and drawing four to make up a 58% win rate – the best as a coach in the fixture’s history.
The decorated gaffer, who won an A-League Championship and two Premierships with Sydney, holds the longest unbeaten run as a coach in the derby – going undefeated for eight games between 2014-2017.
Arnold was also Head Coach for record-breaking 4-0 and 5-0 away wins against the Wanderers at Sydney Olympic Park in 2016 and 2017.
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Shane Smeltz
The former New Zealand international notched up 49 appearances for Sydney FC and scored 12 goals – but none more important than his last minute winner in the derby back in 2016.
The score was locked at 1-1 in Parramatta and the Wanderers were bombarding the Sky Blues goal in an effort to go ahead.
But substitute Smeltz popped up in the 90th minute to belt home the winner for the Sky Blues against the run of play.
Adrian Mierzejewski
The former Polish international was prolific in his short spell at the Sky Blues – netting 14 times in just 32 matches – with 4 of those goals coming against the Wanderers.
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The attacking midfielder scored back-to-back braces against Western Sydney in a 5-0 away win at Stadium Australia and a 3-1 victory at Allianz across 2017 and 2018.
The Pole scored two stunning free-kicks across both fixtures and remains joint-third top scorer in the derby alongside Adam Le Fondre.
Adam Le Fondre
The current Sydney FC number 9 has enjoyed his fair share of derby delight – netting four times against the Wanderers and under important circumstances.
Le Fondre sealed a 3-0 away victory out west at Penrith Stadium to send the Sky Blues to the FFA Cup Final in 2018.
Fast-forward to 2022, the Englishman grabbed a scrumptious opening goal in a 3-2 win at Kogarah the last time the two sides met.
A fixture full of Sky Blue heroics in the past – the first instalment of the Sydney Derby at the new Allianz Stadium on Saturday promises to be another cracker – kick-off 7:45pm.
