Sydney FC season 2006-07

Infobox Football club season
club = Sydney FC

season = 2006-2007
manager = Terry Butcher, Branko Čulina
chairman = Walter Bugno, George Perry
league = A-League
league result = 4th (league), 4th (finals)
cup1 = A-League Preseason Challenge Cup
cup1 result = 3rd
cup2 = AFC Champions League
cup2 result = Group stage (2nd)
league topscorer = Sasho Petrovski (5 goals)
season topscorer = Sasho Petrovski (8 goals)
highest attendance = 21,122 (v Newcastle United Jets, 26 January 2007)
lowest attendance = 9,871 (v New Zealand Knights, 10 November 2006)

The 2006–07 season is Sydney FC's second season of football (soccer) in Australia. Sydney FC contested in the 2006–07 A-League, and after winning the inaugural A-League Championship in 2005–06, competed in the 2007 AFC Champions League as one of Australia's two representatives.

Pre-Season

After winning the A-League Championship in his first season with the club, head coach Pierre Littbarski signalled his intentions to remain with Sydney FC for the following season in April, whilst the club indicated that an "in-principle agreement" with Littbarski had been finalised. [cite web | date = April 13, 2006 | title = Littbarski extends Sydney FC contract | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Littbarski-extends-Sydney-FC-contract/2006/04/13/1144521454394.html | work = The Age | accessmonthday = December 24 | accessyear = 2006] In May 2006 however, it was revealed that Littbarski would not accept an estimated A$250,000 pay cut to his original contract and thus decided to leave Sydney FC. [cite web | date = May 3, 2006 | title = Littbarski walks | url = http://www.theworldgame.com.au/home/index.php?pid=st&cid=70407 | work = The World Game | accessmonthday = December 24 | accessyear = 2006] Two months later, Sydney announced that they had agreed to terms with Motherwell F.C. manager and former England international Terry Butcher, who would sign a two-year deal. [cite web | date = May 17, 2006 | title = Butcher signs two year contract with Sydney FC | url = http://www.sydneyfc.com/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3926 | accessmonthday = December 24 | accessyear = 2006]

During the off-season, Sydney released Andrew Packer from the final year of his contract for him to return to his home state to play for Queensland Roar,cite web | date = March 23, 2006 | title = Sydney FC releases Packer for family reasons | url = http://www.sydneyfc.com/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3926 | accessmonthday = December 24 | accessyear = 2006] whilst signing Alex Brosque (Queensland – 3 years)cite web | date = February 11, 2006 | title = Brosque confirms Sydney move | url = http://www.qldroar.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3337 | accessmonthday = December 24 | accessyear = 2006] and Jeremy Brockie (New Zealand – 2 years).cite web | date = March 16, 2006 | title = Kiwi Jeremy Brockie signs two year Sydney FC deal | url = http://www.sydneyfc.com/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3675 | accessmonthday = December 24 | accessyear = 2006] 19-year-old Ruben Zadkovich, who was signed as short-term cover for Ufuk Talay late in the 2005–06 season, also upgraded to a two-year full-time contract with Sydney.cite web | date = March 5, 2006 | title = Zadkovich inks two year Sydney FC deal | url = http://www.sydneyfc.com/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3597 | accessmonthday = December 24 | accessyear = 2006] Matthew Bingley was released from the squad due to salary cap restrictions.

A-League

Pre-Season Challenge Cup

Group stage

The group stage of the A-League pre-season cup saw Sydney drawn with Queensland Roar FC, Newcastle United Jets and the New Zealand Knights, whilst in the "bonus round" they would face Perth Glory. Sydney decided to host their two "home" matches during the group stage in Canberra (vs Newcastle) and Wollongong (vs Perth), as well as a match in Campbelltown in the final rounds of the competition. [cite web | date= May 26 | year = 2006 | title = Sydney FC to play in Canberra and Wollongong | url = http://www.sydneyfc.com/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3980 | accessmonthday = December 24 | accessyear = 2006] Sydney's first match for 2006–07 was against Queensland, and featured the debut of former Queensland player Alex Brosque, as well as Nikolai Topor-Stanley, a short-term signing to cover injury to defender Jacob Timpano. Brosque scored the winning goal for Sydney against his old club with three minutes remaining. Sydney went to the top of the group with a 2-1 win over Newcastle, Topor-Stanley scoring just three minutes into his debut starting appearance, and the Jets' only goal coming from Sydney player Terry McFlynn. A scoreless draw away to New Zealand sealed Sydney's place in the semi-finals, [cite web | date = July 29, 2006 | title = Sydney FC qualifies for semis after 0-0 draw | url = http://www.sydneyfc.com/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=4417 | accessmonthday = December 24 | accessyear = 2006] with the "bonus round" against Perth Glory still to play. Sydney won the match 3-0, picking up two bonus points and easily finishing on top of Group B with 12 points to each other teams' three.

Results

footballbox
date = July 15, 2006
team1 = Queensland Roar FC
score = 1–2
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=4274 (Report)]
team2 = Sydney FC
goals1 = T.Smits 30'
goals2 = S.Petrovski 16'
A.Brosque 87'
stadium = Carrara Stadium, Gold Coast
Attendance: 7,132
Referee: Peter Green----footballbox
date = July 22, 2006
team1 = Sydney FC
score = 2–1
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=4345 (Report)]
team2 = Newcastle United Jets
goals1 = N.Topor-Stanley 3'
R.Middleby 25'
goals2 = T.McFlynn 68' (og)
stadium = Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Attendance: 7,226
Referee: Ben Williams----footballbox
date = July 29, 2006
team1 = New Zealand Knights FC
score = 0–0
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=4415 (Report)]
team2 = Sydney FC
goals1 =
goals2 =
stadium = North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Attendance: 3,121
Referee: Peter O'Leary----footballbox
date = August 6, 2006
team1 = Sydney FC
score = 3–0
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=4514 (Report)]
team2 = Perth Glory FC
goals1 = A.Brosque 26', 27'
S.Petrovski 57'
goals2 =
stadium = WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Attendance: 6,634
Referee: Srebre Delovski

Group table

Out

References