Sydney FC dominates A-League team of the year with five players making final side
Sydney FC dominated the A-League season. But were they rewarded when it came to the team of the year? Plus, which Victoria club boasts having the captain? See the full team here.
Football
Don't miss out on the headlines from Football. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Sydney FC’s historic season has been recognised with the club boasting five players in the players’ association Team of the Year – although Melbourne City talisman Jamie Maclaren took out the top honour.
Golden boot winner Maclaren, who finished with 23 regular season goals before adding another in Wednesday night’s semi-final win over Western United, picked up the most points from his fellow A-League players to be named the team’s captain, announced on Thursday.
“It’s truly humbling and it’s an amazing feeling to be voted by the players you play against and it’s just a truly amazing feeling to be a part of this team,” Maclaren said.
But it was Maclaren’s grand final opponents this Sunday, defending champions Sydney, who dominated the team of the year following an outstanding season in which they delivered a record fourth Premiers’ Plate.
Watch every match of the 2019/20 Hyundai A-League Finals LIVE on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Defenders Rhyan Grant and Alex Wilkinson, midfield general Luke Brattan and striker Adam le Fondre all made the starting side – with attacking dynamo Milos Ninkovic winning a spot on the bench.
Ageless Western United pair Alessandro Diamanti and Besart Berisha, who finished third in the golden boot race with 19 goals, both earned starts after piloting the A-League newcomers to a stunning semi-final berth.
Wellington Phoenix bombed out in the first week of the finals, but the outstanding pre-shutdown form of star midfielder Ulises Davila and rising talent Liberato Cacace was recognised by their peers to earn selection.
Cacace was joined in defence by Adelaide United’s Danish import Michael Jakobsen and the Sydney duo Wilkinson and Grant.
MORE FOOTBALL
A-League finals: Melbourne City shake ‘soft’ tag by beating Western United 2-0 to reach grand final
Ufuk Talay was acknowledged as coach of the year after a remarkable debut campaign as head coach, turning the Phoenix into a force after being tipped to struggle following a horror off-season.
Brisbane’s Jamie Young pipped Adelaide’s Paul Izzo for goalkeeper of the year, forcing the youngster onto the bench where he sits alongside teammate Riley McGree, Phoenix captain Steve Taylor, departing Western Sydney captain Mitch Duke and Sydney’s Ninkovic.
Alex King was voted by the players as the referee of the year.
Originally published as Sydney FC dominates A-League team of the year with five players making final side