Belfield teen Marco Tilio scores pro contract with Sydney FC for A-League
Marco Tilio has made a dream debut for his country. Now he has high hopes of repeating the feat in the upcoming A-League.
Not even in dreams do sporting debuts come much better than this.
A hat-trick of goals in your maiden appearance in the green and gold.
But this was the reality of young soccer star Marco Tilio when he ran out for the Young Socceroos in Vietnam recently.
The Belfield product scored three goals against Vietnam at the recent AFF under 18 youth championships en-route to the Young Socceroos winning the tournament.
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“It really was a dream debut. I can only hope to have the same debut for Sydney FC,” Tilio said.
That could be happening sooner rather than later with Tilio one of three teenagers elevated to the Sydney FC squad for the upcoming A-League competition.
The 18-year-old joins Harry Van der Saag, 19, and Ryan Teague, 17, in signing professional contracts with the Sky Blues.
The three have been involved in Sydney FC’s pre-season campaign with Tilio and Teague competing for the Young Socceroos and Joeys respectively.
“It is exciting, I was super excited when I heard,” said Tilio who has proved he can perform both under pressure and on the big stage following his time with the Young Socceroos.
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“I wasn’t expecting it but I feel like it’s a reward for all the hard work I’ve been putting in.”
Tilio said he is lucky to have players of a similar age elevated with him.
“It’s pretty cool to have a group of us the same age. We are all pretty close,” he said.
Tilio has been playing soccer since he was six with his local clubs including Enfield Rovers, Leichardt Tigers, Sydney Olympic and now Sydney FC.
“Pretty much it’s always been about football for me,” Tilio said.
“I’ve never had any interest in rugby league.
“I don’t want to get squashed.
“I am fulltime now. I left school at the start of Year 11 to do this full-time.
“And I’ve on a role working at an aquarium after training as well.”
The teenagers were promoted in the wake of Sydney Fc’s best ever National Premier League campaign.
Like his new teammates Tilio’s goal is to be playing for the Socceroos in the future.
“To play for them, go overseas with them and just play my best for them,’’ he said.
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