Alex Brosque deserves legendary status at Sydney FC: Graham Arnold

GRAHAM Arnold fully expects to see Alex Brosque’s name instantly added to Sydney FC’s hall of fame the moment his skipper eventually hangs up his boots.

Sydney's Alex Brosque is swamped by teammates after scoring a goal at Allianz Stadium. Picture: Gregg Porteous

GRAHAM Arnold expects Alex Brosque’s name will be added to Sydney FC’s hall of fame the moment his skipper hangs up his boots — but he trusts that’s some way off yet.

As Brosque prepares to face his old side Brisbane Roar on Friday night, the Sydney coach has spoken of his admiration and delight in the way his captain has embraced leadership since being handed the role more than two years ago.

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“The club is number one, team is number two, individuals number three,” Arnold said. “Alex is a wonderful leader for this club. He drives and inspires this side with both words and actions.

“His teammates have a lot of respect for him.”

While you suspect Brosque in his second spell at Sydney FC after stints in Japan and the UAE, would bleed sky blue, Arnold says the captaincy was not something that came naturally to the experienced campaigner.

Sydney's Alex Brosque is swamped by teammates after scoring a goal at Allianz Stadium. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“The armband didn’t fit comfortably with him to start with but he embraced it,” he said.

The player himself admitted at the time that it was a huge honour but one he hadn’t expected.

Brosque recently joined former Melbourne Victory striker Archie Thompson in notching 50 goals for the same A-League outfit and Arnold is confident the 33-year-old isn’t finished with his scoring antics yet.

Alex Brosque takes on the Adelaide United defence for Sydney FC in their emphatic win at Coopers Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

He goes into the Roar clash looking to add to the brace he bagged in the Boxing Day demolition of Adelaide.

When the day finally does come, Arnold fully expects Brosque’s contribution to the Sky Blue cause to be recognised.

“Young players here at the club are told about the hall of fame and I am 99.9 per cent certain that Alex will be there the moment he retires,” he said.

Melbourne Victory legend Archie Thompson is the only other A-League player to have scored 50 goals at one club. Picture: Colleen Petch.

That hall of fame includes the likes of Dwight Yorke, Alessandro Del Piero, Steve Corica and Mark Rudan plus former coaches Pierre Littbarski and Vitezslav Lavicka.

Players, coaches and club officials are eligible when they retire or move on from Sydney FC.

Former marquee import Dwight Yorke is in the Sydney FC hall of fame.

The club’s policy is the “board considers candidates on the basis of record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship and character”.

Brosque felt the side still had new heights to hit. “It all seems to be going well but Arnie was quick to stress that we are not anywhere near our peak yet,” he said.