Sydney FC’s Arsenal supporting goalkeeper Ivan Necevski hopes to shut out Spurs in farewell game
SYDNEY FC’S veteran goalkeeper Ivan Necevski will play his final game for Sydney FC when he takes to the field against Spurs.
IVAN Necevski will play his final game for Sydney FC on Saturday when he takes to the field against Spurs, but the veteran goalkeeper couldn’t have asked for a more fitting occasion to bid the Sky Blues farewell.
The 35-year-old, who is the club’s longest-serving player having joined in 2007, will hang up his gloves after a season of playing second fiddle to Vedran Janjetovic.
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But just in case he needed a bit more motivation to make sure he departs on a high, Necevksi is a long-time Arsenal fan determined not to concede any goals against arch rivals Tottenham.
“They’ve got some good players — Harry Kane’s been banging in the goals,” Necevski said.
“They’re in wind down mode, so hopefully we can get the better of them.
“I’ve been an Arsenal fan for as long as I’ve been playing the game, from the age of eight or nine. I think I got my first Arsenal jersey at 12-years-old and that’s still hanging in my cupboard. I’ve always loved them as a team, the way they play and the players they’ve brought in, they’ve been brilliant.”
Necevski is expected to start the game and he admits it’s going to be an emotional moment for him.
“It’s going to be good to walk out there with my kids by my side for a last hit out with the club I’ve been playing for most of my career,” he said.
“Walking out in front of 70,000 fans will be emotional but exciting at the same time, as I look to move into the next chapter of my career.
“Sydney FC will always be in my heart no matter what I will always bleed sky blue.”
Coach Graham Arnold paid tribute to Necevski’s professionalism, but hinted there may be a future role for him at the club.
“Ivan has been a wonderful support to Vedran this season and I’m sure he will continue to play a role at this club,” Arnold said.
“He has been a pleasure to work with and I’m sure it won’t be the last we see of Ivan at Sydney FC.”
As much as the Sky Blues have been looking forward to Saturday’s game, Necevski says there is still disappointment around the camp two weeks after their grand final defeat to Melbourne Victory.
But with high profile games against Spurs then Chelsea, the players have an opportunity to finish their season on a high.
“We still want to get out there and perform, finish off the season on a good note,” Necevski said.
“We worked so hard throughout the season and to get to the grand final and obviously Melbourne did very well, they deserved to win, but we also deserved to be there.
“It’s still in the back of our minds, but we want to move on and use that as motivation.”
Originally published as Sydney FC’s Arsenal supporting goalkeeper Ivan Necevski hopes to shut out Spurs in farewell game
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