Sydney FC sack Steve Corica after winless ALM start
George Clarke |
Sydney FC boss Steve Corica has been sacked, the club’s longest-serving manager paying the price for their winless start to the A-League Men season.
Corica was relieved of his duties on Tuesday with assistant David Zdrilic taking charge of first team training.
Sydney have yet to score through their opening three losses and sit bottom of the ALM table but it was only last month that Corica guided the Sky Blues to a win in the Australia Cup final.
Corica was a foundation player with Sydney in 2005 and captained the club across a 139-game playing career.
“It is very difficult to depart Sydney FC after being here for such a long time but I leave with unbelievable memories,” Corica said.
“I could never have imagined that when I set foot into this brand new club in 2005, I would go on to spend the next 19 years of my life here.
“I will always look back on my time with Sydney FC with incredible fondness.”
As a coach, Corica succeeded Graham Arnold in 2018 and won grand finals in 2019 and 2020.
But the last two full seasons have been some of the most challenging in Sydney’s history.
Corica’s team missed the finals in the 2021-22 campaign and looked to be heading for the exit midway through last year before an unlikely run towards a semi-final loss to Melbourne City.
Over the winter, Alex Wilkinson retired, star striker Adam Le Fondre moved back to the UK and several other dependable first-teamers in Paulo Retre and James Donachie left the club.
Defender Jack Rodwell remains sidelined with injury while Brazilian off-season recruits defender Gabriel Lacerda and striker Fabio Gomes have looked off the pace.
“The Sydney FC board has made the decision to move in a new direction,” chairman Scott Barlow said in a statement.
“Steve is a legend of our club and has made an incredible contribution as both a player and coach over our 19-year history.
“He is a true gentleman who has always put Sydney FC first and I would like to personally thank him for all he has done.”
Corica becomes the second manager to be axed this season following Rado Vidosic’s departure from Melbourne City last week.
Sydney face Adelaide this week before a derby clash with the Western Sydney Wanderers.
AAP
