'When Alessandro got off the plane he said he wasn't here to finish his career, he was here to start a new one - that showed exactly what his intent was' - A-League boss Damien de Bohun Source: Getty Images
HE insists he's not bigger than his club or the A-League, but Sydney FC's Italian star Alessandro Del Piero has already left an indelible mark on the national football competition only seven weeks into his maiden Australian season.
The 38-year-old former Juventus talisman jetted into Brisbane last night with his Sydney teammates ahead of tonight's clash with the Roar and was very much "one of the boys" as he joked around and even carried club equipment at the request of teammate Paul Reid.
Happy to chat and sign autographs with fans on his way to the team bus, Del Piero gave everyone that same warm and fuzzy feeling that his legion of fans have enjoyed while watching him dominate opposition in a stellar senior career nearing 20 years.
Close to 25,000 fans - the Roar's biggest non-finals home crowd for some time - will be at Suncorp Stadium to watch the magician in action as he tries to inspire a struggling Sydney to victory over cellar dwellers Brisbane.
It has been the same all over the A-League since he first laced on a boot for the Sydneysiders.
Crowds of more than 20,000 are again common for the Sky Blues, while attendances are up at away grounds from corresponding fixtures last season thanks to Del Piero's presence.
Even when he missed Sydney's embarrassing 7-2 loss to Central Coast Mariners two weeks ago because of a hamstring injury, the mere possibility of him playing in Gosford ensured a near-packed house at Bluetongue Stadium.
A born winner, Del Piero was stinging after watching that defeat and his mood was bound to have worsened after seeing his side concede three late goals after he was substituted in Sydney's 3-2 loss to Melbourne Victory last Saturday.
"When Alessandro got off the plane he said he wasn't here to finish his career, he was here to start a new one - that showed exactly what his intent was," A-League boss Damien de Bohun said.
"I've got no doubt he'll be a stabilising influence on all the Sydney players as they saddle up for their game against Brisbane.
"He would have seen everything in his time at Juventus. He has said that every time Juventus played, they were expected to win, no matter what the game was."
And it has been a similar scenario since his arrival, with Del Piero saying he had been bombarded by calls from Italy about Sydney's slow start to the season.
"That's why we have to win because they call me all the time and say 'what's up Ale?' ... it's true everybody's watching here with curious eyes and interesting eyes," the Sky Blues star said last night.
"Now about Australia, the eyes from Italy are really open - I'm (only) one of the elements."
Marquee man Alessandro Del Piero has made a mark for Sydney FC after starring for Juventus and Italy. Source: The Courier-Mail
Such is Del Piero's modesty that he seemed shocked when asked if Sydney FC chief executive Tony Pignata had asked him to recommend a new coach for the Sky Blues following last Sunday's departure of the beleaguered Ian Crook.
"Everyone has to do his job. My job is to play soccer, not choose the trainer. That's the job for Tony, and for (chairman) Scott (Barlow) ... they have to chose the right way," he said.
"(But) from Europe, especially from Italy, there's a lot of interest now about coaches (and) about players."
While he may not care to admit it, Del Piero's decision to sign a two-year deal with Sydney and knock back a host of offers, including an approach from Liverpool, played a part in former Reds striker Emile Heskey joining Newcastle Jets and Japanese star Shinji Ono linking with Western Sydney Wanderers.
Such has been the impact of the trio, that Football Federation Australia is considering helping other clubs - with the aid of a lucrative new and soon-to-be announced broadcast deal - to secure players of similar ilk from next season.
"We always knew that Del Piero, then Heskey and then Ono would have a big impact, but it's fair to say that it's certainly met our wildest expectations," de Bohun said.
"We are at the moment reviewing plans for next year and one of the considerations is what sort of support and particularly what type of marketing support we can provide to clubs who do want to pursue marquee players.
"That's a conversation that's very active. It's still got a long way to go but one that we're looking at seriously.
"There's no doubt the broadcast deal is a really important moment for football (but) it's also important to know that the broadcast deal is not going to solve everything overnight.
"For us it's about working smarter with the clubs and building the right business bases."
De Bohun said the key factors to the success of Del Piero, Heskey and Ono not only as players but their marketability was their undeniable talent as well as the fact they were genuine characters.
"They're authentic and they're here for the right reasons," he said.
"They all want to make a genuine contribution to Australian football.
"They've all just come out of respectively their top leagues. It's not like they're journeymen on their last legs.
"Del Piero won the Serie A title with Juventus last season, Heskey was playing in the Premier League and Ono was playing in the J-League.
"They're here for the right reasons. They're really good people."
Sydney's Alessandro Del Piero is one the A-League's biggest drawcards. Picture: Phil Hillyard. Source: The Daily Telegraph
The presence of Del Piero in particular has introduced a whole new audience to Australian football and the A-League, which badly needed a boost after two years marred with the axing of failed expansion clubs North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United.
It was also neglected when Australia's $46 million bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup took centre stage and flopped miserably.
"A lot of people who, because of the marquee players, are coming to the football for the first time are all talking about how the atmosphere is unique and how it's special in football," de Bohun said.
"I've been absolutely thrilled with the standard of the competition right across the board. Everyone's stepped up.
"The football that's being played is excellent, the crowds have been big and have been great, but the atmosphere is what has set it apart.
"That's given us something substantial to build on for the rest of this season, next year and beyond."
And while Del Piero has similar belief about the future of Australian football and Sydney, his focus is on the present and resurrecting the Sky Blues' season with a win at Suncorp Stadium tonight against a Roar side equally as desperate for victory after three straight losses.
"We have a chance to do good if we play in the right way," said Del Piero, who will happily be substituted again so long as the Sky Blues claim the three points.
"I hope (to play the whole game) but what I hope is that we win."
Before the match the Sydney board and CEO Pignata will meet to debate about the right man to take over from the departed Crook.
However, Pignata is in no doubt he chose the right person in Del Piero when he and agent Lou Sticca pulled off the biggest signing in A-League history a matter of months ago.
"He's really blended in with the boys and we knew he would," Pignata said.
"His sincerity was very important in the recruitment process, but he's also been around the traps for a long time and he knows this caper better than any of us."
No comments:
Post a Comment