Sydney FC captain Alex Brosque has announced that he will retire at the end of the season, following a long and successful career.
The 35-year-old has made the most appearances for Sydney FC with 264 and is the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
His time at the Sky Blues has seen him win two A-League Championships (2009/10, 2016/17), three Premiers Plates (2009/10, 2016/17, 2017/18), and an FFA Cup trophy (2017), while he has won the club’s Player of the Year three times. Brosque can be regarded as one of the best players to put on a Sydney FC shirt.
Brosque first played for Marconi in the NSL, with stints in the Netherlands for Feyernoord and in Belgium for Westerlo following. He played for the then-known Queensland Roar in the inaugural A-League season, before he moved to Sydney FC in 2006.
During this period in Sydney, he played 104 matches and scored 30 goals. In the 2009/10 season, he formed a strong partnership with Mark Bridge, which came to be known as the “Killer Bees.”
Brosque then moved to Japan in 2011 to play for Shimizu S-Pulse, where he scored 13 goals in 56 appearances. A transfer to UAE club Al Ain came shortly after, which led to the striker firing 14 goals from 39 appearances.
After being released by Al Ain in 2014, Sydney FC welcomed back Brosque with open arms and he has been at the club ever since. He was appointed captain and led the side to the A-League Grand Final in his first season back.
Injuries interrupted him in the 2015/16 season and he was sorely missed as Sydney FC failed to reach the finals.
However, he returned for the following campaign and his leadership was integral to Sydney FC winning both the Premiers Plate and the Championship in a record-breaking season.
Despite his pedigree, Brosque offered to re-sign with the club for whatever was left in the salary cap, so that the club could retain their stars. This is just one example of his loyalty and his value to the club.
Brosque led the side to a second consecutive Premiers Plate in the 2017/18 season and is currently still in the running for this season’s A-League Championship. Another trophy would be the perfect way to go out.
In terms of his international career, Brosque made 21 caps for the Socceroos and scored five goals. He made his debut for the Socceroos in 2004 against Fiji in the OFC Nations Cup, and was later involved in their quest to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
While he may be disliked by opposition fans on the field, off the field he is one of the nicest men in the game.
Look no further than in 2012, following the passing of William Duran, who was one of the founders of supporter group The Cove. Brosque sat in Duran’s seat in The Cove during the club’s match against the Central Coast Mariners, to pay his respects. This has never been forgotten and is one of the reasons why Brosque is loved by Sydney FC fans.
His will to make time to chat with supporters, which is something that is not seen as much in world football, is adored by Sydney fans. A new role off the field at the club would be a perfect way to keep him involved.
Even if Sydney FC does not win the A-League Championship this season, Brosque will no doubt go out as a club legend.
