Sydney FC have confirmed their playing squad for the 2018/19 Foxtel Y-League (FYL) season, to kick off this Sunday.
The squad boasts and array of young Sky Blue talent with centre back Liam McGing, midfielder Sam McIllhatton and Young Socceroos’ custodian Duro Dragicevic returning for their third FYL campaign.
McGing will also wear the Captain’s armband in the competition while McIllhatton was voted in the Football NSW NPL Men’s Team of the Year for his exploits during the 2018 winter season.
The midfield engine room also comprises of the Sky Blues’ three Hyundai A-League scholarship recipients with Joeys’ Captain Ryan Teague lining up alongside Jerry Skotadis and Marco Tilio, while the Sky Blues’ forward line boasts Hamish Lamberton and Jordi Swibel, who combined for 33 goals between them in the 2018 NPL season to finish first and second on the goalscoring charts respectively.
The squad will be led by new Head Coach Giancarlo Italiano, who has developed the Sky Blues’ U20’s squads for the past two seasons, while former New Zealand international and Sydney FC striker Shane Smeltz will act as his assistant.
“It’s an absolute honour to be appointed Head Coach of the FYL squad for the upcoming season,” Italiano said.
“I’m excited to introduce a new generation of young players into the FYL environment. Our squad is a mix of talented, creative and disciplined individuals that will form the basis of a competitive team.
“I’m also excited that Liam McGing will lead the team as captain. Both on and off the pitch he will be a great role model for the younger lads.
“Our goal this season is to play the most attractive brand of football and focus on developing as many players as we can into the Hyundai A-League main roster. With players like Marco and Giuseppe Tilio, Luke Ivanovic and Patrick Scibilio coming through the ranks these goals are certainly achievable.”
Sydney FC kick off their 2018/19 FYL season away to the Newcastle Jets at No. 2 Sportsground (kick off 4:30pm) and will contest their home games in Conference B at Lambert Park, Leichhardt.
Sydney FC’s 2018/19 Foxtel Y-League Squad:
FOXTEL YOUTH LEAGUE (# Playing Number)
- DURO DRAGICEVIC – GK (#1)
- DANIEL BLACHURA (#2)
- BEN VAN MEURS (#3)
- LIAM MCGING (#4) & CAPTAIN
- PATRICK SCIBILIO (#5)
- HARRY VAN DER SAAG (#6)
- JERRY SKOTADIS (#7)
- SAM MCILLHATTON (#8)
- HAMISH LAMBERTON (#9)
- MARCO TILIO (#10)
- LUKE IVANOVIC (#11)
- GIUSEPPE TILIO (#12)
- JORDI SWIBEL (#13)
- THOMAS FAY (#14)
- RYAN TEAGUE (#15)
- PAOLO BONANNI (#16)
- CALLUM TALBOT (#17)
- BENJAMIN KOOP (#18)
- DAVID MALISHEV – GK (#20)
ACADEMY POOL PLAYERS
- EVAN TSAKOS
- ALEX MASCIOVECCHIO
- HARRY MCCARTHY
- JAKE HOLLMAN
- MITCHELL MATTISON
- ADAM PAVLESIC – GK
