Sydney FC has boosted its defensive stocks ahead of the 2013/14 season by completing the signing of dual premiership winning defender Matt Jurman on a one year deal.
Sydney FC has boosted its defensive stocks ahead of the 2013/14 season by completing the signing of dual premiership winning defender Matt Jurman on a one year deal.
Jurman was part of Sydney FC-s 2009/10 Championship-Premiership double before emulating that success after leaving the Sky Blues for Brisbane Roar in 2011/12.
The 23-year-old, who played all of his junior football in Sydney, returns to Sydney FC where he spent a season in the Youth Team (2008/09) and two seasons in the A-League squad (2009/10 and 10/11).
“I-m really excited and looking forward to the season,” Jurman said. “I can-t wait to get out there. It-s really good to be able to come home and I know a lot of the boys still and like I said I-m really excited to get the season going. I-ll give my all to the team and I won-t leave anything in the tank.
“When I was here before I was basically a young kid trying to work my trade and since then I think I-ve grown up a lot and I-ve got a lot of experience playing with Brisbane and the Olyroos and I-m definitely a lot more experienced and I want to be playing as much as I can.”
Sydney FC coach Frank Farina was pleased Jurman had agreed to return to Sydney FC as he goes about putting together a balanced squad.
“Matt Jurman is a good left-sided defender and he-s a valuable addition to our team,” Farina said. “We need to bolster the defence and Matt-s arrival does that. He-s a proven A-League player so I-m expecting him to step up and play an important part in 2013/14.”
Jurman-s return to Sydney FC will also see him reconnect with several members of the Sky Blues squad, particularly the younger players who started their careers together at Sydney FC.
“I-m really good mates with Vedran (Janjetovic), Seb (Ryall) and Rhyan (Grant) and a few of the boys as well so it-s going to be good and I-m determined to have a big season as well,” Jurman added.
“The way the team was playing at the end of the year you could tell that they were playing a lot better obviously and I think they were a bit unlucky in the end but I think everyone-s going to be hungry to have a big season next year and so am I so it will work out well.”
And what are his expectations for the Sky Blues in the 2013/2014 season: “Nothing less than winning it. But we have to make the semis and if we make the semis we can cause a lot of damage.”
The next Sydney FC in Business lunch will be held at the IVY on Wednesday 19 June. Our distinguished keynote speaker of this event is one of Australia-s most influential and experienced media executives, David Gyngell, Chief Executive Officer of Nine Entertainment Co. Pty Ltd. Tickets start from $200 per seat or $1,800 for a table of 10 incl GST, to secure your place contact Nic Barbato on 8314 5100 or email a completed booking form to nicb@sydneyfc.com
