Having announced on Monday his intention to retire at the end of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Season, Sydney FC captain Alex Brosque has been reflecting on his action-packed career.
The Sky Blues most successful ever captain talked to Sydney FC’s official website about his decision to hang up his boots, wanting to help Steve Corica’s new regime, staying involved with the club and his delight at starting his career with local side Marconi Stallions in the old National Soccer League (NSL).
Here are just some of the things the club’s record goalscorer had to say.
On taking the decision to retire
“I’ve been thinking long and hard about next season. After speaking to a lot of former players, Stevie [Corica], my family, of course, we all together came to a decision that I thought it’s best and it’s time for me to retire.
“It’s definitely a hard decision to make, but looking at all the different angles I feel like it’s the right decision."
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On the ravages of time
“Over the last few months I’ve definitely been feeling [it] physically, which happens to an older player – you can’t do any more. Your head’s working a lot quicker than your feet are. Those things told me it was time to hang [up my boots].”
On Sydney FC’s Hyundai A-League challenge
“We’re second in the league. Had it not been for the incredible year that Perth’s had we probably could have taken the minor Premiership out again.
"We’ve continued to perform as a squad in a really good way. I’m glad I was able to stay around and be a part of that.”
On his brilliant career
“Whenever I look back at my career it’ll be just with a huge amount of pride at the fact that I was able to play professionally for this long.
“It’s a dream that every kid has, to be able to play professionally, and hopefully to represent your country as well. To be able to have done that…and to have played most of my career at a club like Sydney FC that has become a family to me is nothing I could ever have predicted.
“I’m humbled with every experience I’ve had as a footballer. I’ve enjoyed every moment – the highs, the lows – they come with what it is to be a professional.
There’s nothing I’d change, nothing I look back at and wish I’d done differently.”
On his career highlight
“Winning the double in the 16/17 season with Sydney has to be up there as one of the highlights of my career as a whole. That group of players we had, that year that we had, the history we made…was incredible. To have it end with a Championship, in the fashion that it did, was for me the highlight of my career.”
On bringing it all to a close
“A perfect ending, of course, would be to go out holding that trophy in my last game, on the Grand Final. It would be the perfect way to end.
“But looking around the league you’ve got guys like Carl Valeri, Brendon Santalab, Mark Bridge – they’re all retiring. So I’m definitely not looking at this being all about me; those boys would love for things to end the exact same way.
“But personally, and looking at it a little bit greedily, it’d be great to end my career that way.”
On the future
Sydney FC will always be a huge part of my life. To walk away from the football is one thing, and hard enough, but to walk away completely is something I won’t do. I’ll stay around in some way.”
The Sky Blues plan to use Thursday night’s match against Perth Glory at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium to celebrate Brosque’s career at the club.
