This happens to be my first post on the A-League. One might ask how it came about ? To be honest, I was doing a bit of research on FIFA World Cup qualifying. As I was doing the 2006 edition, I saw that John Aloisi was the man whose penalty kick sent the Socceroos into the World Cup. Aloisi as a footballer is not a new name- he has after all played for Coventry and Portsmouth in the Premiership, and Osasuna in the La Liga.
Sydney FC, winners of the 2005-06 edition of the A- League unveiled Aloisi as their marquee player last week. The A-League allows each team to have one marquee player, whose salary is not included in the regular salary cap imposed on the clubs. Aloisi played for the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League last season, and scored seven goals in fifteen appearances. The NSW based team won the minor premiership last season, and lost to the Newcastle Jets in the recently played Grand Final. Aloisi had made his A-League debut last October against Sydney, a match which the Mariners lost 2-3.
Aloisi, whose deal is rumoured to be worth $1.4 million, will wear the no.23 jersey at the Sydney Football stadium. Aloisi’s signing raises questions over the future of Brazilian Juninho, who was Sydney’s marquee player last season.
Sydney have also signed Mark Bridge, who scored the winner for the Jets in the Grand Final, and Simon Colisimo as they aim to regain the title that won in the A-League’s inaugural season.
I hope Portsmouth win the whole competition.