Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold says discussions surrounding marquee Filip Holosko’s continued playing future with Slovakia are yet to be resolved.
With 65 international caps, Holosko is still an active player for his country, last turning out for ‘Repre’ as a substitute in June’s Euro 2016 qualifying win over FYR Macedonia.
Former Sky Blue Marc Janko exited the club due to his international commitments as captain of Austria, with Arnold saying Janko had performed excellently but would simply miss too much club football if re-signed.
The A-League does not pause for FIFA-sanctioned international fixtures, robbing the league of its best players during those windows.
When asked if Holosko would have the same problem as his predecessor, Arnold said a resolution was yet to be reached.
“Those discussions are still ongoing,” he said.
“But, Filip is going to come out and he wants success and his concentration is on playing for Sydney FC.”
The 31-year-old signed for the A-League runners-up from Turkish giants Besiktas, where he played 144 games and scored 42 goals in an eight-year spell.
The question on every A-League fan’s lips is whether Holosko can reproduce Janko’s record-breaking form for the Sky Blues.
Arnold has warned against expecting a carbon copy of the towering goal machine.
The adaptable Holosko can play anywhere across the forward line, including on both wings, and is part of a concerted push by Sydney FC to build a versatile squad list.
Arnold said he’d spoken to football figures as diverse as former Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka and former Besiktas star Demba Ba to ensure Holosko was the right fit for the club.
“What I wanted was someone who was multi-functional – to get someone who can play across the front line, who is more mobile and can excite the fans,” said Arnold.
“Holosko, I think, fits that bill.”
Arnold said he would look to his players to adapt to multiple roles over the season.
“We’re trying to build two players for every position, competition for places – that’s what we did last year and that’s what I always do,” he said.
Sydney FC captain Alex Brosque promised Sky Blue fans they’ll see the best of their new marquee.
He said Holosko would fit well into the team’s structure.
“He (Arnold) saw what a lot of other people didn’t in Marc last year, and Marc did a very good job,” he said.
“I think Holosko will do so as well.”
Pre-season began for the Sky Blues on Monday, ahead of the club’s first competitive hitout of the new campaign against Perth-based Sorrento FC in the FFA Cup.
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