Sydney FC will break new ground next month as the first A-League club to mount a pre-season tour of Europe.
The club announced on Friday night a three-week trip to Italy that includes a match against Alessandro Del Piero’s first professional football club Padova.
The Sky Blues depart on August 2 and will be based in the Adriatic Sea town of Jesolo, one hour outside Venice.
Every member of the first team will take part in the tour, which will include five matches.
“This is a very exciting tour for Sydney FC and an excellent opportunity to further enhance our brand recognition in Europe,” said chairman Scott Barlow in a statement released by the club.
“The eyes of Italy will be on Sydney FC, the A-League and Australian football with Alessandro returning home.”
Coach Frank Farina will be looking to get his men in shape for their A-League season opener against Newcastle in Sydney on October 11.
“This tour is fantastic for what we are trying to achieve during pre season,” Farina said.
“Three weeks in Italy gives us a tremendous opportunity to get away with the entire squad and focus on implementing our football style and also allows us some quality matches in a different environment that will test the players.”
Allan
Guest
The view from seventh heaven proves they hsve enough at home to deal with.
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
Bit obsessed with Sydney are we? Haters talk more about us than we do ourselves.
Titus
Guest
Sydney are being paid to play in Italy. The costs will be covered.
Philip
Guest
I was referring to them testing themselves in the 27 regular season rounds which wasn't so successful. Maybe they'll have better luck in Italy against Serie B opposition. Nuff said.
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
Last year we tested our squad against 3 state league teams and saw one of them as a successful trial for Fabio. Nuff said.
Ralph Nadeer
Roar Rookie
Its also a business venture and Sydney and Australian tourism will get the benefits. Hundreds of tours were sold in Europe and Japan last season to come and see poster boy Del Piero in Sydney and enjoy this fantastic city. Thousands more will be sold this season man.
Philip
Guest
Good idea. Last year they tested the squad against a-league competition and came up well short. They may have better luck in Europe :-)
Jon stevens
Guest
Calm down people. Sydney.com logo will be on the shirts which means tour is sponsored by Nsw govt and fully paid for. Shhhhhh. Don't tell the other codes
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
Forget "Growing the brand in Europe" This is an opportunity to test the squad against some quality opposition.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Perso I think it's a brilliant idea. Didnt particularly like it but its probably one of the roles of a CEo to say one of the goals is 'to grow the SFC brand in Europe ' but imo its more about bringing the guys together and create something special, away from Oz. Culturally and for the team it will be a brilliant experience to live and play in this part of the world. They will have plenty of time to be with the fans in Sydney when they return. Football is also about discovering something different and having a training camp in a traditional football nation will be the experience of a lifetime for a few of them. All for it.
William McInnes
Roar Pro
Really want to see Sydney play against one of the big Italian teams and as a Sydney and Milan supporter, I would love to see that happen!
Stevo
Guest
Yeah, what accountant do they have working for them? Splashing cash frivolously when spreading the good word about SFC and Australian football in country NSW and beyond would be a hellovalot more productive for the game in this country surely.
Philip Coates
Roar Guru
Wow! Sydney must have money to burn. The team that generates consistent multi-million dollar losses (despite major crowd growth and Del Piero's arrival last year), and yet they can afford a three week tour of Italy - go figure! Someone should tell Barlow that enhancing your brand in Europe does nothing unless there are long term financial commercial outcomes and there is no evidence of that happening. Those in Italy who have any idea about Sydney FC will soon forget once ADP has finished his swan song. Sydney should be doing the hard yards in NSW enhancing their brand in the city and the State not swanning off an hour outside Venice.