The A-league’s highest ever goal scorer says a move to Sydney FC has given him his best chance yet of winning a premiership.
Shane Smeltz has played for numerous A-League clubs after debuting in the defunct National Soccer League in 1999 with the Brisbane Strikers.
But has never held the Premier’s plate.
The 33-year-old New Zealand international thinks that’s about to change.
“That’s definitely one of the reasons I came here to play for Sydney FC,” he told AAP on Wednesday.
“I’ve won almost as much as there is to win in this league on an individual level and a championship is the one thing I haven’t managed to do.”
“I think with this group of players and the coaching staff that we have, and the club environment, that we can certainly achieve that this year.”
Smeltz was signed to the club in May, the same month as former Mariners coach Graham Arnold took the reins.
He missed last week’s season opener with a minor groin injury but will return for Saturday’s derby against the Western Sydney Wanderers.
The golden boot winner says he’s not feeling any pressure to be the club’s top goal scorer in his first season.
“I think I came in with a bunch of new players, a new coach. It really felt like a new environment, a new set-up,” he said.
“There was no sort of pressure from the past.”
“I really had a sense of a new beginning for the club.”
Sydney FC kicked off the season with a 1-1 draw against Melbourne City after an equaliser from Spain’s highest ever goal scorer David Villa.
Smeltz says the team isn’t keen on finishing another home game without a win.
“It’s a big game (this weekend’s) with a big fan base,” he said.
“At Sydney FC we certainly like to think we can win all our home games and we’ve got another opportunity to that this week.”
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