Alessandro Del Piero commits to another season with Sydney FC
Del Piero's arrival has given the league's glamor club a boost in season membership, match attendance, TV ratings, merchandising and marketing.
Alessandro Del Piero has committed to play another A-League season with Sydney FC.
The 38-year-old former Juventus and Italy star announced his decision Thursday, just before a scheduled Sydney FC news conference.
Del Piero has scored 11 goals in 18 matches in the A-League, already a club record for a single season.
He joined Sydney for the 2012-13 season with an option for a second year.
"I chose Sydney FC at the beginning of this season because I wanted to show my love of football in another country and I have enjoyed the challenge and my time at Sydney FC and in Australia," he said in a statement.
Del Piero's arrival has given the league's glamor club a boost in season membership, match attendance, TV ratings, merchandising and marketing.
"Alessandro's arrival at Sydney FC has been a wonderful success for Sydney FC and the A-League both domestically and internationally," Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow said. "His performances on the field have been tremendous, highlighted by him becoming the leading goalscorer for Sydney FC in a single season, but off the field he has also delivered unprecedented interest and profile for Sydney FC across all levels of the club."
Sydney FC didn't have instant success on the pitch with Del Piero but has been an important part of the resurgence as the Sky Blues lifted themselves off the bottom of the standings and into fifth place - in playoffs contention - since ex-Australia coach Frank Farina took over as coach late last year.