Sydney’s dominance of this season’s A-League has been recognised with six Sky Blues named by their fellow players in Professional Footballers Australia’s 2016-17 team of the season.
Unsurprisingly, this week’s Johnny Warren medal winner, Miloš Ninković, makes the list in midfield while Danny Vukovic, who kept a record number of clean sheets during the regular season – and added another one in last weekend’s semi-final – takes his place between the sticks.
Having received the most number of votes, Vukovic was named co-captain of the team, along with Sydney team-mate Alex Brosque, who was included in recognition of his leadership in Sydney’s record-breaking season and features with another Sydney player, Josh Brillante, as part of a seven-man substitutes bench.
“It is an honour to be selected in the team and even more so as captain,” said Vukovic. “Your fellow players know what you have been through and their respect means you have had a good season; that is why these awards mean so much to players.”
In front of Vukovic, Sydney provide three of the team’s back four, with Rhyan Grant, Alex Wilkinson and Michael Zullo complimented by Melbourne City’s Michael Jakobsen.
Ninković is joined by team-mate Brandon O’Neill in midfield with James Troisi completing the trio; Troisi’s Melbourne Victory team-mates Marco Rojas and Besart Berisha get the nod up front alongside Perth striker Diego Castro.
Having secured the Premiers’ Plate with a record points tally and guided his side into this weekend’s grand final against Victory, Graham Arnold was voted coach of the season.
There was no place, however, for the A-League’s joint golden boot winner and young player of the year, Jamie Maclaren. The Brisbane Roar striker did not even make it onto the bench, which was rounded out by Liam Reddy, Jade North, Bruno Fornaroli, Ruon Tongyik and Riley McGree.
Melbourne City’s Tongyik and Adelaide’s McGree were included as Under-20 players in “recognition of the importance of the nation’s most talented young players playing regularly at a young age”, according to PFA chief executive John Didulica.
The stellar squad has amassed 93 goals, 55 assists and 59 clean sheets between them over the course of the season.
PFA team of the season: Danny Vukovic (c) (Sydney FC); Rhyan Grant (Sydney FC), Alex Wilkinson (Sydney FC), Michael Jakobsen (Melbourne City), Michael Zullo (Sydney FC); Brandon O’Neill (Sydney FC), Milos Ninkovic (Sydney FC), James Troisi (Melbourne Victory); Marco Rojas (Melbourne Victory), Besart Berisha (Melbourne Victory), Diego Castro (Perth Glory). Substitutes: Liam Reddy (Perth Glory), Jade North (Brisbane Roar), Josh Brillante (Sydney FC), Bruno Fornaroli (Melbourne City), Alex Brosque (c) (Sydney FC), Ruon Tongyik (Melbourne City), Riley McGree (Adelaide United). Coach: Graham Arnold (Sydney FC)
