In many countries around the world, numbers matter when it comes to football.
In England, Sir Alex Ferguson made it his mission to overhaul Liverpool’s (then) record of 18 championships, which he finally achieved in 2011. In Ferguson’s native Scotland, Celtic fans are this year dreaming of winning their 10th league title in a row – thus moving past the all-time record, currently jointly held with rivals Rangers.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, reached their own holy grail in winning a 10th Champions League title in 2014, thus cementing the phrase “La Decima” into the Spanish, and global, footballing lexicon.
In Australia, Sydney FC stand on the brink of their own piece of football folklore as the A-League prepares to move into the finals series – yet such is the sport’s uneasy relationship with its own history, there has barely been any fanfare.
After securing the premiership, the Sky Blues are now just a couple of victories away from winning the national championship for a fifth time. This would take them clear of the four clubs they currently share the record with: Melbourne Victory, Sydney City, Marconi Stallions and South Melbourne.
Officially, the honours lists of the former NSL and the modern A-League were merged in 2016. It was supposed to be a step towards reconciliation between the two different eras, ripped apart by the creation of the A-League, and brutally characterised by then FFA CEO, John O’Neill as “old soccer, new football”.
But rather like the revisionism of the top division in England, where Premier League records seem to have superseded the old First Division, few seem to take the former competition into account when poring over “all-time” records.
To an extent, this is understandable. The two eras are very different – one semi-professional, the other fully pro. There is also the complexity of the different formats used in the NSL. Sydney City, for example, won all four of their championships when the competition used the “first past the post” system in its early years, rather than a grand final to determine the winner.
But it is also indicative of the fissure that still tears through the game today. Clubs such as South Melbourne, fiercely proud of their successes, believe they should have the chance to add to their honours list via the creation of a new national second division.
A proper pyramid has long been the dream for football in Australia – but while Football Federation Australia has flirted with the idea, even setting up a working group to explore the possibility of getting a second division up and running in time for the 2021-22 season, no formal commitment has yet been made.
To that end, the AAFC – the group that represents the second tier clubs around the country – unilaterally sent out an email on Monday, as a prelude to asking for EOI’s for the new competition.
Many feel bringing the two sides of the equation together is the only way to forge a brighter future for a sport that is high on participation numbers, but low on interconnectivity. The A-League clubs, guaranteed by licence until 2034, are believed to be lukewarm to the idea, especially as if a second division comes, then promotion and relegation will surely follow. Turkeys rarely vote for Christmas.
Thus, Sydney FC will begin their quest for immortality to a backdrop of indifference outside their own fan base. Even the clubs website – and that of the official A-League site itself – makes no mention of the potential record. Which is a great pity, and also a missed opportunity.
Football around the world makes great play of reminiscing, of historical comparisons, of nostalgic yearning for former greats. In Australia, the feats of Sydney City, Marconi Stallions and South Melbourne have been largely lost to the mists of time – remembered only by the supporters who were there, and those who try to keep the flame alive.
As to the upcoming finals series, Melbourne City will perhaps feel this is their time after posting a best-ever second-placed finish, though the loss of captain, Scott Jamieson, is a blow, after he opted to remain in Melbourne with his wife and newborn child.
Brisbane will be competitive, and have finally found a goal scorer in the veteran, Scott McDonald, while Wellington Phoenix have the inside track on Sydney thanks to their coach, Ufuk Talay, formerly Steve Corica’s assistant.
Western United could yet finish third if they can win their remaining regular season game against City, and a title in their maiden season would be some story – but Perth seem to be in freefall. Shorn of Diego Castro and Gregory Wuthrich, Glory appear bereft of confidence at both ends of the field.
But it is Sydney who will start as favourites, despite a worrying lapse in form since the resumption. A five-game winless streak is easily their worst run since 2015-16. Yet the Sky Blues have the know-how, having cleaned up five major trophies in the last four seasons.
The “High Five” is just two wins away. The question is, will anyone acknowledge it?
