The Western Sydney Wanderers have announced the departure of ten players after a lacklustre A-League season, among them Socceroos forward Tomi Juric, fiery striker Kerem Bulut and veteran goalkeeper Ante Covic.
Italian midfielder Iacopo La Rocca will also move on from the Western Sydney club, along with fellow foundation player Jason Trifiro. Antony Golec, Nikita Rukavystya, Nick Ward, Nick Kalmar and Adrian Madaschi round out the lengthy list of players that will no longer be playing for the Red and Black outfit.
“The departing players have served this club well and we wish them all the very best in the next chapter of their professional lives,” said Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas in a statement.
“The players that helped us to win our AFC Champions League crown will forever be synonymous with this club and embedded in our history.
“In particular I would like to thank our foundation players Iacopo La Rocca, Ante Covic and Jason Trifiro for their contribution to the Wanderers from our inaugural season. These players have served this club with distinction on and off the field – their contribution to the region, to the making of this Club and to our on-field results cannot be diminished.”
The 39-year-old Covic joined the Wanderers in 2012, and collected a number of accolades during his stint at the club, including Hyundai A-League Goalkeeper of the Year and AFC Asian Champions League Most Valuable Player.
Juric is another big name that has not renewed his contract with the club. The No. 9 scored 17 times in 51 appearances for the side, and will be remembered by Wanderers fans for scoring the winning goal against Al Hilal in the Asian Champions League grand final.
“It is definitely a place I’ll keep close to my heart and I’d like to thank everyone for their time and support over the years and hopefully it is not the last time I will be in the Red & Black,” said Juric.
Coach Tony Popovic will have a busy off-season securing replacements for the ten departing players, and will set his sights on a new striker following the release of Juric and Bulut. The option of an international marquee signing may also be on the cards.
Popovic certainly has a task on his hands reinvigorating the Western Sydney side, which was crowned Asian Champions last year but had a dramatic fall from grace to finish second last in the A-League this season.
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