Del Piero signs up for second year

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Alessandro Del Piero confirmed the worst kept secret in Australian soccer on Thursday when the former Italy and Juventus great said he would be staying for a second year at Sydney FC.

Signed last September in the most lucrative deal in Australian sport, the 38-year-old striker has had the impact both on and off the field that the A-League club banked A$2 million (US$2.06 million) a year on.

Despite reported interest from clubs in Brazil and the United States, Del Piero said there had never been any real doubt that he would stay on.

“It was a big challenge for me, for my family, to take a long trip here and change everything in our life,” he told a news conference against a backdrop of the Sydney Opera House.

“My family and I have had a great time here. The weather, the city, everything is good. But first of all, I’m here to play. It’s a challenge. I work to win the challenge, I want to win again next year.”

Del Piero’s 11 goals in 18 games have just been the icing on the cake for Sydney FC as the quality of the World Cup winner’s performances have helped haul the club from a miserable start to the season and into the playoff hunt.

His mere presence in the A-League has also generated huge media and fan interest in soccer, which sometimes struggles for profile in comparison to Australia’s dominant football codes of rugby league and Australian Rules.