Sydney Festival of Football
Encyclopedia
The Sydney Festival of Football is an annual association football competition held by A-League
club Sydney FC
which invited clubs from all around the world for a tournament in Sydney
. The current working name is 'Sydney Festival of Football'. The current titleholders - and thus, most successful club - are AEK Athens. The first tournament took place for 25 July through to 31 July, contested by English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers
, Rangers
from the Scottish Premier League
and AEK Athens from the Greek Super League, who eventually won the tournament.
was first brought up soon after the 2009-10 A-League season in which Sydney FC took out the Premiership & Championship. Sydney had been keen to participate once more in the Pan-Pacific Championship
however due to unknown reasons the 2010 edition was not played. At the time it was revealed that they would be playing Everton
, however rumors floated around a pre-season tournament between Sydney FC
, Blackburn Rovers
, Rangers
and Argentinian giants Boca Juniors
. However this fell through when it was announced that Boca Juniors would only be playing Melbourne Victory
and Wellington Phoenix on their tour of Australia
and New Zealand
.
Soon afterwards it was rumored that Greek Super League club AEK Athens would be coming out to Australia to play a friendly in either Sydney or Melbourne, due to their large Greek
communities. It was announced on 4 June 2010, that the tournament would be held in July, between 25–31 July The announcement was made by New South Wales Premier Kristina Keneally
, Sydney FC CEO Edwin Lugt, as well as Sydney FC players Terry McFlynn
and Liam Reddy
with manager Vitezslav Lavicka
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
club Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
which invited clubs from all around the world for a tournament in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. The current working name is 'Sydney Festival of Football'. The current titleholders - and thus, most successful club - are AEK Athens. The first tournament took place for 25 July through to 31 July, contested by English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
from the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
and AEK Athens from the Greek Super League, who eventually won the tournament.
History
The idea of a international club tournament hosted by Sydney FCSydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
was first brought up soon after the 2009-10 A-League season in which Sydney FC took out the Premiership & Championship. Sydney had been keen to participate once more in the Pan-Pacific Championship
Pan-Pacific Championship
The Pan-Pacific Football Championship was an inter-confederation football tournament between teams from A-League , Chinese Super League , J...
however due to unknown reasons the 2010 edition was not played. At the time it was revealed that they would be playing Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, however rumors floated around a pre-season tournament between Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
, Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
and Argentinian giants Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
. However this fell through when it was announced that Boca Juniors would only be playing Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
and Wellington Phoenix on their tour of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Soon afterwards it was rumored that Greek Super League club AEK Athens would be coming out to Australia to play a friendly in either Sydney or Melbourne, due to their large Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
communities. It was announced on 4 June 2010, that the tournament would be held in July, between 25–31 July The announcement was made by New South Wales Premier Kristina Keneally
Kristina Keneally
Kristina Kerscher Keneally MP, is an Australian politician and was the 42nd Premier of New South Wales. She was elected leader of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales and thus Premier in 2009, but went on to lose government to the Liberal/National Coalition at the March 2011 state election...
, Sydney FC CEO Edwin Lugt, as well as Sydney FC players Terry McFlynn
Terry McFlynn
Terence Martin "Terry" McFlynn is a football player from Swatragh, Northern Ireland. He plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League team Sydney FC. He is the current captain.-Club career:...
and Liam Reddy
Liam Reddy
Liam Reddy is an Australian football player who is currently on a three year contract with the Hyundai A-League team, Sydney FC-Club career:...
with manager Vitezslav Lavicka
Vítezslav Lavicka
Vítězslav Lavička is a Czech football manager and former player currently in charge of Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Playing career:...
Results
| Year | Venue | Winner | Runner-up | 3rd place | 4th place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 2010 Sydney Festival of Football The inaugural 2010 Sydney Festival of Football was an international football tournament contested by Sydney FC from the A-League, English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers, Rangers from the Scottish Premier League and AEK Athens from the Greek Super League. The tournament was held between 25... |
SFS, Sydney |  AEK Athens |
 Blackburn RoversBlackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
 Rangers FC |
 Australia Sydney FCSydney FC Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League... |