Del Piero signs on for second season

MELBOURNE - Agence France-Presse

World Cup winner Alessandro Del Piero already scored 11 goals in 18 matches and signed on for his second season in the Australian League. AFP photo

Italian World Cup winner Alessandro Del Piero yesterday signed on for a second season in Australia’s A-League as his Sydney FC side pushed for a play-off place.

“I’m very happy about this news,” the Juventus and Italy legend told a press conference after agreeing to activate the second year of a reported US$2 million-a-season contract.

“For sure it’s a great moment for me, for Sydney FC,” he said, thanking the club for trusting him. The 38-year-old Juventus legend said he would not carry on if he could not play at a high level. “In my age, I want to be very honest. We have to see year by year.”

Del Piero has already scored 11 goals in 18 matches, a record haul by a Sydney FC player in a single season and been a hit off the pitch too, helping to boost crowds, shirt sales and television ratings. Sydney FC has fought back from the bottom of the league to fifth place -- within reach of qualification for the playoffs, largely thanks to Del Piero’s goals.

“We have a good position but it’s not enough, we have six games remaining but we have to push our energy to take a play-off,” he said.“We want to improve for the next year and do better and better every week,”

The team’s charge for the finals gathered steam, with a 2-1 win over Adelaide United.