Latest news with #Socceroos
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Sydney FC signs son of former Socceroos star
A day after signing Al Hassan Toure, Sydney FC have secured the services of emerging Socceroos midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler from Portuguese powerhouse Benfica. The Sky Blues have signed Okon-Engstler - the son of former Socceroos defender Paul Okon - on a three-year deal. The 20-year-old joins from Portugal's most successful club Benfica, who made the last 16 at the recent FIFA Club World Cup. Okon-Engstler was called into Tony Popovic's Socceroos squad for recent World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia. Although he is yet to make his international debut, he is considered a rising star and remains in the mix to feature for Australia at the 2026 World Cup. Okon-Engstler progressed through Benfica's academy and featured in the Portuguese second division throughout last season. "I'm really excited to be joining Sydney FC and to start this next chapter of my career back in Australia," Okon-Engstler said. "Sydney FC is a fantastic, forward-thinking football club with a progressive football philosophy and strategy which really drew me in. "It's a special moment for me and my family, I'm coming here to win trophies and fast-track my career and I can't wait to play in front of the Sky Blue members." Okon-Engstler could make his first appearance for Sydney on July 29 when they take on Western United in the Australia Cup. Toure, who started his career at Adelaide United, signed a two-year deal. The 25-year-old returns to Australia from FC Tulsa in the USL Championship after stints in Turkey and France. A day after signing Al Hassan Toure, Sydney FC have secured the services of emerging Socceroos midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler from Portuguese powerhouse Benfica. The Sky Blues have signed Okon-Engstler - the son of former Socceroos defender Paul Okon - on a three-year deal. The 20-year-old joins from Portugal's most successful club Benfica, who made the last 16 at the recent FIFA Club World Cup. Okon-Engstler was called into Tony Popovic's Socceroos squad for recent World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia. Although he is yet to make his international debut, he is considered a rising star and remains in the mix to feature for Australia at the 2026 World Cup. Okon-Engstler progressed through Benfica's academy and featured in the Portuguese second division throughout last season. "I'm really excited to be joining Sydney FC and to start this next chapter of my career back in Australia," Okon-Engstler said. "Sydney FC is a fantastic, forward-thinking football club with a progressive football philosophy and strategy which really drew me in. "It's a special moment for me and my family, I'm coming here to win trophies and fast-track my career and I can't wait to play in front of the Sky Blue members." Okon-Engstler could make his first appearance for Sydney on July 29 when they take on Western United in the Australia Cup. Toure, who started his career at Adelaide United, signed a two-year deal. The 25-year-old returns to Australia from FC Tulsa in the USL Championship after stints in Turkey and France. A day after signing Al Hassan Toure, Sydney FC have secured the services of emerging Socceroos midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler from Portuguese powerhouse Benfica. The Sky Blues have signed Okon-Engstler - the son of former Socceroos defender Paul Okon - on a three-year deal. The 20-year-old joins from Portugal's most successful club Benfica, who made the last 16 at the recent FIFA Club World Cup. Okon-Engstler was called into Tony Popovic's Socceroos squad for recent World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia. Although he is yet to make his international debut, he is considered a rising star and remains in the mix to feature for Australia at the 2026 World Cup. Okon-Engstler progressed through Benfica's academy and featured in the Portuguese second division throughout last season. "I'm really excited to be joining Sydney FC and to start this next chapter of my career back in Australia," Okon-Engstler said. "Sydney FC is a fantastic, forward-thinking football club with a progressive football philosophy and strategy which really drew me in. "It's a special moment for me and my family, I'm coming here to win trophies and fast-track my career and I can't wait to play in front of the Sky Blue members." Okon-Engstler could make his first appearance for Sydney on July 29 when they take on Western United in the Australia Cup. Toure, who started his career at Adelaide United, signed a two-year deal. The 25-year-old returns to Australia from FC Tulsa in the USL Championship after stints in Turkey and France.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Millwall sign Ipswich midfielder Luongo
Millwall have signed Australia international Massimo Luongo from Ipswich Town for an undisclosed former Fulham midfielder made 12 Premier League appearances for the Tractor Boys last 32, has 45 caps and scored six goals for the has signed a one-year contract after completing a trial period with the Lions and becomes Millwall boss Alex Neil's fourth signing of the summer, following goalkeeper Max Crocombe's arrival from Burton Albion, Zak Sturge's permanent switch from Chelsea and Josh Coburn's club-record transfer from Middlesbrough. "He is a player who I know well from his time at QPR, and he brings a wealth of experience to midfield, which is one of the reasons we brought him in," Millwall director of football Steve Gallen told the club website., external"He has had a great few seasons with Ipswich Town, helping them to the Premier League, where he made 11 appearances last campaign, and has been an excellent addition around the training ground already."Luongo's career in English football began at Tottenham Hotspur but the defensive midfielder never made a senor appearance for the club, spending time on loan at Ipswich and then two temporary stints at Swindon made a permanent move to the Robins in 2013 and made 100 appearances and scored 14 goals across three spells at the club before joining QPR in 152 games and 10 goals for the Hoops, he had spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough, before returning to Portman Road permanently in January 2023 and playing 43 times on the way to the Tractor Boys' promotion the following season. Millwall begin the new Championship season away at Norwich City on Saturday, 9 August.
Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Sydney FC signs son of former Socceroos star
A day after signing Al Hassan Toure, Sydney FC have secured the services of emerging Socceroos midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler from Portuguese powerhouse Benfica. The Sky Blues have signed Okon-Engstler - the son of former Socceroos defender Paul Okon - on a three-year deal. The 20-year-old joins from Portugal's most successful club Benfica, who made the last 16 at the recent FIFA Club World Cup. Okon-Engstler was called into Tony Popovic's Socceroos squad for recent World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia. Although he is yet to make his international debut, he is considered a rising star and remains in the mix to feature for Australia at the 2026 World Cup. Okon-Engstler progressed through Benfica's academy and featured in the Portuguese second division throughout last season. "I'm really excited to be joining Sydney FC and to start this next chapter of my career back in Australia," Okon-Engstler said. "Sydney FC is a fantastic, forward-thinking football club with a progressive football philosophy and strategy which really drew me in. "It's a special moment for me and my family, I'm coming here to win trophies and fast-track my career and I can't wait to play in front of the Sky Blue members." Okon-Engstler could make his first appearance for Sydney on July 29 when they take on Western United in the Australia Cup. Toure, who started his career at Adelaide United, signed a two-year deal. The 25-year-old returns to Australia from FC Tulsa in the USL Championship after stints in Turkey and France.
The Age
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Maradona played there. Now Sydney's iconic stadium may lose its World Cup qualifiers
Football Australia has threatened to take clutch World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers away from Sydney's Allianz Stadium due to issues with the surface and congested schedule at the $828 million venue. Newly released documents reveal a schism between the game's governing body and Venues NSW about the use of the rebuilt stadium, which only reopened three years ago but has been plagued by turf and drainage issues. Formerly known as the Sydney Football Stadium, Allianz has a long history of hosting major Socceroos and Matildas matches, among them the World Cup qualifier against Argentina in 1993 when Diego Maradona led the South American team to a first-leg draw before Australian hearts were broken in Buenos Aires. But FA warned in an email after the Socceroos' World Cup Asian group stage qualifying game against Indonesia in March that its men's and women's national teams may abandon the 42,500-capacity ground if it could not be closed off in the two weeks before their matches. 'Moving forward, Football Australia would be hesitant to book Allianz Stadium for high-stakes international fixtures unless greater assurance is provided around pitch protection, turf preparation windows, and warm-up zone quality,' FA chief corporate affairs officer Peter Filopoulos wrote to Venues NSW general manager for event acquisition Stephen Saunders on March 26. Filopoulos said players had reported the Allianz surface was 'the worst pitch they've played on in some time', describing it as well below international standard. He even suggested it cost the Socceroos winning by more than the 5-1 margin they did against Indonesia, 'which could be crucial given the tightness of our qualification group'. FA chief executive James Johnson, who has since left the role, followed up with an email to Venues NSW chief Kerrie Mather on April 17, saying the conditions hadn't improved when the Matildas played at Allianz Stadium on April 4 and football authorities had 'significant concerns'. Johnson told Mather the goal conceded by the Socceroos against Indonesia was 'directly influenced by an uneven bounce, undermining the integrity of play', while also reporting safety concerns from players' slippage, an 'unacceptable' strip of ready-to-play turf in a goalmouth, and below-standard warm-up areas.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Maradona played there. Now Sydney's iconic stadium may lose its World Cup qualifiers
Football Australia has threatened to take clutch World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers away from Sydney's Allianz Stadium due to issues with the surface and congested schedule at the $828 million venue. Newly released documents reveal a schism between the game's governing body and Venues NSW about the use of the rebuilt stadium, which only reopened three years ago but has been plagued by turf and drainage issues. Formerly known as the Sydney Football Stadium, Allianz has a long history of hosting major Socceroos and Matildas matches, among them the World Cup qualifier against Argentina in 1993 when Diego Maradona led the South American team to a first-leg draw before Australian hearts were broken in Buenos Aires. But FA warned in an email after the Socceroos' World Cup Asian group stage qualifying game against Indonesia in March that its men's and women's national teams may abandon the 42,500-capacity ground if it could not be closed off in the two weeks before their matches. 'Moving forward, Football Australia would be hesitant to book Allianz Stadium for high-stakes international fixtures unless greater assurance is provided around pitch protection, turf preparation windows, and warm-up zone quality,' FA chief corporate affairs officer Peter Filopoulos wrote to Venues NSW general manager for event acquisition Stephen Saunders on March 26. Filopoulos said players had reported the Allianz surface was 'the worst pitch they've played on in some time', describing it as well below international standard. He even suggested it cost the Socceroos winning by more than the 5-1 margin they did against Indonesia, 'which could be crucial given the tightness of our qualification group'. FA chief executive James Johnson, who has since left the role, followed up with an email to Venues NSW chief Kerrie Mather on April 17, saying the conditions hadn't improved when the Matildas played at Allianz Stadium on April 4 and football authorities had 'significant concerns'. Johnson told Mather the goal conceded by the Socceroos against Indonesia was 'directly influenced by an uneven bounce, undermining the integrity of play', while also reporting safety concerns from players' slippage, an 'unacceptable' strip of ready-to-play turf in a goalmouth, and below-standard warm-up areas.
