Sydney FC striker Dwight Yorke arrived in Sydney today and immediately declared he was ready to help his new team mates chase trophies with the start of the Hyundai A-League just nine weeks away.
Yorke was part of one of the most successful teams of all time when he played a major part in Manchester United’s historic treble in 1999 when they won the English Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League but he has already set his sights on more silverware.
“I have come to Sydney FC because there is a buzz about the football club and there is a hunger to do well and win trophies,” Yorke said. “As a player there is nothing better than playing in a successful team and I have had that opportunity at Manchester United and I get that feeling about Sydney FC.
“Already the club has been successful and won two trophies and there is no doubt there are expectations on Sydney FC to continue that, and so there should be. I want to make sure I do everything possible to make sure that the attention Sydney FC is receiving is backed up with results on the field.
“Hopefully we can play some good football, score goals and entertain the people of Sydney because we want to be exciting and win games.”
Yorke fronted a substantial media scrum when he was introduced to the public for the first time as a Sydney FC player with media numbers rarely seen at football functions but no more than normal for a player who has scaled the dizzy heights of world football.
The charismatic Trinidad & Tobago international spoke about his desire to show the people of Sydney what he was capable of, his hunger for success and proved he had something in common with all Australian by declaring his desire to qualify for the 2006 World Cup.
“I still have that competitive hunger and I have not come here to waste anybody’s time,” he said. “I have always strived to give my very best on the football field and I am looking forward to showing the people of Sydney and Australia what I am capable of.”
Yorke also spoke about the extra responsibility that goes with the “marquee player” tag but stressed he was not interested in being set aside from his new Sydney FC team mates.
“I understand there will be extra spotlight and responsibility as a marquee player but I am not interested in being elevated above my team mates,” he said. “Football is a team game and the thing I am looking forward to most is meeting the lads and getting to know them.
“I want to do as much as I can to help share the experiences I have learned from my career and work with the younger players to help them improve.”
Yorke’s arrival today is the final piece in Sydney FC’s jigsaw puzzle and it was appropriate that he was introduced to the media alongside Sydney FC Coach Pierre Littbarski. Between the two of them Yorke and Littbarski have won almost every major football trophy available and the respect is mutual.
“You only have to look at what he (Littbarski) has achieved in the game to understand that he is a good coach and knows a lot about the game,” Yorke said. “You don’t get to play in the World Cup without knowing the game and he has done it three times.
“His record speaks for itself and he has already won trophies with Sydney FC so I can’t speak highly enough of his record.”
Littbarski was equally as glowing in his praise of his new striker but did prove Yorke’s theory that he was a good coach by remaining non-committal about how he would try to juggle three of the best strikers in the A-League in Yorke, David Zdrilic and Sasho Petrovski.
“Dwight is a tremendous player who has done a lot in the game and he impressed me when we met earlier this year,” Littbarski said. “He will be one of our leading players but it is too early to decide who will play in (sic) the strikers.”
Yorke starts training on Monday when he will join his Sydney FC team mates for the first time.