Luke Ivanovic: The Youngster to Spearhead Sydney FC’s Pursuit of a Premiership Double

Over the last few years, the A-League has seen the emergence of an array of up-and-coming footballers. Perhaps one of the most exciting is Sydney FC’s Luke Ivanovic. Having caught the eye in the National Premier League with Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC, the youngster moved to the Sky Blues in 2018.

Following the transfer, the 20-year-old attacker has continually taken his game from strength to strength in highlighting the promise of Australia’s next generation. So, let’s consider whether the versatile forward will be a leading figure in Sydney’s pursuit of a fifth Grand Final triumph.

Bursting onto the Scene in 2019

Throughout the past few years, Ivanovic has worked under the management of Steve Corica, who was given the permanent job at the Leichhardt Oval after the departure of Graham Arnold in March 2018. Having played over 100 times for the Sky Blues, along with also spending the majority of his coaching career at the club, the 47-year-old understands the culture of the Sydney FC. Fundamentally, this is evident from his desire to bring through the team’s promising young players, particularly Ivanovic.

 

 

In both Corica and Ivanovic’s first season together, the 20-year-old featured in 15 matches for the Sky Blues across both the A-League and AFC Champions League. Although he only started one game in his first season with the four-time champions, he memorably scored the opening goal in the Sky Blue’s two-goal victory over rivals, Melbourne City, in March 2019.

In the following season, Ivanovic continued to play as a rotation option under Corica’s management. That said, the 2019-20 campaign saw the youngster feature in 13 A-League matches, two more than the previous season. While the 47-year-old’s future plans for Ivanovic are unknown, it’s apparent that he’s giving him increased opportunities year on year to develop his game.

For All of His Promise, He Needs Game Time

Because of the early promise that the 20-year-old has shown thus far in his professional career, Ivanovic will likely have his sights set on establishing himself as a first-team regular at the Leichhardt Oval. The reality of the situation, however, means that such a task may be trickier than first imagined. Crucially, the Sky Blues have won three of the last four Premiership titles, with their most recent coming in extra time against Melbourne City.

While their team success doesn’t necessarily determine how influential Ivanovic could be, breaking into a trophy-winning side is something that may hinder his short-term development. That said, Corica is undoubtedly a big fan of the 20-year-old, and that’s evident from his substitution in Sydney FC’s semi-final clash against Perth Glory. Going forward, the Sky Blues are likely to be among the favorites to clinch the Premiership title for a fifth time with A-League betting, and Corica may put his faith in Ivanovic to provide the much-needed cutting edge.

His Talent Isn’t in Question

For Ivanovic, the next couple of years could be the most pivotal of his professional career. Having worked his way into Corica’s plans as an impact player, he now faces a battle of working hard to break into the first team. Given his manager’s faith in him and his ever-increasing opportunities, the 20-year-old has the chance to become a fan favorite at the Leichhardt Oval.