2001–02 Sydney United FC season

Sydney United 58 FC
2001–02 season
Chairman	Marko Franović
Manager	Branko Culina
Stadium	Sydney United Sports Centre
National Soccer League	11th (League)
Top goalscorer	Commins Menapi (8), Ante Milicic (8)
Highest home attendance	5,177 vs. Marconi Stallions; (28 October 2001); National Soccer League
Lowest home attendance	1,580 vs. Newcastle United; (30 March 2002); National Soccer League
Average home league attendance	3,774
Biggest win	3–0; vs. Football Kingz; (20 October 2001); National Soccer League
Biggest defeat	1–4 ; vs. Olympic Sharks; (19 November 2001); National Soccer League

The 2001-02 season marked Sydney United's nineteenth campaign in the NSL, but it proved to be a challenging year. The team finished 11th on the table, managing only six wins throughout the season.

Branko Culina returned to United as manager, having previously guided the club to a premiership and Grand Final appearance in the 1996-97 season. His return also saw the arrival of familiar faces, with former players Ante Milicic and Krešimir Marušić re-joining the squad. However, despite these additions, United struggled to find form and once again missed out on the finals.

The team's difficulties were compounded by mid-season departures, as Milicic, Marušić, Zlatko Arambasic, and Marcus Stergiopoulos all exited the club. In Milicic's case, Sydney United secured a $110,000 transfer fee from Olympic Sharks, providing much-needed financial relief.

Despite the team's struggles, Commins Menapi and Ante Milicic both finished as Sydney United's top goalscorers, netting eight goals each across the season.^[1]

Players

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	AUS	Brett Hughes
2	DF	AUS	Michael Santalab
3	MF	AUS	Vince Savoca
4	DF	AUS	Elvis Olic
5	MF	AUS	Nahuel Arrarte
6	DF	AUS	Michael Cunico
8	MF	AUS	Ante Moric
9	MF	AUS	Gabriel Mendez
11	MF	CRO	Željko Kopić
12	FW	AUS	Brendon Santalab
13	MF	AUS	Ante Deur
14	MF	AUS	Goran Talevski
15	MF	AUS	Aytek Genc
16	FW	SOL	Commins Menapi
17	MF	AUS	Paul Bilokapic (Captain)
18	FW	AUS	Daniel Watkins


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
20	GK	AUS	John Perosh
21	MF	AUS	Mile Jedinak
22	MF	AUS	Milan Bosnar
23	DF	AUS	Michael Cindrić
24	DF	AUS	Sebastian Sinozić
25	MF	AUS	Jon Angelucci
26	MF	AUS	Ivan Zelic
27	GK	AUS	Vilson Knežević
29	MF	AUS	Christian Cevinini
30	GK	AUS	John Karoubas
37	MF	CRO	Aljoša Asanović
—	FW	AUS	Zlatko Arambasic
—	FW	AUS	Ante Milicic (Captain)
—	MF	CRO	Krešimir Marušić
—	MF	AUS	Marcus Stergiopoulos

Transfers in

No.	Pos.	Name	Age	Moving from	Type	Transfer window	Transfer fee	Source
10	FW	Ante Milicic	27	NK Rijeka	Transfer	Pre-season	Free	^[2]
11	MF	Željko Kopić	24	NK Marsonia	Transfer	Pre-season	Free	^[3]>
27	GK	Vilson Knežević	25	Germinal Beerschot	Transfer	Pre-season	Free	^[4]
7	MF	Krešimir Marušić	31	Northern Spirit	Transfer	Pre-season	Free	^[2]
20	GK	John Perosh	27	Northern Spirit	Transfer	Pre-season	Free	^[5]
18	FW	Daniel Watkins	21	Northern Spirit	Transfer	Pre-season	Free	^[6]
6	DF	Michael Cunico	22	Northern Spirit	Transfer	Pre-season	Free	^[2]
2	DF	Michael Santalab	22	Parramatta Power	Transfer	Pre-season	Free	^[2]
12	FW	Brendon Santalab	19	Parramatta Power	Transfer	Pre-season	Free	^[2]
8	FW	Ante Moric	27	Olympic Sharks	Transfer	Pre-season	Free	^[2]
24	FW	Marcus Stergiopoulos	28	Eastern Pride	Transfer	Pre-season	Free	^[7]
26	MF	Ivan Zelic	23	Melbourne Knights	Transfer	Pre-season	Free	^[8]
25	DF	Jon Angelucci	26	Canberra Cosmos	Transfer	Pre-season	Free	^[9]

Transfers out

No.	Pos.	Name	Age	Moving to	Type	Transfer window	Transfer fee	Source
4	DF	Velimir Kuprešak	37	Retirement		Pre-season	Free	^[10]
5	MF	Richard Plesa	25	FC Aarhus	Transfer	Pre-season	Free	^[2]
10	MF	Tom Pondeljak	25	Olympic Sharks	End of Contract	Pre-season	Free	^[2]
17	FW	Francis Awaritefe	37	Rockdale City Suns	End of Contract	Pre-season	Free	^[11]
3	DF	Danny Burt	28	Central Coast United	End of Contract	Pre-season	Free	^[12]
7	DF	Shane Webb	21	Marconi Stallions	End of Contract	Pre-season	Free	^[13]
12	DF	Tom Maric	24	Fairfield Bulls	End of Contract	Pre-season	Free	^[14]
14	MF	Kain Rastall	23	Blacktown City FC	End of Contract	Pre-season	Free	^[15]
19	MF	Terry Palapanis	30	Hurstville City Minotaurs	End of Contract	Pre-season	Free	^[16]
21	FW	Akwasi Ageyi	20	Canterbury Marrickville FC	End of Contract	Pre-season	Free	^[17]
28	DF	Allan Picken	20	APIA Leichhardt	End of Contract	Pre-season	Free	^[18]
30	GK	Steve Tolios	26	Sydney Crescent Star	End of Contract	Pre-season	Free	^[19]
	MF	Mark Silic	29	Retirement	End of Contract	Pre-season	Free	^[20]

Mid-Season Gains

No.	Pos.	Name	Age	Moving from	Type	Transfer window	Transfer fee	Source
37	MF	Aljoša Asanović	35	Free Agency	Guest Contract	Mid-season	Free	^[21]
8	MF	Gabriel Mendez	28	Northern Spirit	Transfer	Mid-season	Free	^[22]
24	DF	Sebastian Sinozić	23	Olympic Sharks	Transfer	Mid-season	Free	^[23]

Mid-Season Losses

No.	Pos.	Name	Age	Moving to	Type	Transfer window	Transfer fee	Source
9	FW	Zlatko Arambasic	32	Parramatta Power	Transfer	Mid-season		^[24]^[25]
10	FW	Ante Milicic	27	Olympic Sharks	Transfer	Mid-season	$110,000	^[26]^[27]
7	MF	Krešimir Marušić	32	Melbourne Knights	Transfer	Mid-season		^[28]^[29]
24	MF	Marcus Stergiopoulos	28	Northern Spirit	Transfer	Mid-season		^[30]

Competitions

Overview

Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Record
Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
National Soccer League	15 October 2001	29 April 2002	Matchday 1	11th	27	6	9	12	46	56	−10	022.22
Total					27	6	9	12	46	56	−10	022.22

Last updated: complete
Source: Competitions

National Soccer League

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
9	Marconi Fairfield	24	8	6	10	33	36	−3	30
10	Wollongong Wolves	24	6	7	11	28	43	−15	25
11	Sydney United	24	6	6	12	27	37	−10	24
12	Adelaide Force	24	4	8	12	27	39	−12	20
13	Football Kingz	24	3	5	16	28	58	−30	14

Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored

Results summary


Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
24	6	6	12	27	37	−10	24	1	5	6	13	22	−9	5	1	6	14	15	−1

Source: [1]

Matches

6 October 2001 1	Olympic Sharks	1–0	Sydney United	Woolooware, New South Wales
	Macallister 66'	Report		Stadium: Toyota Park Attendance: 9,612 Referee: Shaun Micallef

14 October 2001 2	Sydney United	1–3	Brisbane Strikers	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Menapi 44'	Report	Foster 48' Rech 54' Trajanovski 65'	Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre Attendance: 4,780 Referee: Gerry Connelly

31 October 2001 3	South Melbourne	0–1	Sydney United	Albert Park, Victoria
		Report	Milicic 36'	Stadium: Bob Jane Stadium Attendance: 5,866 Referee: Con Diomis

28 October 2001 4	Sydney United	1–1	Marconi Stallions	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Milicic 1'	Report	Tome 68'	Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre Attendance: 5,177 Referee: Eddie Lennie

3 November 2001 5	Perth Glory	2–1	Sydney United	Vincent, Western Australia
	Mori 26' Horsley 47'	Report	Milicic 90+1'	Stadium: Perth Oval Attendance: 12,975 Referee: Matthew Breeze

9 November 2001 6	Sydney United	1–2	Football Kingz	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Menapi 62'	Report	Ngata 50', 70'	Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre Attendance: 3,817 Referee: P.Mur

17 November 2001 7	Wollongong Wolves	1–0	Sydney United	Wollongong, New South Wales
	Huxley 65'	Report		Stadium: WIN Stadium Attendance: 3,291 Referee: Angelo Nardi

2 December 2001 9	Sydney United	2–1	Melbourne Knights	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Menapi 46 (pen)', 78'	Report	Da Costa 10'	Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre Attendance: 4,185 Referee: D.Rugg

7 December 2001 10	Northern Spirit	1–2	Sydney United	North Sydney, New South Wales
	Cardozo 53'	Report	Milicic 16' Menapi 90+2'	Stadium: North Sydney Oval Attendance: 4,605 Referee: Brett Hugo

16 December 2001 11	Sydney United	0–2	Parramatta Power	Edensor Park, New South Wales
		Report	Eagleton 4' Kwasnik 83'	Stadium: Sydney Croatian Sports Centre Attendance: 5,142 Referee: Peter Green

21 December 2001 12	Newcastle United	2–0	Sydney United	Newcastle, New South Wales
	Griffiths 59' McBreen 86'	Report		Stadium: Energy Australia Stadium Attendance: 9,136 Referee: Shaun Micallef

6 January 2002 13	Sydney United	1–1	Adelaide Force	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Milicic 51'	Report	Moreira 31'	Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre Attendance: 3,753 Referee: Eddie Lennie

13 January 2002 14	Sydney United	1–4	Olympic Sharks	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Kopić 83'	Report	North 2', 39' Pondeljak 61' Wilson 79'	Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre Attendance: 4,589 Referee: P.Mur

19 January 2002 15	Brisbane Strikers	1–2	Sydney United	Herston, Queensland
	Foster 80'	Report	Cevinini 45' Milicic 54'	Stadium: Ballymore Oval Attendance: 3,554 Referee: Peter Green

27 January 2002 16	Sydney United	2–2	South Melbourne	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Bilokapic 60' Deur 77'	Report	Boutsianis 66', 90'	Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre Attendance: 3,350 Referee: Brett Hugo

2 February 2002 17	Marconi Stallions	2–2	Sydney United	Bossley Park, New South Wales
	Tome 31' Last 90'	Report	Deur 44' Menapi 76'	Stadium: Marconi Stadium Attendance: 4,362 Referee: Con Diomis

10 February 2002 18	Sydney United	1–2	Perth Glory	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Menapi 63'	Report	Mori 71' Mrdja 76'	Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre Attendance: 3,579 Referee: Matthew Breeze

15 February 2002 19	Football Kingz	0–3	Sydney United	Auckland, New Zealand
		Report	Menapi 22' Deur 61' Mendez 88'	Stadium: Ericsson Stadium Attendance: 2,842 Referee: P.Mur

24 February 2002 20	Sydney Uniteds	1–2	Wollongong Wolves	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Arrarte 43'	Report	Sharland 33' Young 71'	Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre Attendance: 3,062 Referee: Peter Green

10 March 2002 22	Melbourne Knights	2–1	Sydney United	Sunshine North, Victoria
	Marušić 18' DeJesus 25'	Report	Menapi 9'	Stadium: Knights Stadium Attendance: 3,620 Referee: Craig Zetter

17 March 2002 23	Sydney United	1–1	Northern Spirit	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Mendez 76'	Report	Cardozo 37'	Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre Attendance: 2,280 Referee: Mark Shield

23 March 2002 24	Parramatta Power	2–0	Sydney United	Parramatta, New South Wales
	Brown 19' Holman 40'	Report		Stadium: Parramatta Stadium Attendance: 2,991 Referee: Eddie Lennie

30 March 2002 25	Sydney United	1–1	Newcastle United	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Menapi 74'	Report	Moreira 91 (pen)'	Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre Attendance: 1,580 Referee: Matthew Breeze

7 April 2002 Round 26	Adelaide Force	1–2	Sydney United	Hindmarsh, South Australia
	Vidmar 20'	Report	B.Santalab 14' Jedinak 66'	Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium Attendance: 3,500 Referee: Craig Zetter

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Players with no appearances not included in the list.^[31]^[32]

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Name	National Soccer League		Total
No.	Pos.	Nat.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK		Brett Hughes	1	0	1	0
2	DF		Michael Santalab	10	0	10	0
3	MF		Vince Savoca	14	0	14	0
4	DF		Elvis Olic	5	0	5	0
5	MF		Nahuel Arrarte	17	1	17	1
6	DF		Michael Cunico	20	0	20	0
7	DF		Raymond Younis	8	0	8	0
8	MF		Ante Moric	7	0	7	0
9	MF		Gabriel Mendez	11	2	11	2
11	MF		Željko Kopić	11	1	11	1
12	FW		Brendon Santalab	11	1	11	1
13	MF		Ante Deur	23	3	23	3
14	MF		Goran Talevski	17	0	17	0
15	MF		Aytek Genc	10	0	10	0
16	FW		Commins Menapi	20	8	20	8
17	MF		Paul Bilokapic	22	1	22	1
18	DF		Daniel Watkins	10	0	10	0
20	GK		John Perosh	4	0	4	0
21	MF		Mile Jedinak	7	1	7	1
22	MF		Milan Bosnar	4	0	4	0
23	DF		Michael Cindrić	4	0	4	0
24	MF		Sebastian Sinozić	13	0	13	0
25	DF		Jon Angelucci	6	0	6	0
27	GK		Vilson Knežević	17	0	17	0
29	MF		Christian Cevenini	10	1	10	1
30	GK		John Karoubas	2	0	2	0
37	MF		Aljoša Asanović	2	0	2	0
Players who left during the season
–	FW		Zlatko Arambasic	3	0	3	0
–	FW		Ante Milicic	14	8	14	8
–	MF		Krešimir Marušić	13	0	13	0
–	MF		Marcus Stergiopoulos	9	0	9	0

References

^ Nimac, Ivan; Dusevic, Sime; Lozina, Leonard; Nimac, Tony (2008). More Than The Game: 50 Years of Sydney United (First ed.). Sydney, NSW. pp. 227–230. ISBN 978-0-646-50046-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Nimac, Ivan; Dusevic, Sime; Lozina, Leonard; Nimac, Tony (2008). More Than The Game: 50 Years of Sydney United (First Edition 2008 ed.). Sydney, NSW, Australia: Sydney United. p. 227. ISBN 978-0-646-50046-1.
^ "Željko Kopić". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
^ "Vilson Knežević". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
^ "John Perosh". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
^ "Daniel Watkins". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
^ "Marcus Stergiopoulos". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
^ "Ivan Zelić". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
^ "Jon Angelucci". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
^ Nimac, Ivan; Dusevic, Sime; Lozina, Leonard; Nimac, Tony (2008). More Than The Game: 50 Years of Sydney United (First Edition 2008 ed.). Sydney, NSW, Australia: Sydney United. pp. 226–227. ISBN 978-0-646-50046-1.
^ "Francis Awaritefe". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
^ "Danny Burt". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
^ "Shane Webb". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
^ "Tom Maric". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
^ "Kain Rastall". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
^ "Terry Palapanis". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
^ "Akwasi Ageyi". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
^ "Allan Picken". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
^ "Steve Tolios". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
^ "Mark Silic". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
^ Nimac, Ivan; Dusevic, Sime; Lozina, Leonard; Nimac, Tony (2008). More Than The Game: 50 Years of Sydney United (First Edition 2008 ed.). Sydney, NSW, Australia: Sydney United. p. 228. ISBN 978-0-646-50046-1.
^ Nimac, Ivan; Dusevic, Sime; Lozina, Leonard; Nimac, Tony (2008). More Than The Game: 50 Years of Sydney United (First Edition 2008 ed.). Sydney, NSW, Australia: Sydney United. p. 229. ISBN 978-0-646-50046-1.
^ "Aussie Footballers - Singh to Smith". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
^ "Aussie Footballers - Anastasiadis to Arcaba". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
^ "Zlatko Arambašić". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
^ Nimac, Ivan; Dusevic, Sime; Lozina, Leonard; Nimac, Tony (2008). More Than The Game: 50 Years of Sydney United (First Edition 2008 ed.). Sydney, NSW, Australia: Sydney United. pp. 228–229. ISBN 978-0-646-50046-1.
^ "Aussie Footballers - Milardovic to Mirkovic". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
^ van Bedaf, Bert (January 2002). "Marusic Returns to Knights". Australian and British Soccer Weekly. No. 1072. F.L. Press.
^ "Aussie Footballers - Marsh to Matiscak". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
^ "Aussie Footballers - Stefanutto to Storey". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
^ "The Australian National League". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
^ "Sydney United Page". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 5 May 2025.

[1] Nimac, Ivan; Dusevic, Sime; Lozina, Leonard; Nimac, Tony (2008). More Than The Game: 50 Years of Sydney United (First ed.). Sydney, NSW. pp. 227–230. ISBN 978-0-646-50046-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[auto-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Nimac, Ivan; Dusevic, Sime; Lozina, Leonard; Nimac, Tony (2008). More Than The Game: 50 Years of Sydney United (First Edition 2008 ed.). Sydney, NSW, Australia: Sydney United. p. 227. ISBN 978-0-646-50046-1.

[3] "Željko Kopić". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 14 May 2025.

[4] "Vilson Knežević". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 14 May 2025.

[5] "John Perosh". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 14 May 2025.

[6] "Daniel Watkins". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 14 May 2025.

[7] "Marcus Stergiopoulos". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 14 May 2025.

[8] "Ivan Zelić". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 14 May 2025.

[9] "Jon Angelucci". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 14 May 2025.

[10] Nimac, Ivan; Dusevic, Sime; Lozina, Leonard; Nimac, Tony (2008). More Than The Game: 50 Years of Sydney United (First Edition 2008 ed.). Sydney, NSW, Australia: Sydney United. pp. 226–227. ISBN 978-0-646-50046-1.

[11] "Francis Awaritefe". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.

[12] "Danny Burt". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.

[13] "Shane Webb". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.

[14] "Tom Maric". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.

[15] "Kain Rastall". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.

[16] "Terry Palapanis". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 13 May 2025.

[17] "Akwasi Ageyi". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.

[18] "Allan Picken". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.

[19] "Steve Tolios". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.

[20] "Mark Silic". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 10 May 2025.

[21] Nimac, Ivan; Dusevic, Sime; Lozina, Leonard; Nimac, Tony (2008). More Than The Game: 50 Years of Sydney United (First Edition 2008 ed.). Sydney, NSW, Australia: Sydney United. p. 228. ISBN 978-0-646-50046-1.

[22] Nimac, Ivan; Dusevic, Sime; Lozina, Leonard; Nimac, Tony (2008). More Than The Game: 50 Years of Sydney United (First Edition 2008 ed.). Sydney, NSW, Australia: Sydney United. p. 229. ISBN 978-0-646-50046-1.

[23] "Aussie Footballers - Singh to Smith". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.

[24] "Aussie Footballers - Anastasiadis to Arcaba". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.

[25] "Zlatko Arambašić". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.

[26] Nimac, Ivan; Dusevic, Sime; Lozina, Leonard; Nimac, Tony (2008). More Than The Game: 50 Years of Sydney United (First Edition 2008 ed.). Sydney, NSW, Australia: Sydney United. pp. 228–229. ISBN 978-0-646-50046-1.

[27] "Aussie Footballers - Milardovic to Mirkovic". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.

[28] van Bedaf, Bert (January 2002). "Marusic Returns to Knights". Australian and British Soccer Weekly. No. 1072. F.L. Press.

[29] "Aussie Footballers - Marsh to Matiscak". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.

[30] "Aussie Footballers - Stefanutto to Storey". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2025.

[31] "The Australian National League". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 5 May 2025.

[32] "Sydney United Page". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 5 May 2025.

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