Michael Zullo

Australian soccer player

Michael Zullo
Zullo playing for Brisbane Roar in 2008
Personal information
Full name Michael Anthony Zullo
Date of birth (1988-09-11) 11 September 1988 (age 35)
Place of birth Brisbane, Australia
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Left-back
Youth career
Brisbane City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Brisbane Strikers
2007–2010 Brisbane Roar 53 (2)
2010–2015 Utrecht 34 (0)
2013–2014 → Adelaide United (loan) 24 (0)
2015–2016 Melbourne City 15 (0)
2016–2022 Sydney FC 85 (2)
International career‡
2008 Australia U23 6 (1)
2009–2013 Australia 10 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 May 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 November 2011

Michael Zullo (born 11 September 1988) is an Australian professional footballer who last played as a left-back for Sydney FC of the A-League.[1]

Club career

After being signed by the former Brisbane Roar coach Frank Farina on a two-year contract, Zullo played five of the six opening games of the season, coming on as a substitute. On his first eleven debut against Wellington Phoenix, his sixth appearance for Queensland, he scored in the opening minutes of the game and set up a first half added-time goal for fellow youngster and close friend Robbie Kruse.[2] He previously played in the Brisbane Premier League for the Brisbane Strikers During a match against Sydney FC, Zullo limped off the field with a torn thigh muscle which ruled him out for 6 weeks.[3]

At the end of the 2008–09 season, Zullo received offers from Dutch Eredivisie clubs FC Groningen and NEC Nijmegen but declined both offers and cited his preference to stay in the A-League for another season.[4]

On 2 April 2010, along with fellow Roar players, Thomas Oar and Adam Sarota, Zullo joined Dutch side Utrecht on a three-year deal, in a collective transfer deal rumoured to be worth in excess of A$1.8 million.[5][6] He made his debut for Utrecht in a 1–1 draw with NEC Nijmegen on 28 February 2011, coming off the bench on the 81st minute.

On 29 August 2013, he signed a one-year loan deal with Australian A-League club Adelaide United.[7]

On 14 July 2015, Zullo signed a one-year deal with Melbourne City.[8]

On 11 May 2016, Zullo signed a two-year deal with Sydney FC.[9] In his first season at the Sky Blues, he played an influential role as an attacking fullback, assisting three goals and forming a good partnership with left winger Miloš Ninković.

Zullo scored his first goal for Sydney FC in a 3–2 win over Wellington Phoenix.

In January 2018, Zullo committed his future to Sydney FC for a further two seasons.

On 16 May 2022, Zullo departed Sydney FC after six seasons with the club.[10]

International career

Due to outstanding form since making his debut for Brisbane Roar, Zullo was called up for the first time for the Australia national under-23 football team before their qualifier against Iraq, in which they won 2–0.

He was also a train-on player with the national U-17 squad, the Joeys, at 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Peru.

On 28 January 2009, Zullo made his full international debut, coming on as a substitute in a 0–0 draw with Indonesia in the group stage of qualifying for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.[11]

Personal life

Zullo attended Villanova College in the Brisbane suburb of Coorparoo, playing for the schools first XI. Zullo and his wife Georgia have two children who are twins.[12]

Career statistics

Statistics accurate as of 17 May 2022.

Club Season Division League Cup Continental Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brisbane Roar 2007–08 A-League 17 1 2 0 — 19 1
2008–09 23 1 2 1 — 25 2
2009–10 13 0 0 0 — 13 0
Total 53 2 4 1 0 0 57 3
FC Utrecht 2010–11 Eredivisie 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
2011–12 15 0 1 0 — 16 0
2012–13 13 0 1 0 0 0 13 0
Total 34 0 2 0 0 0 35 0
Adelaide United 2013–14 A-League 24 0 0 0 — 24 0
Melbourne City 2015–16 A-League 15 0 1 0 — 15 0
Sydney FC 2016–17 A-League 28 0 3 0 — 31 0
2017–18 20 1 5 0 4 0 29 1
2018–19 25 1 5 0 4 0 34 1
2019–20 11 0 1 0 2 0 14 0
2020–21 1 0 0 0 — 1 0
2021–22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 85 2 14 0 10 0 109 2
Career total 211 4 21 1 10 0 240 5

Honours

Club

Brisbane Strikers

Sydney FC

Individual

External links

  • Brisbane Roar profile
  • FFA - Olyroo profile
  • First Goal against Wellington Phoenix on YouTube
  • FC Utrecht profile

References

  1. ^ "Brisbane trio sign for FC Utrecht". 2 April 2010. Archived from the original on 26 February 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
  2. ^ Zullo roars into Suncorp" Australian FourFourTwo
  3. ^ Further month off for injured Zullo Fox Sports
  4. ^ Zullo Declines To Go Dutch
  5. ^ (in Dutch) Australisch trio tekent contract
  6. ^ Roar cop triple blow Archived 29 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Reds secure Socceroo Zullo on loan - Adelaide United FC 2014". www.footballaustralia.com.au. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014.
  8. ^ "Michael Zullo signs one-year deal with A-League's Melbourne City". ABC News. abc.net.au. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  9. ^ "Transfer news: Sydney FC sign Socceroos defender". A-League. 12 May 2016.
  10. ^ "News - Championship Winner Michael Zullo To Leave Club". Sydney FC. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Socceroos settle for draw in Asian Cup qualifier against Indonesia". AAP. AAP. 29 January 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  12. ^ Rugari, Vince (8 November 2020). "'Something I wasn't willing to risk': Sydney FC star to skip ACL to be with pregnant wife". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
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Sydney FC – current squad