The 2009–2010 season was Sydney FC's fifth consecutive season in the A-League since its inception. It was an historic year for the club taking out the domestic double by winning the premier's plate and the championship during the season.
Preview
Pre-season
After a disappointing 2008–09 season, Sydney FC went straight into action, sacking coach John Kosmina. A week later, Czech coach Vítězslav Lavička was signed as Sydney's fifth manager in as many seasons.
Sydney had a friendly match in China, with new sister club Shanghai Shenhua. Sydney FC lost the match 2–1, with their goal coming from striker Alex Brosque, who scored halfway through the second half to level the scores at 1–1. John Aloisi, who had a poor last season, showed he had hit form, but being very unlucky to have two goals disallowed during the first half. It was the first game for former Sydney and Socceroo Tony Popovic as caretaker coach.
On 3 April, it was confirmed that new coach Lavička had signed his first player, former Slovak international Karol Kisel, who had played under Lavička when he coached AC Sparta Prague.
Sydney was thrown into scandal involving new signing Sebastian Ryall, who was charged with the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl, while he was playing with Melbourne Victory. He was stood down by the Football Federation Australia (FFA) from the Sydney FC, and national team until 3 September. These charges were later dropped.
When the FFA announced that the usual A-League pre-season cup wouldn't be held due to financial reasons, it meant that teams would have to organise their own friendlies in the months before the start of the season. This opened up many possibilities. Across the A-League, a few teams managed to bring over some well known sides. Sydney was linked with English Premier League side Everton for their Asian Tour, and recently relegated Middlesbrough FC, who both pulled out in the last minute, and stated that if they were to tour Australia, they would want to play more than one team. At one stage, Spanish team Barcelona FC were being rumoured to be coming out. Nevertheless, the new coach organised a dozen friendlies with strong New South Wales Premier League and New South Wales Super League teams. Despite the opposition being weaker than expected, Sydney had a fantastic start. Sydney also trialled several overseas players and on 25 June Lavicka signed South Korean Left Back Byun Sung-Hwan.
Along with the new outfits, Sydney FC also welcomed a new major sponsor, Japanese electronic company Sony, who signed a contract with Sydney. They replaced JVC, which decided not to renew their sponsorship due to the 2008 financial crisis. New South Wales-based electronics retailer Bing Lee continued to sponsor Sydney FC. Bing Lee's logo was featured on the front of the home jerseys and on the front and back of the right leg of the away jerseys, whilst Sony will now take up the away jersey, and the front and back of the right leg of the home kit. Coach Vitezslav Lavicka signed his last player of the season, Stephan Keller, on a one-year contract, who had recently been released by then Eredivisie club De Graafschap after they had been relegated. He played in the final trial game against the Jets and impressed significantly in the 1–1 draw.
August Round 1: North Queensland Fury (away at Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville)
Sydney flew to Townsville to face newcomers North Queensland Fury, boasting an impressive squad that included all their VISA players. Just after 4 minutes, marquee man John Aloisi put last season's troubles behind him, opening the score on the back of a counter-attack that came off a saved Robbie Fowler free kick down the other end of the field. Sydney would double that lead to 2-0 20 minutes later through Kofi Danning, before North Queensland managed to get back into the game shortly before half time with a headed goal through a corner. The scoreline would be drawn to 2-2 several minutes after the resume of play, when Shannon Cole fouled Jason Spagnuolo in the box. God stepped up and coolly slotted the ball past Bolton who remained glued to the spot. It seemed like it would end a draw, but with 17 minutes remaining John Aloisi slotted a ball straight into the box, and a chasing Alex Brosque was tripped by a beaten Paul Henderson. John Aloisi calmly sent the keeper the wrong way and put the penalty straight down the middle, to give the visitors their first win of the season.
Round 2: Adelaide United (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
In front of a decent first home crowd of nearly 15,000, Sydney came up against archrivals Adelaide. Always a fiery and closely contested contest, there was again nothing between the two teams. Both teams were looking very dangerous and despite some close opportunities to take the lead from both sides, they went into the half-time break locked at 0–0. The second half looked to be a battle for fitness with Sydney dominating possession in the second half and a tired Adelaide struggling to stay in the contest. Former Jets striker Mark Bridge proved to be the difference between the two clubs substituting Steve Corica midway through the half. A few minutes after coming on played a 1–2 move with Kofi Danning and belted the ball past the Adelaide goalkeeper. After almost conceding minutes from time, Sydney managed to escape with a narrow victory and move into second on the ladder behind Gold Coast United with two wins from as many games.
Round 3: Central Coast Mariners (away at Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford)
The South NSW derby was again play out in front of a smallish crowd of 10,000 on a warm Gosford afternoon. The game turned out to be once more a stalemate, similar to the 0–0 draw played at Leichhardt Oval a few months beforehand. Both sides had their chances, and despite Sydney looking fitter, it seemed to be a typical A-League style long-ball game as both sides never really gaining the upper hand. Sydney's main striker and marquee player John Aloisi came close to scoring on 76 minutes, denied by the fingertips and reflexes of the Mariners keeper Danny Vukovic. However, the sky blues custodian Clint Bolton went one better pulling off a wonder penalty-save after John Hutchinson was brought down in a clattering tackle by Simon Colosimo and Byun Sung-Hwan. The Sydney defensive pair were both lucky to not be booked. Adam Kwasnik took the penalty and was denied by Bolton, regaining the faith and trust of some Sydney FC supporters who believed was past his prime. He would save Sydney yet again minutes later, pulling off another fantastic save from Dylan MacAllister, earning himself man of the match in what was ultimately a dull match.
Round 4: Wellington Phoenix (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
The Sydney v. Wellington Trans-Tasman matches had always proven to be Sydney's bogey, especially at the SFS. Wellington had won 2 of the 3 matches played there since their inaugural season and Sydney knew it would be a tough battle. The first half was locked in a difficult stalemate as both sides were feeling each other out, each struggling to gain the upper hand in possession. Midfielder Terry McFlynn was subbed off early for Brendan Gan with what looked to be an unfortunate thigh injury. Despite the loss of McFlynn, Sydney remained strong and dominated the possession early in the second half. Options seemed to be running out for coach Lavička when he put Steve Corica on for Kofi Danning. However, in the 77th minute Sydney gained the lead through a corner. Karol Kisel whipped the ball in and Brendan Gan (who managed to lose his defender) buried his header into the back of the net. What little air was left in Wellington's sails blew away only minutes later, when a counter-attack from a Wellington corner had Alex Brosque crossing the ball into the box where marquee striker John Aloisi angled the ball past a tired Wellington shot stopper for Sydney's well-deserved second goal. Aloisi would be subbed minutes after the goal for Matthew Jurman but the Sky Blues held on for a convincing 2–0 win. The win leapfrogged them into number one on the ladder after the Newcastle Jets defeated Gold Coast United 1–0 in Newcastle earlier in the round.
September Round 5: Gold Coast United (away at Skilled Park, Gold Coast)
Sydney travelled to the Gold Coast's Skilled Park for the top-of-the-table clash, one point clear of opponents Gold Coast United. Gold Coast were with without Socceroo marquee player Jason Culina whilst Sydney was without Northern Irish midfielder Terry McFlynn who was replaced with former National Youth League player Rhyan Grant. The first 10 to 20 minutes saw Gold Coast dominate but Sydney's strong-knitted defence held them off. Joel Porter made a promising start to the game for the home team but in the 19th minute he was forced to be substituted due to a calf injury and was replaced by Brazilian import Robson. Alex Brosque should have scored for Sydney in the 30th minute following a clever one-two with John Aloisi but the attacking midfielder sprayed his shot wide. It took a piece of magic from Shane Smeltz just before half-time for the crowd to erupt. Matt Osman's free kick was directed towards Shane Smeltz, whose header gave goalkeeper Clint Bolton little chance as the ball looped into the corner of the net. In the 56th minute, Smeltz finished off the contest by beating Shannon Cole to an awful Karol Kisel back-pass and calmly slotting the ball past the keeper. Sydney FC gave themselves a chance of saving a draw when substitute Steve Corica headed home a Shannon Cole cross in the 75th minute and then John Aloisi had a free kick just outside the box in the 89th minute, but he slammed the ball into United's wall. The final score was 2–1 to Gold Coast United in front of another disappointing Gold Coast crowd of 6,406. Gold Coast United over took Sydney FC on the table to sit in first place with Sydney slipping down one spot to second.
Round 6: North Queensland Fury (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)
Sydney would pair up against Robbie Fowler's North Queensland side sooner than expected. The match was originally scheduled to be played next door to the SFS at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground. Sydney FC were coming off a loss to Gold Coast United and were expected to beat North Queensland Fury who had yet to win a game, despite putting in solid performances against Adelaide United and Brisbane Roar in the previous weeks. A crowd of 16,699 showed up to see Robbie Fowler in town, seeing as the NRL finals were being played at the same time. Sydney started strongly and in the 26th minute received a penalty in almost identical fashion to the one received up in Townsville. John Aloisi stepped up, and in a miraculous piece of goalkeeping Paul Henderson pulled off a wonder save, denying Sydney FC the chance to go 1-0 up. The save was equally important for Henderson on a personal note, as he had been dropped the previous week after conceding 12 goals in the first 4 rounds. The morale of Sydney FC dropped, playing second fiddle to a confident North Queensland attack and lucky to go in at the break nil-all. After the break Sydney FC were at the mercy of North Queensland, rarely getting the ball into the opposition half and losing possession easily. It was only a matter of time before North Queensland scored, and in the 56th minute, they did so through Robbie Fowler. Fowler calmly chipped an out-of-position Clint Bolton outside of his 6-yard box. Any life left in Sydney's attack was immediately drained, with Fowler unlucky not to score a second 5 minutes later. Despite a late frenzied attack with Kofi Danning at the helm Sydney were unable to equalise. Sydney conceded their second straight defeat, losing the game 0–1.
Round 7: Newcastle Jets (home at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney)