2020–21 Western Sydney Wanderers FC season
The 2020–21 Western Sydney Wanderers season is the club's ninth season since its establishment in 2012. The club will be participating in the A-League for the ninth time.
| 2020–21 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Paul Lederer | ||
| Manager | Jean-Paul de Marigny (to 12 October 2020) Carl Robinson (from 15 October 2020) | ||
| Stadium | Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta | ||
| A-League | 2nd | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: 5 players (1 goal) All: 5 players (1 goal) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 10,128 vs Macarthur FC (30 December 2020) | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 6,896 vs Newcastle Jets (29 January 2021) | ||
| Average home league attendance | 8,512 | ||
|
| |||
Pre-season
The Western Sydney Wanderers started the season with Jean-Paul de Marigny as their head coach after he was appointed in July permanently, following an interim session after the sacking of Markus Babbel.[1] Three months after his appointment, Wanderers announced de Marigny's sacking with no explanation.[2] On 15 October 2020, the Wanderers announced the signing of Carl Robinson from Newcastle Jets as de Marigny's replacement.[3]
Players
First team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Transfers
From youth squad
| N |
Pos. |
Nat. |
Name |
Age |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | FW | Stefan Nikolic | 17 | 2 year scholarship contract[4] | |
| 33 | DF | Mark Natta | 17 | 2 year scholarship contract[5] | |
| 36 | MF | Alessandro Lopane | 16 | 2 year scholarship contract[6] | |
| 32 | DF | Jarrod Carluccio | 19 | 1 year scholarship contract[7] | |
| 39 | DF | Thomas Aquilina | 19 | 2 year scholarship contract[8] | |
| DF | Mohamad Al-Taay | 20 | scholarship contract[9] |
Transfers in
| No. | Position | Name | Transferred from | Type/fee | Contract length | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | MF | Anthony Lesiotis | Unattached | Free transfer | 2 years | 5 November 2020 | [10] |
| 18 | MF | Free transfer | 2 years | 9 November 2020 | [11] | ||
| 30 | GK | Daniel Margush | Unattached | Free transfer | 2 years | 11 November 2020 | [12] |
| TBD | DF | Phillip Cancar | Free transfer | 1 year | 15 November 2020 | [13][14] | |
| 14 | MF | James Troisi | Adelaide United | Free transfer | 2 years | 15 December 2020 | [15] |
| 2 | DF | Central Coast Mariners | Free transfer | 1 year | 17 December 2020 | [16] | |
| 9 | FW | Bernie Ibini | Newcastle Jets | Free transfer | 2 years | 17 December 2020 | [17] |
| TBD | GK | Noah James | Newcastle Jets | Loan | 1 year | 30 December 2020 | [18] |
| TBD | MF | Unattached | Free transfer | 6 months | 5 January 2021 | [19] | |
| TBD | FW | Mitchell Duke | Loan | 6 months | 1 February 2021 | [20] |
Transfers out
| No. | Position | Player | Transferred to | Type/fee | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | MF | Retired | 13 July 2020 | [21][22] | ||
| – | MF | Unattached | End of contract | 3 August 2020 | [23] | |
| 7 | FW | Mitchell Duke | Free transfer | 20 August 2020 | [24] | |
| 40 | GK | Nicholas Suman | Macarthur FC | Free transfer | 7 September 2020 | [25] |
| 6 | DF | Matthew Jurman | End of contract | 25 September 2020 | [26][27] | |
| 16 | DF | Mathieu Cordier | Unattached | End of contract | 16 October 2020 | [28] |
| 22 | MF | Nick Sullivan | Unattached | End of contract | 16 October 2020 | [28] |
| 50 | GK | Tristan Prendergast | Unattached | End of contract | 16 October 2020 | [28] |
| 1 | GK | Unattached | Mutual contract termination | 11 December 2020 | [29][30] | |
| 28 | MF | Fabian Monge | Unattached | Mutual contract termination | 29 December 2020 | [31] |
| 31 | DF | Noah Pagden | Unattached | Mutual contract termination | 29 December 2020 | [31] |
| 35 | FW | Mohamed Adam | Unattached | Mutual contract termination | 29 December 2020 | [31] |
Contract extensions
| No. | Name | Position | Duration | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Kosta Grozos | Midfielder | 16 October 2020 | promoted to senior contract[28] | |
| 27 | Winger | 16 October 2020 | [28] | ||
| 7 | Bruce Kamau | Winger | 23 November 2020 | [32] |
Pre-season and friendlies
| 14 November 2020 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 2–0 | | Australia |
|
Report | Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
| 21 November 2020 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 12–2 | | Australia |
| 13:00 AEDT | Report |
|
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
| 27 November 2020 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | | Blacktown, Australia |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Wanderers Centre of Excellence Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
| 7 December 2020 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 0–2 | | Sydney, Australia |
| 17:30 AEDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Valentine Sports Park Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
| 12 December 2020 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 1–3 | | Sydney, Australia |
|
Report | Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
| 19 December 2020 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 4–0 | | Australia |
| Report | Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
Competitions
Win Draw Loss
Overview
| Competition | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |
| A-League | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 40.00 |
| Total | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 40.00 |
Updated to match played 30 January 2021
Source: Competitions
A-League
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Coast Mariners | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 12 | Qualification to Finals Series, 2021 FFA Cup round of 32, and 2022 AFC Champions League group stage[lower-alpha 1] |
| 2 | Brisbane Roar | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 9 | Qualification to Finals Series and 2021 FFA Cup round of 32[lower-alpha 1] |
| 3 | Perth Glory | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 12 | +3 | 9 | |
| 4 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 8 | |
| 5 | Sydney FC | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 7 | |
| 6 | Adelaide United | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 10 | −2 | 7 | |
| 7 | Macarthur FC | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 7 | Qualification to 2021 FFA Cup round of 32[lower-alpha 2] |
| 8 | Melbourne City | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 6 | |
| 9 | Western United | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 5 | |
| 10 | Wellington Phoenix[lower-alpha 3] | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 4 | |
| 11 | Melbourne Victory | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 4 | |
| 12 | Newcastle Jets | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 4 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Least red cards; 5) Least yellow cards; 6) Toss of a coin in an event of a tie of two clubs.
Notes:
- The top two teams enter the Finals series at the semi-finals, while the teams ranked third to sixth enter the Finals series at the elimination-finals.
- The top 8 teams qualify for the round of 32, while the bottom four teams participate in a playoff round.[33]
- Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for Asian Football Confederation competitions as they are not recognised as an AFC club.
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 |
| 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 |
Last updated: 30 January 2021.
Source: Ultimate A-League
Results by round
A = Away; H = Home; D = Draw; L = Loss
Matches
The 2020–21 A-League fixtures were announced on 24 November 2020.[34]
| 30 December 2020 1 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 0–1 | Macarthur FC | Sydney |
| 19:10 AEDT | Report | Milligan |
Stadium: Bankwest Stadium Attendance: 10,128 Referee: Kurt Ams |
| 8 January 2021 3 | Newcastle Jets | 1–2 | Western Sydney Wanderers | Newcastle |
| 19:10 AEDT |
|
Report | Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium Attendance: 5,374 Referee: Daniel Elder |
| 16 January 2021 5 | Sydney FC | 1–1 | Western Sydney Wanderers | Sydney |
| 17:05 AEDT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Stadium Australia Attendance: 14,402 Referee: Alex King |
| 19 January 2021 6 | Central Coast Mariners | 0–1 | Western Sydney Wanderers | Gosford |
| 19:00 AEDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Central Coast Stadium Attendance: 4,659 Referee: Kurt Ams |
| 29 January 2021 23 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 1–1 | Newcastle Jets | Sydney |
| 19:05 AEST | Ibini |
Report | O'Donovan |
Stadium: Bankwest Stadium Attendance: 6,896 Referee: Ben Abraham |
| 6 February 2021 16 | Macarthur FC | v | Western Sydney Wanderers | Sydney |
| 17:00 AEDT | Stadium: Campbelltown Stadium |
| 10 February 2021 8 | Western Sydney Wanderers | v | Melbourne Victory | Sydney |
| 19:05 AEDT | Stadium: Bankwest Stadium |
| 13 February 2021 17 | Western Sydney Wanderers | v | Melbourne City | Sydney |
| 19:10 AEDT | Stadium: Bankwest Stadium |
| 21 February 2021 11 | Wellington Phoenix | v | Western Sydney Wanderers | Wollongong |
| 19:00 AEDT | Stadium: WIN Stadium |
| 24 February 2021 12 | Western Sydney Wanderers | v | Brisbane Roar | Sydney |
| 19:00 AEDT | Stadium: Bankwest Stadium |
| 27 February 2021 13 | Western Sydney Wanderers | v | Central Coast Mariners | Sydney |
| 17:05 AEDT | Stadium: Bankwest Stadium |
| 7 March 2021 14 | Western United | v | Western Sydney Wanderers | TBC |
| 18:00 AEDT |
| 15 March 2021 15 | Western Sydney Wanderers | v | Wellington Phoenix | Sydney |
| 19:00 AEDT | Stadium: Bankwest Stadium |
| 2 April 2021 18 | Adelaide United | v | Western Sydney Wanderers | Adelaide |
| 19:00 ACDT | Stadium: Coopers Stadium |
| 10 April 2021 19 | Sydney FC | v | Western Sydney Wanderers | TBD |
| 19:00 AEST |
| 16 April 2021 20 | Western Sydney Wanderers | v | Brisbane Roar | Sydney |
| 19:00 AEST | Stadium: Bankwest Stadium |
| 24 April 2021 21 | Melbourne Victory | v | Western Sydney Wanderers | Melbourne |
| 17:00 AEST | Stadium: Marvel Stadium |
| 30 April 2021 22 | Adelaide United | v | Western Sydney Wanderers | Adelaide |
| 19:00 ACST | Stadium: Coopers Stadium |
| 16 May 2021 24 | Brisbane Roar | v | Western Sydney Wanderers | Brisbane |
| 16:00 AEST | Stadium: Dolphin Stadium |
| 23 May 2021 25 | Perth Glory | v | Western Sydney Wanderers | Perth |
| 18:00 AWST | Stadium: HBF Park |
| 31 May 2021 26 | Western Sydney Wanderers | v | Wellington Phoenix | Sydney |
| 19:00 AEST | Stadium: Bankwest Stadium |
| 2 | Western Sydney Wanderers | Postponed | Western United | Sydney |
| Stadium: Bankwest Stadium |
| 4 | Western Sydney Wanderers | Postponed | Adelaide United | Sydney |
| Stadium: Bankwest Stadium |
| 7 | Western Sydney Wanderers | Postponed | Perth Glory | Sydney |
| Stadium: Bankwest Stadium |
| TBD 9 | Melbourne City | v | Western Sydney Wanderers | Melbourne |
| 19:00 AEDT | Stadium: AAMI Park |
| TBD 10 | Western Sydney Wanderers | v | Sydney FC | Sydney |
| 19:00 AEDT | Stadium: Bankwest Stadium |
Statistics
Appearances and goals
Players with no appearances not included in the list.
- As of 30 January 2021
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | A-League | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 2 | DF | Ziggy Gordon | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | |
| 4 | DF | Dylan McGowan | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 5 | DF | Daniel Georgievski | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 6 | DF | Tass Mourdoukoutas | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 7 | MF | Bruce Kamau | 0(2) | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | |
| 8 | MF | Jordan O'Doherty | 0(4) | 0 | 0(4) | 0 | |
| 9 | FW | Bernie Ibini | 3(2) | 1 | 3(2) | 1 | |
| 10 | FW | Simon Cox | 4(1) | 0 | 4(1) | 0 | |
| 11 | FW | Kwame Yeboah | 1(4) | 0 | 1(4) | 0 | |
| 13 | DF | Tate Russell | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | |
| 14 | MF | James Troisi | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | |
| 17 | MF | Keanu Baccus | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 18 | MF | Graham Dorrans | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 23 | MF | Kosta Grozos | 0(1) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | |
| 27 | FW | Nicolai Müller | 3(2) | 1 | 3(2) | 1 | |
| 30 | GK | Daniel Margush | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 33 | DF | Mark Natta | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 39 | DF | Thomas Aquilina | 4(1) | 0 | 4(1) | 0 | |
Goalscorers
- As of 30 January 2021
| Rank | No. | Pos | Nat | Name | A-League | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | DF | Ziggy Gordon | 1 | 1 | |
| 9 | FW | Bernie Ibini | 1 | 1 | ||
| 13 | DF | Tate Russell | 1 | 1 | ||
| 14 | MF | James Troisi | 1 | 1 | ||
| 27 | MF | Nicolai Müller | 1 | 1 |
Disciplinary record
- As of 30 January 2021
| Rank | No. | Pos | Nat | Name | A-League | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | MF | Graham Dorrans | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2 | 6 | DF | Tass Mourdoukoutas | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 3 | 4 | DF | Dylan McGowan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 10 | FW | Simon Cox | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 13 | DF | Tate Russell | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 14 | MF | James Troisi | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 17 | MF | Keanu Baccus | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 33 | DF | Mark Natta | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
References
- Bossi, Dominic (14 July 2020). "'The biggest club in the league': Wanderers appoint de Marigny as head coach". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- Bossi, Dominic (12 October 2020). "Wanderers sack head coach Jean-Paul de Marigny". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- "Wanderers announce Carl Robinson as head coach". Western Sydney Wanderers. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- "Nikolic Promoted". Western Sydney Wanderers. 10 September 2020.
- "Natta Promoted". Western Sydney Wanderers. 15 September 2020.
- "Wanderers promote 16-year-old Lopane". Western Sydney Wanderers. 2 October 2020.
- "Wanderers promote Carluccio". Western Sydney Wanderers. 8 October 2020.
- "Aquilina promoted". Western Sydney Wanderers. 30 November 2020.
- "Wanderers continue to promote from within". Western Sydney Wanderers. 30 December 2020.
- Rupolo, Nicholas (5 November 2020). "Former Victory A-League midfielder signs for Wanderers". FTBL.
- "Wanderers sign former Premier League midfielder Graham Dorrans". The World Game. SBS. 9 November 2020.
- "Margush signs". Western Sydney Wanderers. 11 November 2020.
- Lewis, Dave (15 November 2020). "Wanderers lock in highly-rated teenage defender, Celtic academy midfielder on trial". The World Game. SBS.
- "Cancar signs". Western Sydney Wanderers. 16 November 2020.
- "Troisi is Red & Black". Western Sydney Wanderers. 15 December 2020.
- "Wanderers sign Gordon". Western Sydney Wanderers. 17 December 2020.
- "Wanderers secure Ibini". Western Sydney Wanderers. 17 December 2020.
- "Wanderers secure loan signing of Noah James". Western Sydney Wanderers. 30 December 2020.
- Rugari, Vince (5 January 2021). "Wanderers bolster ranks with another ex-Premier League midfielder". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- "Wanderers announce the return of Duke". Western Sydney Wanderers. 2 February 2021.
- Wegmann, Michael (2020-07-13). "Pirmin Schwegler wechselt nicht zum FCL – Abschied in Sydney". Blick. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
- Rugari, Vince (2020-08-12). "Schwegler retires a winner as Wanderers, Victory end woeful seasons". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
- https://www.facebook.com/Polsatsportpl. "Radosław Majewski do wzięcia za darmo. Piłkarz odchodzi z Western Sydney Wanderers - Polsat Sport". www.polsatsport.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-08-29.
- Bossi, Dominic (2020-08-20). "A-League: WSW lose bidding war for captain as Mitch Duke seals move to Saudi Arabia". The Age. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
- "Macarthur FC Strengthen Keeper Ranks". Macarthur FC. 7 September 2020.
- "Jurman departs". Western Sydney Wanderers. 25 September 2020.
- Oglos, Peter (25 September 2020). "Socceroo star Matthew Jurman reportedly set to join Xanthi FC". The Greek Herald.
- "Wanderers squad update". Western Sydney Wanderers. 16 October 2020.
- "Lopar departs Wanderers". Western Sydney Wanderers. 11 December 2020.
- "Goalkeeper Daniel Lopar departs Western Sydney Wanderers". The World Game. SBS. 11 December 2020.
- "Wanderers confirm departures of Adam, Monge and Pagden". Western Sydney Wanderers. 29 December 2020.
- "Wanderers re-sign Kamau". Western Sydney Wanderers. 23 November 2020.
- "FFA Cup to introduce Hyundai A-League play-off process from 2020". Football Australia. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- "Wanderers to open 2020/21 season". Western Sydney Wanderers. Football Australia. 25 November 2020.