music on. I like always to go around and
have a chat with all the boys.
9.45PM I’m one of the last to leave
the stadium. I like to unwind at the end of
games, so I take my time. I’ll shower, pack
my kitbag and go back through the match
in my head.
11.15PM I crave fatty food straight after
the game, so I’ll pick up something like
McDonald’s on the way home.
MIDNIGHT After my feed, I’ll put a movie
on. There’s too much adrenaline pumping
and my body is usually too sore for sleep.
2AM Time for bed, finally.
S
ydney FC have every reason to be
confident heading into the 2018/19
Hyundai A-League elimination finals.
They’re the defending premiers
and one of only three teams to have won
three or more titles. Much of that success
comes down to one man – the club’s
all-time top scorer, Alex Brosque. Here,
the Sydney FC captain takes us through
his match-day routine.
10AM I wake up – a solid sleep-in.
Usually, with three girls [Christina, Mila
and Mikayla], I don’t get that much leeway,
but my wife, Nadia, gives me a little extra
on game day. She’ll take them out to the
park so that I can rest.
10.15AM (^) Breakfast. Usually, I’ll make
poached eggs on toast and put a pot of
tea on and keep it nice and simple. Then
the screaming starts from the kids, and
they wake me right up [laughs]. On game
day, unless there is something to do, I like
to stay home, chill out, play with my kids
a bit. But we don’t go out too much.
11.30AM (^) By this time, the kids are
home and bouncing. If they don’t have an
activity on, like dancing, we’ll sit together
and read a book. Mikayla is still a baby, so
while she naps, I hit the couch and watch
some TV. I like to watch the NBA on Foxtel
during the day – the Los Angeles Lakers
are my team, so I’ll tape matches and then
watch them back on the weekend.
1PM Time for lunch. I’ll usually just whip
up a quick spaghetti. It’s good to carb-load
early in the day which keeps me running.
3PM I’m pretty slow to get ready, so
I need to start early. We have to wear suits
to home games and finals; I always leave
my suit unironed until the last minute. So
I’ll dash back to the car, grab my jacket and
iron my shirt. After that, I’ll have a shower
and think about my game plan.
4PM We have to be at the stadium by
5pm, so I’ll leave an hour before that. The
drive to the game is a special time for me;
it’s the last time I’m by myself before the
game. I have a Spotify playlist for match
day – a mix of dance, hip-hop and R&B.
Drake, The Weeknd, Martin Garrix – music
to get me going.
5PM Arrive at the stadium for a quick
team meeting. The coach [Steve Corica]
goes through the last bit of instructions;
we see the opposition line-up and discuss
that. Then it’s time to get some treatment
from the physio.
5.30PM Taping and massage. I have
trouble with blisters on my feet – blame
old age! – so it takes a little while for me
to get game-ready.
6.20PM (^) Head out to the pitch for
a warm-up. The strength and conditioning
coach [Chris Pappas] will take us through
a team warm-up, then the strikers go off
and work on shooting.
6.55PM Back to the sheds for final
preparations. Match shirt goes on and
a few simple words from the coach.
8.45PM Full-time. If we lose, it’s
a pretty sombre vibe. You spend your
whole week preparing for a game, so
when it doesn’t go to plan, it’s tough to
digest. When we win, it’s entirely different.
[Midfielder] Josh Brillante puts some
THE FINAL
COUNTDOW N
Step by step, Sydney FC captain Alex Brosque takes us inside
his prep for the Hyundai A-League elimination finals
2018/19 HYUNDAI A-LEAGUE
FINALS SERIES continues LIVE from
Friday May 3 at 7pm on FOX SPORTS 505
available in the SPORTS pack
Sydney FC captain
Alex Brosque has
played more than 200
games for the club
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