Croats in Australia Celebrate: Sydney United Champions of New South Wales

The red-white-and-blues are back on top! Sydney United, a club founded nearly 70 years ago by the Croatian community in Australia, has become the 2026 champion of the elite league of the state of New South Wales.

In the grand final, United defeated Apia Leichhardt 3-1 to claim yet another championship title, to the delight of numerous fans for whom this club is much more than football.

Michael Krslović gave Sydney United the lead early on in the 17th minute, and about fifteen minutes later, Leroy Jennings extended it to 2-0. Apia did not give up, and Jordan Segreto narrowed the margin to 2-1, but the final 3-1 scoreline was sealed in stoppage time by Gabriel Tilo.

That is when the grand celebration began.

Football That Connected Generations

It was hard to imagine that the small pitch where Croatian immigrants gathered after arriving in Australia would one day become an iconic football venue.

Croats gathered there, socialized, and played football, and in 1957/1958, they founded the club Croatia Sydney.

"We, the sons of Croatian immigrants, chased the ball and watched the older generations pass it down to us. Here on the pitch, we hung out, fell in love, families were born—but behold, a football club was also born, which has brought us so much satisfaction, beauty, and joy over these nearly 70 years," says Drago Krslović, whose family has had players in almost every generation of Croatia.

For him, Croatia Sydney was never just a football club.

"Croatia Sydney is not just a club, it is our identity; everything here is Croatian."

More Than Football

For decades, the club's pitch was the meeting place for the Croatian community.

"If you think we were only at the pitches on Saturdays or Sundays, you are gravely mistaken. Why, there was always a fiesta here, even during the days when we worked painstakingly hard, but also later on—we were always here alongside our people and our club," recalls Jakov Krslović.

For a long time, the Croatian language was spoken within the club, though professional players from various backgrounds arrived over the years.

"For a long time, only the Croatian language was spoken here, and later professionals came to us, bringing a breath of something different, but everyone was accepted and felt right at home."

There were problems too, but he says the club managed to resolve them. Success was not lacking either—they won the New South Wales championship title five years in a row, from 1977 to 1982, while the strong Croatian community regularly packed the stands.

From the Workshop to the National Team

Numerous anecdotes are tied to Sydney United, perfectly showcasing how the club was built over the decades. One of them is shared by long-time member Petar Čulina, recalling a time when the club was left without a goalkeeper.

"The goalie 'messed up' his arm and will be out for at least two months. What do we do now?"

Čulina then remembered a young worker named Mark.

"My newly hired worker Mark is a big man, he has big legs like fishing rods. Come on, there won't be any bread [meaning no work done] for two days, but let him stand between the goalposts, and let's see."

Mark stood in goal, and the story took an unexpected turn—he later became an Australian international and won the championship.

Members of the club say there were many stories like that throughout the decades.

"Croatia, Croatia!"

One of the toughest moments for the club arrived in 1993, when it was decided that clubs had to be renamed.

Croatia Sydney had to change its name back then.

"Fine, the club will be called Sydney," recalls Jo Perkunić.

However, the Croatian community found a way to preserve the memory of their beginnings. The name United 58 was added to the club as a reminder of their togetherness and the year of foundation, while the distinctive red-white-and-blue colors remained.

And then came a moment that club members still remember today.

"At the stadium, 20,000 fans are shouting: Croatia, Croatia! And no one can take that away from us anymore," says Perkunić.

A Club That Created Australian Football Greats

Over the decades, Sydney United has produced a large number of high-quality footballers. Many of them later became Australian internationals and played on the international stage.

Among them are Didulica, Mark Bosnich, Željko Kalac, Tony Popović and his sons, Jason Čulina, Ned Zelić, and Mile Jedinak, alongside many others.

That is why Sydney United is not just a Croatian story.

It is an Australian club built on Croatian foundations—a club founded, shaped, and preserved for decades by Croatian immigrants, but also a club that opened its doors to people of various backgrounds.

A Croatian Story That Endures

Over nearly 70 years, administrations, players, and coaches have changed. However, the fans and volunteers have stayed by the club.

For the Croatian community in Australia, Sydney United remains a place of gathering, belonging, and preserving tradition today.

This year's New South Wales championship title is therefore much more than a football trophy. It is yet another continuation of the story of a club that arose from Croatian unity, far from the homeland, and has remained connected to its roots throughout the decades.

And after a victory like this, everyone knows what comes next.

And now—let's drink!

Source: Voice of Croatia

Translated by Branko Lozančić