Western Sydney Wanderers FC are very proud to announce Mitchell Duke as the club’s captain for the upcoming Hyundai A-League season.
Western Sydney Wanderers FC are very proud to announce Mitchell Duke as the club’s captain for the upcoming Hyundai A-League season.
Born and raised in the heartland of Western Sydney, Duke is a product of the region having started his career at grassroots club Liverpool Rangers.
Following a stint in the Hyundai A-League with the Mariners, Duke jetted off to Japan where he took his game to another level featuring in over 100 matches for J1 side Shimizu S-Pulse.
Duke returned to the Hyundai A-League in January 2019, signing for his hometown club Western Sydney Wanderers FC.
The forward made an immediate impact on his arrival, scoring off the bench just 21 seconds into his first outing for the Red & Black’s.
A leader on-and-off the park, Duke will be the club’s sixth Hyundai A-League captain and will be supported by defender Dylan McGowan who will take on the vice captaincy role.
McGowan joined the Wanderers this offseason from Danish club Vendyssel and has a wealth of experience on both an international and domestic level.
Duke was presented the captain’s armband this season by inaugural Wanderers captain Michael Beauchamp.
Western Sydney Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas praised Mitchell Duke on the impact he has had on the club since his arrival.
“Mitchell fits perfectly with our ethos as a club for the people of Western Sydney by the people of Western Sydney,” said Tsatsimas.
“Mitchell understands the value of representing the Wanderers and the weight that wearing the Red & Black hoops carries.
“We are very proud to have a player from Western Sydney representing the club and cannot wait to see what he can achieve with the team this season.”
Mitchell Duke said it was an honour to represent the club as captain.
“Coming to the Wanderers is already a massive privilege, but to be named captain is a massive honour in itself.
“I’m excited to bring my leadership and create an environment at the club that is not just about me leading the club with the armband. We are a team full of leaders, it doesn’t matter how old the boys are 20 or 35, I want everyone to be a leader.
“With Michael Beauchamp giving me the armband, it was a massive honour. I can’t be thankful enough for the boys thinking and believing in me that I’m up for this challenge.
“He (Beauchamp) was obviously one of the first players involved with the club and was the inaugural captain, so for him to present me with the captain’s armband makes it even more special and I can’t wait to show what I can do.”
