| Michael Zullo | |
| Fullname: | Michael Anthony Zullo |
| Birth Date: | 11 September 1988 |
| Birth Place: | Brisbane, Australia |
| Height: | 1.70m |
| Position: | Left-back |
| Youthclubs1: | Brisbane City |
| Years1: | 2005–2007 |
| Years2: | 2007–2010 |
| Clubs2: | Brisbane Roar |
| Caps2: | 53 |
| Goals2: | 2 |
| Years3: | 2010–2015 |
| Clubs3: | Utrecht |
| Caps3: | 34 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2013–2014 |
| Clubs4: | → Adelaide United (loan) |
| Caps4: | 24 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2015–2016 |
| Clubs5: | Melbourne City |
| Caps5: | 15 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2016–2022 |
| Clubs6: | Sydney FC |
| Caps6: | 85 |
| Goals6: | 2 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2008 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 6 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 1 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2009–2013 |
| Nationalteam2: | Australia |
| Nationalcaps2: | 10 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Pcupdate: | 17 May 2022 |
| Ntupdate: | 16 November 2011 |
Michael Zullo (born 11 September 1988) is an Australian professional footballer who last played as a left-back for Sydney FC of the A-League.[1]
After being signed by the former Brisbane Roar coach Frank Farina on a two-year contract, Zullo played five of the six opening games of the season, coming on as a substitute. On his first eleven debut against Wellington Phoenix, his sixth appearance for Queensland, he scored in the opening minutes of the game and set up a first half added-time goal for fellow youngster and close friend Robbie Kruse.[2] He previously played in the Brisbane Premier League for the Brisbane StrikersDuring a match against Sydney FC, Zullo limped off the field with a torn thigh muscle which ruled him out for 6 weeks.[3]
At the end of the 2008–09 season, Zullo received offers from Dutch Eredivisie clubs FC Groningen and NEC Nijmegen but declined both offers and cited his preference to stay in the A-League for another season.[4]
On 2 April 2010, along with fellow Roar players, Thomas Oar and Adam Sarota, Zullo joined Dutch side Utrecht on a three-year deal, in a collective transfer deal rumoured to be worth in excess of A$1.8 million.[5] [6] He made his debut for Utrecht in a 1–1 draw with NEC Nijmegen on 28 February 2011, coming off the bench on the 81st minute.
On 29 August 2013, he signed a one-year loan deal with Australian A-League club Adelaide United.[7]
On 14 July 2015, Zullo signed a one-year deal with Melbourne City.[8]
On 11 May 2016, Zullo signed a two-year deal with Sydney FC.[9] In his first season at the Sky Blues, he played an influential role as an attacking fullback, assisting three goals and forming a good partnership with left winger Miloš Ninković.
Zullo scored his first goal for Sydney FC in a 3–2 win over Wellington Phoenix.
In January 2018, Zullo committed his future to Sydney FC for a further two seasons.
On 16 May 2022, Zullo departed Sydney FC after six seasons with the club.[10]
Due to outstanding form since making his debut for Brisbane Roar, Zullo was called up for the first time for the Australia national under-23 football team before their qualifier against Iraq, in which they won 2–0.
He was also a train-on player with the national U-17 squad, the Joeys, at 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Peru.
On 28 January 2009, Zullo made his full international debut, coming on as a substitute in a 0–0 draw with Indonesia in the group stage of qualifying for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.[11]
Zullo attended Villanova College in the Brisbane suburb of Coorparoo, playing for the schools first XI.Zullo and his wife Georgia have three children, one set of twin boys and one other boy.[12]
Statistics accurate as of 17 May 2022.
| Club | Season | Division | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| Brisbane Roar | 2007–08 | A-League | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 19 | 1 | ||
| 2008–09 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 25 | 2 | ||||
| 2009–10 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 53 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 3 | |||
| FC Utrecht | 2010–11 | Eredivisie | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2011–12 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | ||||
| 2012–13 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |||
| Total | 34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |||
| Adelaide United | 2013–14 | A-League | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 24 | 0 | ||
| Melbourne City | 2015–16 | A-League | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 15 | 0 | ||
| Sydney FC | 2016–17 | A-League | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 31 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18 | 20 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 29 | 1 | |||
| 2018–19 | 25 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 34 | 1 | |||
| 2019–20 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |||
| 2020–21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2021–22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 85 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 109 | 2 | |||
| Career total | 211 | 4 | 21 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 240 | 5 | |||