Western Sydney Wanderers FC have announced Brandon Borrello as Captain of the Club’s A-League Men side for the 2026/27 season.
Borrello will lead the Red & Black alongside Vice-Captains Germán Ferreyra and Alex Gersbach, with Lawrence Thomas, Jarrod Carluccio and Anthony Pantazopoulos completing the Club’s six-player leadership group.
The leadership group was selected following a process that included input from the playing squad, giving players the opportunity to identify the teammates they viewed as influential leaders within the environment.
That feedback formed part of a broader process led by the football department to establish a leadership group that combines diverse experiences, perspectives and leadership qualities to best serve the playing group throughout the season.
Borrello takes on the captaincy having established a strong presence within the Wanderers environment, bringing a competitive edge, passion and uncompromising high standards to the role.
Football Director Mal Impiombato said the process was designed to ensure the Club entered the new campaign with a leadership group capable of influencing the squad in different ways.
“This group will be entrusted with driving a high-performance culture, reinforcing the standards and behaviours expected across the Club, and leading in a manner that reflects the values, identity and responsibility that come with representing the Western Sydney Wanderers and our community. It was important to us that the players had a voice throughout this process, given they are immersed in the environment every day and have a unique understanding of what drives success within the group.” said Impiombato.
“Their feedback was an important part of the process, but ultimately we wanted to bring together a leadership group with a diverse range of qualities and skillsets that can lead this team through the different challenges a season presents.
“Leadership takes many forms. Some players lead through their voice, others through their actions, their experience, their consistency or their ability to connect different parts of the group.
“Brandon has the personality, competitive edge and care for this Club that we believe makes him the right person to captain the Wanderers. He demands high standards of himself and those around him, and most importantly he understands the privilege and responsibility that comes with leading our Club.
“Alex and Germán will provide tremendous support as Vice-Captains, while Lawrence, Jarrod and Anthony each add something different to the group.
“We want to build a team that is brave, accountable and prepared to compete for everything. This is a leadership group we believe is equipped to drive those standards throughout the season.”
Head Coach Ufuk Talay said establishing a leadership structure with different strengths across the group would be critical throughout the campaign.
“You need different types of leaders within a dressing room,” said Talay.
“There are going to be different moments throughout a season where different personalities need to step forward, and that was important when we looked at how we wanted this group to come together.
“Brandon leads through the way he competes. He has a strong personality, he demands a lot from himself and he is not afraid to demand the same from the people around him. He wants responsibility and he understands what this Club means to the people of Western Sydney.
“But leadership cannot come from one person. Alex, Germán, Lawrence, Jarrod and Anthony all bring different qualities to the group and together we believe they give us the balance we need.
“We want players who embrace pressure, who take responsibility and who are prepared to stand up in difficult moments. That is the standard we expect from our leaders and, ultimately, from every player in this squad.”
Borrello and the leadership group will lead the Wanderers into the 2026/27 A-League Men campaign, beginning with the Sydney Derby in Matchweek 1.
The announcement establishes a clear leadership structure ahead of the new campaign, with six players entrusted to drive the standards, accountability and competitive mentality expected of the Red & Black this season.
