Aussie-born US TV star Lapaglia buys into Sydney football club

Hollywood star Anthony Lapaglia has become part owner of the Sydney Football Club in a move officials said provided a high-profile boost to Australia's new A League soccer competition.

Hollywood star Anthony Lapaglia has become part owner of the Sydney Football Club in a move officials said provided a high-profile boost to Australia's new A League soccer competition.

The Australian-born Lapaglia, best known as the star of the hit US television drama "Without a Trace", said he planned to actively participate in the development of the Sydney club as it prepares for the A League launch in August.

"I am excited about being involved with Sydney FC at a time when football in Australia is embarking on a new journey," said Lapaglia, 46, who played semi-professional football in Adelaide before embarking on his acting career.

"Sydney FC has plans to be a leader in the new competition and I want to work with the other shareholders and management to inject some of my ideas and thoughts to make the club as successful as possible," he said.

The club said in a statement that Lapaglias commitment gave Sydney FC both a financial boost and an edge in marketing and promoting the team.

"There is no doubt that having Anthony on board is a huge boost for Sydney FC," said club chairman Walter Bugno.

"Not only is he one of Australia's most renowned actors but he has a genuine passion for football and that for me is the most exciting part of the deal," he said.

Trinidad and Tobago captain Dwight Yorke (C) tackles Costa Rica's Walter Centeno, 31 March 2005. Sydney FC was this week negotiating on a possible deal to bring former Manchester United player Yorke into the new team.

The eight-team A League's kick off in August will come 16 months after the demise of its 27-year-old predecessor, the National Soccer League, which collapsed under a weight of debt, in-fighting, ethnically-divisive administrations and spectator apathy.

The A-League is sponsored by Korean car giant Hyundai and features five fewer clubs than the NSL.

The league comprises seven Australian clubs -- from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle and Gosford -- as well as Auckland in New Zealand.

Sydney FC said Lapaglia would spend six weeks in Australia in May-June to participate in the development of the team under head coach Pierre Littbarski, a World Cup winner for Germany.

Littbarski, 44, who played in three consecutive World Cups finals for Germany in 1982, 1986 and 1990, signed a two-year contract with the team in February.

Sydney FC was this week negotiating on a possible deal to bring former Manchester United player Dwight Yorke into the new team.