CLICK HERE TO SEE IAN CROOK AT SYDNEY

Dwight Yorke - who was Sydney's marquee star in Sydney's debut season under Pierre Littbarski and Ian Crook - hailed former Spurs-player Crook's knowledge of the game.

“He’s a fantastic guy, he knows the football game and has huge experience in the English Premier League and around the world," he told Sydney FC's website.

“When I was playing for Sydney FC, Crooky was always there to help me when I needed advice. He knows people’s strengths and weaknesses and he always got the best out of me.”

“I have no doubt he will be a huge success and we’ll see a massive improvement in Sydney FC next season. With the players he has, I think they will either win or go very close to winning the A-League.”

Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill added:  “I knew him when I was manager at Norwich City Football Club.

"He had excellent ability and was a very intelligent player as well as being really passionate about football. I always felt he would go into coaching as it was pretty obvious he had the abilities.

“He has great respect from his peers and is extremely well thought of as a person and as a player, which is down to his character.

“He cares deeply about the game, winning and losing matter to him. I think he will be a success and wish him good luck.”

And former Sunderland and Wigan manager, and ex-team mate of Crook, Steve Bruce, praised Crook's skill as a player.

“First and foremost Ian was a really talented footballer, and I mean really, really talented," said Bruce.

"He was in the mould of Glenn Hoddle and I think people will enjoy the way he wants his team to play. He has got huge amounts of football knowledge and coaching experience internationally.

"He was a wonderful player, knows the game inside out and I’m sure he’ll do very, very well.”

And former boss Pierre Littbarski, Sydney FC’s 2005/06 Championship winning coach and three time World Cup Finalist, also paid tribute to his former sidekick.

“I worked with Ian for a year and a half and he always did a fantastic job," said the German. "He has good knowledge and a great ability at combining younger and older players into a team.

“The players enjoyed his coaching sessions because they were not only fun, they were quality. Everything he did had a meaning and was focused on the game, it was very intelligent football.

“He is good at talking to people. There were a lot of players at Sydney FC during my time who weren’t picked to play and Crooky had that great skill of man-managing them.

“He loves passing football and I think he will be a success, for sure.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE IAN CROOK AT SYDNEY