Sydneysider Szyszka, 18, left NPL NSW 2 side Spirit last month to trial with Figueres and won a contract after impressing by scoring goals for the Catalonian outfit's youth-team.

UE Figueres were founded in 1919 and play in the Spanish third division. Based in the province of Girona, the town of Figueres is best known as the birthplace of artist Salvador Dali.

The teenager has already had a fast start to life in Europe, grabbing a goal in his club debut in the opening match of the season with a 4-0 win over Club Escola de Futbol Girones-Sabat.

“It feels great to be a young Australian coming over to a football-mad country and signing with the club,” he told FTBL.

“Naturally, as a young boy aspiring to be a professional footballer you watch teams such as Barcelona and Real Madrid and aspire to play at the highest level.

“I would say it is a dream come true in a sense. But this is only the beginning for me, I have to prove my worth with Figueres and perform consistently both at training and in matches.”


Szyszka grew up in Drummoyne and started playing for Five Dock and Abbotsford. He came through the Skillaroos and Football NSW Institute programs before joining Spirit FC at the age of 13, and hails former Socceroo Michael Beachamp as his mentor.

“I first started kicking a ball from a very young age, almost as soon as I could walk,” he explained.

“My dad, who is an football-loving Argentine, put a ball at my feet and I began playing for local club Five Dock at the age of four.

"Due to the background of my father, I think I was always destined to play football.”

Szyszka made 24 appearances for Spirit FC’s U18s this year. After a move from central defence to striker, he quickly notched up 10 goals.

But with opportunities rare in his homeland, the young forward has decided to try his luck overseas.

“It has been a strange but good season for myself as I have been playing as a central-defender last season and this season,” he said.

“[But] as we were struggling to score goals I put my hand up to play as a number 9 as I have history in the position, and was always an attacking-minded player in my youth.