Steve Corica's worst fears have been confirmed after the veteran Sydney FC midfielder was forced into early retirement with a hamstring tear.

Corica last week announced he was to call it a day at the end of this season's A-League play-offs to take up a coaching role with the club.

But the 36-year-old was forced off just 18 minutes into Sunday's 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory as Sydney clinched the minor premiership for topping the table at the end of the regular season.

"Obviously it was very nice holding the plate up the other night but I thought I would at least have one more game and maybe two, but it's not to be obviously," Corica said.

"I'm disappointed but my career was coming to an end anyway and it was a nice way to go out obviously, winning the minor premiership. I had a little bit of a problem with it for two or three weeks now. I think it gradually just built up and finally it just snapped off the bone.

I tried to make a couple of sharp steps and it was quite painful so I knew that was the end then.
Steve Corica on his career-ending injury.

"I knew pretty much when I went back out there, I was struggling to run really and I don't even think I touched the ball when I went back on. I tried to make a couple of sharp steps and it was quite painful so I knew that was the end then."

Corica, however, will still travel to Melbourne on Thursday for the first leg of the major semi-final.

"I'll just do my best in the changing room and around the hotel, making sure the players are ready for what's going to be a massive game.

"I need surgery on Friday when I get back from Melbourne. I want to be there with the boys and I'm looking forward to it as well because, even though I won't be playing, I still want to give my support to them and wish them all the best and hopefully they have a great game.

"It's sad that I'm not going to be playing but at the end of the day it's important for them to concentrate on the game and not what I'm doing."