Sydney coach Paul Roos was unveiled on Saturday night as a surprise recipient of the latest statue to be permanently on display at the SCG.

Roos' statue was unveiled by Swans chairman Richard Colless as part of the Basil Sellers Sports Sculptures Project, an initiative where 10 sporting greats from various codes who made an impact at the Sydney ground will have a permanent presence at the venue.

He is the fifth statue to be revealed, joining Richie Benaud, Dally Messenger, Fred Spofforth and Trevor Allan to date, with the project ultimately to honour four cricketers, two AFL players and two each from league and union.

The bronze statue depicts Roos holding aloft the 2005 AFL premiership cup.

Roos was recognised for both his playing days with the Swans, where he was a two-time All-Australian following 13 years at Fitzroy, plus his role in leading Sydney to the breakthrough premiership as coach.

While Roos' pedigree is unquestionable, in terms of Swans who have made a profound impact since the club moved to Sydney in 1982, names such as Paul Kelly and Tony Lockett would be first on most people's lips.

But it was Roos' efforts as a player and a premiership-winning coach that gave him the edge, according to the SCG Trust.

"Since the Swans' relocation to Sydney from South Melbourne in 1982, there have been several players in the club's proud red and white colours who have been recognised as the game's finest," a statement from the Trust read.

"But there has been no-one able to transfer on-field greatness to become a coaching master until Paul Roos."

During four seasons playing for Sydney, Roos played 87 games - including the 1996 grand final loss to the Kangaroos, and was an All-Australian in 1996 and 1997.

Following his retirement in 1998, Roos turned to coaching and became a Swans assistant in 2001.

He then earned the head coaching role midway through the 2002 season and is now the club's longest-serving coach.

Roos will hand the coaching reins to current assistant John Longmire after the 2010 season.

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