The Central Coast Mariners can confirm that the club has agreed terms for the sale of Joeys captain Anthony Pavlešić to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich for an undisclosed fee.
The goalkeeper has signed with the club on a three-year deal, joining the German outfit at the conclusion of the current AFC U-17 Asian Cup in Thailand.
Pavlešić signed with the Mariners from Western Sydney Wanderers during the latter stages of 2022, immediately joining the club’s academy set up and training with the first team.
After playing both NPL NSW First Grade and Under 20’s matches for the Central Coast, the goalkeeper was called up to the first team and featured on the bench in three matches.
This is a remarkable achievement for the 17-year-old, being on the card as the Mariners secured second place and an AFC Cup qualification spot.
Pavlešić has flourished under the tutelage of Central Coast Mariners goalkeeping coach Miguel Miranda, who himself has had stints in Europe.
The Portuguese coach spent time in Sporting Lisbon and Benfica’s academy systems, helping the likes of Ederson and Jan Oblak as young goalkeepers.
Pavlešić has now trained under him for almost a full year, developing alongside numerous other young goalkeepers at the club.
His move comes off the back of a trial with Bayern Munich earlier this year, which took place after he captained the Joeys in the Antalya Youth Cup in Turkey.
The 17-year-old joins numerous other Mariners youngsters who have made their way to Europe, including Garang Kuol, Alou Kuol, Lewis Miller, Gianni Stensness and Jing Reec.
Central Coast Mariners A-League head coach Nick Montgomery is proud that the Mariners have been able to give Pavlešić the platform to get a move of this magnitude and wishes him well.
“Anthony has massive potential and a huge work ethic for a goalkeeper who is so young. We would never hold him or any player back from an opportunity to sign with one of the biggest clubs in world football,” he said.
“Bayern are a global outfit of the highest calibre, and like Garang joining Newcastle United this is another example of who we are as a club, providing a platform for young Australian players to go and develop at top clubs and leagues around the world. This can only be a positive for both the future of Australian football and for the Mariners brand of being the best development club in the country.”
