The Central Coast Mariners are delighted to announce an official partnership with Liga Portugal club Portimonense SAD.
Currently playing in the first division of Portuguese football, the club hold a proud tradition of producing top quality talent through both their academy and first team systems.
This partnership is aimed to mutually drive youth development for both clubs, as well as the overall growth of Portimonense and the Mariners.
The deal will see promising Central Coast players have an opportunity to transition into Portuguese first division football, one of the top leagues in Europe, while the Mariners will gain access to talented players from Portimonense SAD to bolster our squad.
This has already began with the loan signing of Ronald Barcellos, announced last Saturday, with the aim to aid both clubs in their respective divisions, as well as to help our players continue their football development.
Central Coast Mariners Sporting Director Matt Simon is pleased to be partnered with Portimonense and is excited to work with them.
“To be able to work closely with a club of Portimonense’s pedigree is extremely exciting and an opportunity that we are greatly looking forward to,” Simon said.
“We are clubs who see youth development as extremely important and to be able to work together on this will only benefit us both.”
Chairman of Central Coast Mariners, Richard Peil, is also excited by the opportunity, stating:
“We’d love to own a network of clubs to be able to help players progress their careers and maximise their value, but that is just not realistic. This is the next best thing. The relationship with Portimonense is an important step in our progression to becoming a self-funding football club.”
Representatives of Portimonense’s elite coaching squad are due to visit the Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence in February this year, to begin work on the partnership.
