The Central Coast Mariners recruitment drive ahead of the new Hyundai A-League season has begun, with the signing of former Brisbane Strikers and New Zealand Knights left-back Joshua Rose.
The Central Coast Mariners recruitment drive ahead of the new Hyundai A-League season has begun, with the signing of former Brisbane Strikers and New Zealand Knights left-back Joshua Rose.
Rose, who most recently has been plying his trade alongside fellow Aussies Spase Dilevski and Michael Baird and ex Central Coast Lightning defender Josh Mitchell at Romanian Liga 1 heavyweight Universitatea Craiova, will join the Yellow and Navy for the coming two Hyundai A-League seasons to join what will be a new-look defensive line at Bluetongue Stadium.
“Joshua has done very well in Romania, it-s a very strong league, and when he indicated an eagerness to return to Australia, the club was of course very interested,” said Mariners Executive Chairman Lyall Gorman.
“The Mariners are delighted to have Joshua on board, for what we hope will be a very successful 2010/11 campaign.”
Rose had the honour of scoring the New Zealand Knights first ever goal in the Hyundai A-League in September 2005, before being snapped up by Craiova, one of Romania-s “big three” alongside Capital city rivals Steaua and Dinamo Bucharest.
A veteran of over 100 top division matches at one of the most successful clubs in the highly rated Romanian top flight, Rose returns to his country of birth with impressive references.
“(Qantas Socceroos head coach) Pim (Verbeek) has watched Josh closely over the last couple of years and he has impressed the entire national team coaching staff,” said Mariners Head Coach Graham Arnold.
“Josh is a very capable left-back, and has done really well at what is a very high level in Romania. He-s strong and quick, and he likes to get forward, so I think he will provide plenty of excitement for the fans, which is what we want at Bluetongue Stadium this season.”
Rose says he-s excited at the prospect of returning to the Hyundai A-League and is keen on helping the Mariners return to the top end of the ladder in the 2010/11 campaign.
“I had a great time in Romania, I learned a lot and it was awesome to experience a different culture but I-m happy to be home and I-ve seen the Mariners do great things over the past couple of years and I think they have a great future,” said Rose.
“I spoke to a teammate of mine at Universitatea, Josh Mitchell, who is from Newcastle and has played on the Coast, and he only had good things to say about the place, so I-m just looking forward to getting there now and doing well.”
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