CENTRAL Coast Mariners have bolstered their offensive stocks for 2012/13 Hyundai A-League season with attacking utility Daniel McBreen extending his contract with the club for a further year.
CENTRAL Coast Mariners have bolstered their offensive stocks for 2012/13 Hyundai A-League season with attacking utility Daniel McBreen extending his contract with the club for a further year.
McBreen demonstrated his capacity to adapt to a number of roles with the Mariners last term, including adjusting his game to play at the top of Graham Arnold-s midfield diamond at times throughout the Premiership winning campaign.
And despite recently turning 35, McBreen today expressed his desire to keep playing at the highest level he could for as long as possible.
“If you look after yourself you can play quite late into your thirties,” McBreen said. “‘Zwaany- (teammate Patrick Zwaanswijk) is a great example of that.”
“I love the game and I want to keep playing for as long as I can at the highest standard I can.”
“I had a couple of injuries which held me back when I was around 30 and it has taken me the last 18 months to two years to realise my peak fitness again,” he said.
With McBreen-s young family settled on the idyllic Central Coast and the Mariners set to participate in the AFC Champions League again next season, signing on the dotted line for the Yellow and Navy proved to be an easy decision for the former Falkirk and North Queensland Fury front man.
“I-ve had a really enjoyable two years here (at the Mariners),” he said.
“As ‘Arnie- (Head Coach Graham Arnold) keeps saying to us, the Champions League is international football. It-s a great experience for the younger and older players alike and everyone wants to play in it. It-s hard with travel, but it-s a joy to be a part of.”
Central Coast Mariners Chairman, Mr Peter Turnbull, welcomed McBreen-s capture for a further campaign.
“Daniel not only adds versatility to our attacking options, he is a great clubman and fantastic character to have around the dressing room,” Turnbull said. “With Daniel, we know what we will get, and that-s 100 per cent commitment to the Central Coast Mariners cause.”
With McBreen-s future secured, the marksman will now turn his focus to Tuesday-s Matchday 5 Group G meeting with Chinese Super League outfit Tianjin Teda.
McBreen played all bar a minute of the Mariners- first meeting with Tianjin in this season-s edition of Asia-s premier club competition.
“We know that this game is a must win for us now after the result in Korea,” he said.
“We know we need all three points, and they-re obviously a good team, but we-ve been pinpointing some areas where we believe we can take advantage.”
The Mariners- clash with Josip Kuze-s Tianjin Teda team kicks off at 7:30pm.
Central Coast Mariners vs. Tianjin Teda
Tuesday 1 May – 7:30pm
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Tickets: Please CLICK HERE to purchase tickets to the match
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