THE latest piece of Graham Arnold’s 2013/14 squad jigsaw puzzle has fallen into place with experienced Dutch defender Marcel Seip signing on with the reigning Hyundai A-League Champions for the next three seasons.
THE latest piece of Graham Arnold-s 2013/14 squad jigsaw puzzle has fallen into place with experienced Dutch defender Marcel Seip signing on with the reigning Hyundai A-League Champions for the next three seasons.
Seip, 31, played in the Dutch Eredivisie for VVV Venlo last campaign, and has enjoyed a distinguished playing career in the United Kingdom with clubs including Plymouth Argyle, Blackpool, Sheffield United and Bradford City.
Indeed, during his brief loan spell at Bramall Lane with Sheffield United in 2010, Seip became close friends with combative Mariners midfielder Nick Montgomery.
Upon discovering the Mariners- interest in him, Seip consulted his former Blades teammate who in turn provided a glowing report regarding life with the Club and on Australia’s idyllic Central Coast.
“This is a major decision in my life as I have to move my whole family over to Australia,” Seip said. “But it was quite an easy decision to make. I spoke to (Nick) Montgomery and he said life is amazing, that football in Australia is on the up, and that the Mariners are the current A-League Champions.”
“My wife is also close friends with Nick-s wife and we have been in contact since talking about Australia. We know a lot about the Club and the area already, and that-s why it was so easy to make the decision.”
Right footer Seip has been signed to fill the role vacated by his countryman, the recently retired Patrick Zwaanswijk, at left stopper.
And although it may seem unorthodox to play a predominately right footed player on the left, Seip said that is where he feels most comfortable on a football pitch.
“If I am signing for a new team, I always ask if I can play on the left side,” he said. “I-m used to it now, it-s where I do my best defending and I think I am very strong in that role. I-ve played my whole career on the left side even though I am a right footer.”
“I am a tough defender, and I don-t shy away from a tackle.”
The lure of participating in the AFC Champions League throughout his time with the Mariners is also of interest to the former SC Heerenveen man.
“I love adventures and new challenges,” he said. “It sounds amazing going to China and Japan and playing the best teams over there. I am always curious to know what the level is over there.”
Central Coast Mariners Head Coach Graham Arnold said he believes Seip possesses the attributes required to contribute strongly to the Club-s Hyundai A-League Championship defence.
“I have a number of knowledgeable scouts in Europe and they gave Marcel the thumbs up,” Arnold said. “He is a strong defender, and someone I believe will add steel to our backline which can already be selected from Joshua Rose, Trent Sainsbury, Zac Anderson, Brent Griffiths, Hayden Morton, Michael Neill, and Storm Roux.”
Seip will join his new teammates in Australia in late July.
© 2013 ~ Central Coast Mariners FC. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.ccmariners.com.au as the source.
