Prized Brisbane Roar recruit Charlie Austin has arrived Down Under with two clear targets at the forefront of his mind: surpass 200 career goals, and help fire his new club back “to the good times” of regular finals appearances and competing for silverware.
The 33-year-old former Queens Park Rangers, West Bromwich Albion and Southampton striker touched down in Queensland this week to begin his multi-year contract at the Roar, with 173 career goals to his name – including 34 scored across seven seasons in the English Premier League.
Speaking to media for the first time since touching down in Australia, a buoyant Austin expressed his eagerness to start his new adventure at the Roar.
“I’m going to grab the opportunity with both hands,” Austin said.
“I had options back in England, but I think I wanted a new challenge for myself, my wife and my children.
“When I spoke to my agent he said we’d explore the A-League, and Brisbane came up – along with a couple of other clubs.
“But when I met (Brisbane head coach Warren Moon) in the UK, he sold me the project. It was the only place really I wanted to go to.”
It was during that meeting with Roar boss Moon in England when Austin revealed his key ambition for the upcoming season to the man who would go on to become his new head coach.
“My (next) achievement is to get to 200 career goals,” he said. “I’ve got no reason why I can’t do it for Brisbane in the next coming year, so that’s the main goal for me… I said that to Warren when I met him and he asked me what I wanted to do.
“But as a team, and a member of the team, it’s to try and get us up the league as much as possible.
“Being in the position they have been in the last seasons, it’s not where the football club wants to be… to be successful, to get back to the good times that happened in 2012/13/14, that’s the aim. I know when you look at it now it seems a long way off, but you need to start somewhere.
“When Warren explained the situation to me and what’s been going on, there is no better time to start than now and I’m just delighted to be involved in the football club.”
Austin added: “If I wasn’t excited about the project I wouldn’t be stood in front of you guys right now.
“I’m going to come here for my own personal achievement, which is to try and score (my 200th) goal, of course it is, but on the flip side of that I’m here to help Brisbane Roar get up the league as quickly as possible… I’m stood here today because I want to be successful at Brisbane, I want to be successful in the A-League, I’m here to come and do that.”
Austin arrives in Australia ahead of Brisbane’s two friendly fixtures against Aston Villa and Leeds United, with the two Premier League clubs descending on the state to take part in the Queensland Champions Cup.
The Roar will face Leeds on the Gold Coast on July 14, before the latter takes on Villa on July 17. Villa and Brisbane will then meet in Townsville on July 20.
Brisbane’s fixtures against Leeds and Villa present the opportunity for Austin to feature for his new club for the very first time.
The two sides pose a familiar threat to Austin, who has spent the majority of his career plying his trade across the English Premier League and Championship.
“Leeds won the Championship two (seasons) ago by a canter, then last year they just stayed in the Premier League. But they’ve got a new manager coming in, their signing new players and they may keep hold of Raphinha, he may stay and hopefully comes to Australia,” Austin said.
“Then Aston Villa coming over, they’ve got Philippe Coutinho, Danny Ings, Ollie Watkins, Tyrone Mings – and then let’s not forget that Steven Gerrard is their manager – so (these are) two massive clubs, and it will be great for the Australian people to come out and see both clubs – and see Brisbane play against them and give them a right good game.”
Austin will meet his Brisbane teammates for the first time on Friday morning as the club continues its preparations for the Queensland Champions Cup, and the Australia Cup Round of 32 clash with Heidelberg United on Wednesday, July 27.
Featured image credit: Brisbane Roar.
