Western Sydney Wanderers continued their squad rebuild with the signing of former Central Coast Mariners captain Oliver Bozanic.
A seven-time Socceroo, Bozanic joins the Wanderers for the next two Isuzu UTE A-League seasons after he departed the Mariners at the end of the 2021-22 campaign.
Bozanic, who has won the A-League Men Premiership and Championship as well as the Australia Cup, is the latest new face at Wanderland following five consecutive seasons without finals football.
The Wanderers have also signed Kusini Yengi, Lawrence Thomas, Zac Sapsford, Calem Nieuwenhof, Nathaneal Blair and Aidan Simmons.
“I’m a hard-working player and I have ambitions to succeed at every club I’m at,” said Bozanic.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to play in England, Scotland, Japan and Switzerland so I’ve had a lot of experience in those countries and that helps me playing here in Australia.
“I hope that I can be part of a successful club and culture that is building for the next season.
“I haven’t spent much time in Western Sydney since then (junior representative football days), but it has changed a lot. It’s great to see a facility like Wanderers Football Park in this area. It’s the best facility I’ve seen in a long time so I’m looking forward to getting started here.”
Bozanic made 15 A-League Men appearances last season and scored four goals as the Mariners reached the finals.
The 33-year-old was also a key contributor in Central Coast’s road to the Australia Cup final in January.
Wanderers head coach Mark Rudan added: “Oli is a true professional and we are delighted that he has made the move to Western Sydney for the first time in his senior career.
“Oli brings more than just experience to our squad this season. He has a winning mentality, and his values and ambitions align directly with what we are trying to achieve at the club.
“He (Oli) is a natural leader and is a fantastic role model for the next generation of Wanderers.”
