Adelaide United FC has lured defender Iain Fyfe back to Adelaide just in time to be included in its AFC Champions League 2012 squad.
Adelaide United FC has lured defender Iain Fyfe back to Adelaide just in time to be included in its AFC Champions League 2012 squad.
Fyfe has agreed to terms with the Reds for the club-s AFC Champions League 2012 campaign and the Hyundai A-League 2012/13 season.
After spending the 2009/10 and 2010/11 seasons with the Reds, Fyfe-s homecoming 13 months after he left to join Korean club Busan I-Park in last year-s January transfer window is a significant coup for Adelaide United, and particularly the squad-s defensive stocks, ahead of the AFC Champions League.
The 29 year old, who is a championship winner with Sydney FC and veteran of 140 Hyundai A-League appearances, also boasts experience in the AFC Champions League, having been part of Sydney FC-s 2007 campaign and Adelaide United-s run to the Round of 16 in 2010.
The timing of Fyfe-s signing coincides with the departure of Reds defender Milan Susak, who has joined Chinese club Tianjin Teda. Thus, Fyfe-s acquisition provides cover following Susak-s move to China.
The deal to release Susak, who still had a year to run on his Adelaide United contract, was only finalised in the last 48 hours once the Reds had officially received an undisclosed transfer fee from Tianjin.
United Coach John Kosmina welcomed Fyfe-s return to Adelaide and is pleased to have a player of his ilk back to add more stability to the Reds- defence.
“It-s great to have Fyfey back, I-ve worked with him before and he-s a stalwart defender who has been around the game for a long time,” Kosmina said.
“His experience and character will certainly benefit the team.”
Fyfe has been named in a 28-player squad for the Reds- record fourth venture into Asia-s premier club competition and is expected to arrive in Adelaide over the weekend, meaning he will not be part of the travelling party to Uzbekistan.
Iain FYFE
DOB 3 April 1982 (Adelaide)
Age 29
Position Defender
Height 185cm
Weight 83kg
Club History
2011-2012 Busan I-Park (Korea)
2009-2011 Adelaide United FC (Australia)
2005-2009 Sydney FC (Australia)
2004-2005 Hamilton Academical (Scotland)
2003/04 Sydney Olympic (Australia)
2000-2003 Adelaide City (Australia)
Representative Honours
Qantas Under 23s, Qantas Young Socceroos (U/20), Qantas Joeys (U/17)
Additional Information
Hyundai A-League Appearances – 140 (9 goals)
2005/06 Hyundai A-League Champions (Sydney FC)
2005 FIFA Club World Championship, Japan (Sydney FC)
2005 OFC Club Championship winners (Sydney FC)
1999 FIFA U/17 World Championship Runner-Up squad (Qantas Joeys)
