Australian under-23 representative Antony Golec has signed a one-year deal at Adelaide United, making the switch from A-League counterpart Sydney FC.
Australian under-23 representative Antony Golec has signed a one-year deal at Adelaide United, making the switch from A-League counterpart Sydney FC.
The central defender has made 13 appearances in the A-League for the Sky Blues in the past three seasons, and United manager Rini Coolen has poached the left-footer to his squad after he impressed in trials against champions Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory.
The 21-year-old Golec said his signing at Hindmarsh Stadium was a welcome relief, to secure his future for the next 12 months.
“It feels great. Six months sitting on the sideline trying to find a club, it was a little bit hard going through the motions, but I knew I was good enough, I believed in myself and I just had to get an opportunity and I got it,” the Sydney-born defender said.
“I-m glad that I took it with both hands and hopefully it just gets better from here.”
Golec had trained with the Central Coast Mariners for two months in the off-season, and after he attempted to join with a club in the Indonesian Premier League, United boss Coolen called upon the promising defender to trial with the Reds.
“We were looking for a left footed central defender and knowing he (Golec) fitted that mould and is still a young player, it-s a chance for him to come in for a year and see if he is going to be a player for the future,” Coolen said.
“He-s tall, he-s strong and he has played for Australia-s national team at Under-20 and Under-23 level, so it-s good to have players like this in our squad because we have to think not only about the short term but also the longer term.”
Golec embraced the chance to impress the Reds hierarchy, and said it was a credit to his new team-mates that he felt a part of the side before he even signed.
“I was given an opportunity and I just went out there thinking ‘this is it-, and it was against the champions so it worked out well,” Golec said.
“Then against Melbourne, mentally you had to be tough but the boys helped me out a lot and I felt like when I was in Brisbane I was already part of the team so that helped me to feel comfortable when I came on.”
