Quietly spoken forward Jeronimo Neumann sees his move to Australia for the next stage of his football career as an exciting opportunity.
Adelaide United FC-s quietly spoken and technically gifted forward Jeronimo Neumann sees his move to Australia for the next stage of his football career as an exciting opportunity.
One of the two new Argentineans signed by the Reds last month, Neumann finds himself on Australian shores for the first time and exudes the look of a player who has a new lease of life after seven years playing professionally in his homeland, split up by a year in England at Barnsley.
“This opportunity is important for me. I-m happy to be at this club, I hope I can help the team win games,” Neumann said.
“For me, my expectations are to play well, win games and fight for the championship.”
The 26 year old made his first appearance in an Adelaide United shirt in a pre season trial against Melbourne Victory in Launceston on August 24 and followed it up with an impressive 20 minute cameo in the win over Sydney FC on Saturday.
Albeit against an under strength Sydney FC outfit, Jeronimo made a lively contribution, almost scoring with his first touch before knocking in his first goal with an instinctive finish.
“The team played well, it was important to win the game, and I was happy with my goal,” Neumann recalls of his second interstate experience since arriving in Adelaide.
Remarkably, Neumann has previously played alongside the Reds- other Argentinean Marcelo Carrusca when the pair were at Estudiantes La Plata together in 2010, and now they have been reunited in a part of the world 12,153 kilometres away.
Neumann admits he knew little of Adelaide United before being in contact with the club-s football department, but says he already has a positive feeling about the people and the place.
“I had seen it (Adelaide United) on the internet, know it-s an important club in Australia, and for me it-s very nice, the pitch is amazing…I-m very happy staying here,” Neumann said.
Used to playing as a second striker, Neumann knows it is still early days on working out how and where he will fit into Coach John Kosmina-s on field plans. But regardless of the role he is called on to play, the Reds- new number 21 says he will gladly fit into a spot anywhere in the Reds- attacking half.
“I just want to play wherever the coach wants to play me. Wherever is ok, I just want to play…just not in defence, I prefer in the front,” Neumann said laughingly.
Reds fans may not have had a serious chance to see Neumann in action, but his name is already attracting plenty of attention and excitement.
While it is spelt differently, ‘Geronimo- is a widely known catch cry that US paratroopers traditionally shout it before jumping out of a plane, which came about because of a 1939 film about the famous and fearless 19th century Native American Geronimo.
The Reds- Jeronimo is not too familiar with its resonance, but if ‘Jeronimo- proves popular amongst Adelaide United supporters and sees him develop a cult status, he does not have an issue with it.
While his United team mates have already adopted the name ‘Jerry- for him, and he says a lot of people also call him Jerro, Neumann won-t be fazed what name Reds fans chant if he is contributing and scoring goals for Adelaide United on the field.
“When I played in England (for Barnsley), for the people there it was too,” Neumann said on the popularity of his first name.
“I don-t know why…but for me it-s ok.”
