Adelaide United FC is delighted to announce the signing of two Spanish players to boost the squad for the upcoming 2013/14 Hyundai A-League season.
Adelaide United FC is delighted to announce the signing of two Spanish players to boost the squad for the upcoming 2013/14 Hyundai A-League season.
Midfielder Isaias Sanchez and winger Sergio Cirio will join the squad later this month.
Together with the imminent arrival of Head Coach Josep Gombau and Assistant Pau Marti, it will complete the arrival from Spain of the club-s key coaching and playing personnel for Season 9.
Sanchez, 26, has been signed from Ponferradina in the Spanish Segunda (second) Division and has played at the highest level in Spain in La Liga with Catalunyan Club RCD Espanyol.
Cirio joins the Reds from Segunda Division club Hospitalet, also a Catalunyan club, where he was their leading scorer with 22 goals. Cirio, 28, has also previously played for Greek Super League club Atromitos.
The new Reds winger said he is excited about heading down under and being part of the Hyundai A-League.
“I know the league is growing every year with players like Alessandro Del Piero so it is a good place to be,” Cirio said.
Being familiar with Gombau’s coaching methods also played a big part in his decision to join the Reds.
“Because I know Adelaide United is one of the top clubs in the country, and I come here to help the club to win the league. The new project led by Coach Josep Gombau based on the FC Barcelona philosophy fits very much with my football style learnt in FC Barcelona Academy where I spent almost 10 years.”
Sanchez and Cirio are products of the famed FC Barcelona youth system having gone through the youth teams before moving to other Spanish clubs in search of senior first team opportunities.
Both players are also well known to Gombau and were targeted recruits during the Spanish coach’s recent visit to Spain with Football Director Michael Petrillo.
“Both Sergio and Isaias are players of quality having played at a very high level and we were able to see them with Josep during our recent visit to Spain,” Petrillo said.
“It-s fantastic to be able to attract a player who has just turned 26 years of age and has had experience in La Liga as Sanchez has. He is a central midfielder who Josep knows well and he will bring strength, aggression and an abundance of class and skill to the team with his best years still ahead of him.”
Petrillo said Cirio was an interesting player and one who will bring a different dimension to the Reds front line this season.
“Sergio is one of those players who can play in a variety of positions. Essentially we-ve recruited him as a left winger but he is a goal scorer as well as a player who can penetrate lines out wide or inside,” Petrillo said.
“He-s coming to us at a great age and will be a really exciting player for our fans to keep an eye on this season.”
“It was important that Josep had the ability to bring in players familiar with his philosophy and who can assist in integrating that philosophy on the field.”
Both players are currently on holidays in Europe, with Sanchez set to join United’s squad later this month while Cirio will arrive in early August.
The signings of Sanchez and Cirio brings the squad number to 22, leaving one spot available on the roster for the 2013/14 season.
