The Central Coast Mariners are pleased to announce that 32-year-old Spanish defender, Alan Baró has today been named Club Captain ahead of the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 campaign.
Today at the Mariners’ annual Family Day, Baró was unveiled to a sea of excited Mariners fans as the club’s new captain.
Baró was presented the captain’s armband by last season’s skipper and the Mariners’ Head of Football & Elite Performance, Nick Montgomery who made the announcement at Gosford’s Kibble Park.
The Spaniard becomes the Mariners’ fifth full time captain, behind Noel Spencer, Alex Wilkinson, John Hutchinson & Nick Montgomery.
A proven and experienced defender, Baró earned more than a decade of experience plying his trade in Spain with the likes of Osasuna , Alicante and SD Ponferradina .
This isn’t the first time Baró has been named captain, during his final two seasons in the Spanish Segunda División with SD Ponferradina he also wore the skipper’s armband.
Incoming Mariners captain, Alan Baró said that being named Club Captain is a proud moment in his career and credited the club’s culture.
“I am grateful and so happy that Paolo has the confidence in me to give me this job,” Baró said. “I want to help improve the team in every way possible both on and off the pitch.
“For me, this is a great announcement and I couldn’t be happier to accept this opportunity.
“I accept that I now have more responsibility as the team’s captain and I think that I am in a great position to take this on. We have a great culture here at the Mariners, so I need to ensure that remains and I do everything I can to mentor the younger players in the squad.
“With my experience, I can help the younger players in the squad – I am there for everyone who needs my help or just a different point of view of their job in the team.
“I was captain in Ponferradina in my last two seasons, this is a different challenge for me being in a new country and new league but being a leader is not something that is new to me.
“We have quite a new squad with a lot of new players but everyone is really buying into what we want to achieve. I am really happy with all of my teammates, the young players are trying to learn and work hard whilst the more experienced players are leading from the front.
“We have enjoyed a great pre-season, we know we can compete with any team in the A-League and I am confident that it is going to be a really good season for us. I want our fans to feel proud after every match we play,” Baró said.
Enjoy your morning coffee by watching the goals that sealed our 2-0 win over @gomvfc in yesterday's friendly 😎 Bring on Oct 7! #ALeague pic.twitter.com/jjilE5datD
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) September 20, 2017
Baró and his family arrived on the Central Coast in June and settled in with ease.
“This is an amazing part of the world to be living with my family,” Baró said. “The weather is unbelievable, you have sunny days every day and for my family it was so easy to settle in because the people are so friendly.
“We are so happy that we chose the Central Coast Mariners as a club and this city to live in,” Baró said.
