Central Coast Mariners can today announce the Club has agreed to terms with Hungarian attacker Richárd Vernes on a two-year loan deal from Budapest Honvéd.
Vernes, 22, is a versatile attacking midfielder and links with the yellow and navy having spent much of his professional career with the Hungarian capital club.
Vernes played his youth football at one of the country’s elite football clubs, Ferencváros, before joining cross-town rivals Honvéd in 2007.
The creative attacker, who represented Hungary at youth level, is an exciting youngster with plenty of potential to develop while on the Central Coast.
Vernes arrives at the Mariners on the glowing recommendation of Hungarian great Lajos Detari.
Vernes has averaged a goal every five games during his time in Hungary’s OTP Bank Liga – he scored six goals throughout Budapest Honvéd’s 2013-14 campaign, including one in the Europa League.
Today, Central Coast Mariners Head Coach Phil Moss said he believes Vernes is the perfect addition to his squad.
“We are extremely delighted to have captured a player of Richárd’s quality and bring him to Australia at this stage of his career, where he is extremely hungry to take his game to another level,” he said.
“In all my dealings with Richárd – his work ethic, professionalism and team before an individual mentality has shone through and I believe he can help take the team to another level.”
“The A-League was his number one preference and he has done a lot of research on the Mariners on and off the field, and his first comment to me was that it is the culture that sits most comfortably with him.”
Moss admits the creative attacker will add depth and quality to his team’s front third and a fierce competition for places.
“He’s under no illusion as with Malick (Mané) that everyone will have to fight hard to play and no one is secured a spot. I believe that his signing along with Malick has really given us some fierce competition for spots in the top third of the field.”
Moss said that it is crucial that he and his coaching staff take their time during each transfer window in order to add the best possible players to the Mariners’ squad.
“We were very specific about the two foreigners we bought to the Club, we were looking for players at the right stage of their career. They are players that really want to come here and develop as footballers,” he said.
“I want players who will excite our fans and have the ability to create and/or score goals every time we go forward.
“We play to structures that allow for individual flair and creativity in attack, and these players will add in that department what we already have in the squad.”
“I’m excited and pleased with how the squad is shaping up. Everyone is training the house down, and it’s great we are now entering the next phase of our pre-season,” Moss concluded.
Central Coast Mariners will send further fan, member, and media updates regarding Richárd Vernes’ arrival in Australia in due course.
Richárd Vernes
Position: Striker/Winger
Nationality: Hungarian
Date of Birth: 24 February 1992 (Age: 22)
Previous Clubs: Budapest Honvéd, Ferencváros
