A-League Championship winner Oliver Bozanic has returned to the Central Coast Mariners on a multi-year deal ahead of the 2020/21 A-League season.
After leaving Hearts at the conclusion of the COVID-19 shortened Scottish Premier League season, Bozanic trained with the Mariners through some of the restart period and has now linked up with the group as they prepare for the 2020/21 A-League season.
Bozanic spent three years on the Coast in his first stint at the Mariners, appearing 70 times and scoring three goals as he won a Premiership and a Championship with the Club.
Welcome home, @oliverbozanic! #CCMFC pic.twitter.com/WJuJrXpFZS
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) October 21, 2020
Stints followed at Luzern, Melbourne Victory, Ventforet Kofu and more recently Hearts where he featured regularly, but he now returns home and will be an important leader and senior figure amongst a talented young squad.
Mariners Head Coach Alen Stajcic praised the return of Bozanic to the Club and said he was looking forward to seeing what the midfielder could bring to the group.
“All of us are very excited to have a player with the calibre of Ollie joining our squad ahead of the new season,” Stajcic said.
“He is a player with plenty of time both in the A-League and further abroad and will bring a wealth of experience to the group both on and off the field.”
“He is a great fit here not only as a player but also as someone that can be a leader in our squad and that’s something that will be very important this season.”
With a couple of weeks training now under his belt, Bozanic said he is enjoying settling in and working with his new teammates ahead of the season start.
“It’s really great to be back on the Coast and playing for my hometown Club,” he said.
“I’m really excited to just get going and be a part of it.”
“There’s a great bunch of boys here. We have all been working really hard in these first few weeks. I’m excited and positive for the challenge ahead of us this season.”
Current Squad (Announced): Mark Birighitti (GK), Jack Clisby, Oliver Bozanic, Daniel DeSilva, Adam Pearce, Kye Rowles, Gianni Stensness, Ruon Tongyik, Joshua Nisbet, Lewis Miller, Alou Kuol
