Melbourne Heart FC is placing the finishing touches on its inaugural Hyundai A-League squad after signing former Sydney United utility Ante Tomic.
Melbourne Heart FC is placing the finishing touches on its inaugural Hyundai A-League squad after signing former Sydney United utility Ante Tomic.
The speedy left-sided 18-year-old resisted overtures from a number of Hyundai A-League clubs to sign a one-year deal to join the competition newcomer following a breakout debut season in the NSW Premier League.
And Tomic will be joined by another promising teenager, with former Melbourne Victory youth team Captain Aziz Behich signing for seven weeks as an injury replacement player for Kristian Sarkies.
Behich impressed in his trial period with the Club, featuring in games against Everton FC, Newcastle Jets and Brisbane Roar to earn a professional deal.
Head Coach John van ‘t Schip is confident Behich and Tomic will be able to provide added depth to the Club-s squad and press for a place in the line-up on match-day.
“Ante and Aziz have proved themselves to be excellent talents and trainers throughout their time at the Club, and I feel they will certainly add an extra dimension to our squad,” he said.
“With youth a key focus of the Club-s philosophy, we are pleased to have signed such promising youngsters. They are very raw talents that we are confident can develop into exceptional professionals while working with the likes of Simon Colosimo, Josip Skoko and John Aloisi.
“In relation to Aziz, we are very pleased to give him another opportunity at the elite level. One of the great benefits of more professional clubs in Australia is the greater opportunities it gives to young players to stay in the sport during their important development years.”
Tomic-s signing marks the culmination of a meteoric rise for the swashbuckling winger, who was entrenched in Sydney United-s junior system only 12 months ago before being elevated to the Under 21 side by Heart-s Ante Milicic, who served as Head Coach at the Club last season.
Behich meanwhile arrives at the Club having played a role in the Hyundai A-League 2010 Grand Final, featuring as a second half substitute as Sydney FC claimed the national title in a penalty shootout, while he was also named in Victory-s squad for the 2010 AFC Champions League.
The arrival of Tomic and Behich brings the total number of players signed by Heart to 21, which, significantly, includes 11 fresh arrivals to the Hyundai A-League.
