Melbourne Heart FC signing Simon Colosimo has revealed the attraction of playing under the auspices of former Dutch international John van ‘t Schip was a major factor in his decision to move back home.
Melbourne Heart FC signing Simon Colosimo has revealed the attraction of playing under the auspices of former Dutch international John van ‘t Schip was a major factor in his decision to move back home.
After claiming the Hyundai A-League Premiership-Championship double with Sydney FC, Colosimo has signed a multi-year deal to return to Melbourne for the first time following a decade which has seen him ply his trade across the globe.
While Colosimo acknowledged the opportunity to return to his home town played a major role in the decision to join Heart, the 31-year-old admitted he was also drawn by the chance to play in a side commandeered by van ‘t Schip, who is a former European Champion.
“It-s been 10 years since I-ve been back in Melbourne and it-s a very exciting time at Melbourne Heart. There have been a lot of good players signed and great infrastructure, it-s looking like it is going to be a very good club,” he said.
“After working with Viteslav Lavicka at Sydney FC, knowing (Heart) had got a coach of (van ‘t Schip-s) pedigree, someone who has done what he has, mades a big difference.
“That-s the first question always asked, ‘who is the coach?- or ‘who is it going to be?- but there is a stability there that I-m looking forward to working under.”
However, with the 2010 World Cup looming ominously on the horizon, Colosimo will spend the remainder of the European season training at reigning Dutch Champion AZ Alkmaar, home of fellow Qantas Socceroo Brett Holman.
Following his starting appearance for the Qantas Socceroos against Indonesia last month, Colosimo remains firmly in contention to secure a seat on the plane to South Africa, and believes his stint with AZ will place him in good stead.
“(The short-term training deal) has worked well. Henk Duut-s based in Holland at the moment, Pim-s flying around the world trying to watch as many games as possible, but I want to be in the window and without being able to play games, Holland is going to give me that opportunity,” he said.
“We-ve seen with Jason (Culina) coming back to Australia what kind of player he is and what he brings to the field, if I can get a little bit of that (sharpness) over there, I-ll be in good shape.”
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