Melbourne Heart FC has received a huge boost in its preparations for the 2010/11 Hyundai A-League season by announcing the signing of former Dutch youth international Rutger Worm.
Melbourne Heart FC has received a huge boost in its preparations for the 2010/11 Hyundai A-League season by announcing the signing of former Dutch youth international Rutger Worm.
The 24-year-old has agreed to a multi-year deal to become the sixth player to sign with the Hyundai A-League newcomers and is set to join from Dutch Eredivisie side NEC Nijmegen.
A stylish winger who can play in a central attacking role, Worm impressed Head Coach John van‘t Schip with his technical ability and his creativity in the attacking half of the park.
Van ‘t Schip believes the signing of Worm provides evidence of Heart-s commitment to an attacking minded approach when the club makes its Hyundai A-League debut next season.
“I am extremely happy to be able to bring Rutger down under to Melbourne and the Hyundai A-League,” he said. “He is a fantastic player who has shown a lot of ability during his time with NEC in the Eredivisie in Holland and really impressed me while I was with Ajax.
“Rutger will bring width to the team and provide a lot of drive down the wings which is critical for our tactical philosophy. He is a proven player at a high level and I think will continue his improvement by having an important role with Melbourne Heart.”
Despite his youth, Worm has been an ever-present figure in the Eredivisie for the last six seasons, scoring five goals in 106 first team appearances for NEC Nijmegen, including 20 appearances during the current campaign.
Worm has also played at a continental level, featuring in three games for NEC as the unfancied Dutch side reached the round of 32 in the UEFA Cup last season before falling to German powerhouse Hamburg.
GM of Football Operations John Didulica said Worm-s acquisition is a promising sign for the club as it continues to build its squad.
“What-s important to us is that we were able to sign a young professional who has good experience at the elite level but has his best years in front of him. Because of his energetic style, Rutger has been used by NEC as an impact player in recent times but we really think the A-League will give him a great stage to emerge as a key performer,” he said.
“Rutger is a traditional winger, which is a position that Australia has found difficult to produce in great numbers in recent times. We are hopeful that Rutger-s pace, dribbling ability and technical quality will enable the club to play the exciting football that it wants to play.”
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