Melbourne Heart FC has filled a key position on its 2010/11 Hyundai A-League playing roster by signing former Qantas Socceroo Clint Bolton.
Melbourne Heart FC has filled a key position on its 2010/11 Hyundai A-League playing roster by signing former Qantas Socceroo Clint Bolton.
Bolton has signed a multi-year deal to become the Heart-s first-ever ‘keeper and is set to play a pivotal role in the team-s inaugural campaign.
Heading into another final series, Bolton is playing possibly the best football of his career, setting a Hyundai A-League record with 12 clean sheets in a season as a part of the competition-s most miserly defence, helping Sydney FC to its first Premiers Plate.
Head Coach John van‘t Schip says Bolton-s acquisition marks an important step in the development of the Heart squad.
“Clint has proven over time to be one of the most professional and outstanding goalkeepers in Australia. He leads by example and is the perfect person to have in goals when are you are starting a football club,” he said.
“Keepers of Clint-s quality, if they can remain fit, get better as they mature. A player like Edwin van der Sar, for example, signed for Manchester United when he was 34 and has now won three championships and a European Cup.”
A stellar shot stopper with a commanding aerial presence, Bolton is arguably the most consistent Australian goalkeeper of the past decade, featuring in five domestic Grand Finals for three Championships, including the 2005/06 Hyundai A-League decider, keeping a clean sheet as Sydney FC claimed the title.
Alongside a string of personal accolades, Bolton starred for Sydney FC in the 2007 AFC Asian Champions League as the Sky Blues came agonisingly close to knocking out eventual winners Urawa Red Diamonds as well as finishing fifth at the 2005 FIFA Club World Cup.
The 34-year-old has amassed over 400 first team appearances across a remarkable 18-year professional career that has seen him earn selection for the national side at all age levels, including four senior caps for the Qantas Socceroos and the FIFA U/20 World Cup.
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