Roar players and staff went to Brisbane international airport at 2am to welcome Eric Bautheac, such is the excitement around finally confirming the signing of Eric Bautheac from France’s Ligue 1.
John Aloisi says the long-awaited arrival of Frenchman Eric Bautheac has come at the perfect time to kick-start Brisbane Roar’s Hyundai A-League campaign.
Bautheac will wear the number 22 shirt for Roar, the same number of their champion former German star Thomas Broich.
Roar have endured a tough start to the 2017/18 Season, losing both of their opening two matches.
And things don’t get any easier on Sunday when they host unbeaten Newcastle Jets at Suncorp Stadium.
So the arrival of 30-year-old playmaker is a major lift for Roar.
“It’s definitely a boost for everyone,” Aloisi told reporters on Thursday.
“We had our captain Matt McKay, Fahid Ben Khalfallah and [assistant] Ross [Aloisi] went to the airport to pick him up at 2am (on Wednesday) – that’s how excited they were.
“A lot has been going on in the last two-and-a-half years in the background since I have been here, but all our players have wanted to do is perform on the pitch and at training.
“It’s my job to protect them from things they can’t control and focus on football and that’s what they have done.
“The group is strong and it gives them a lift getting a new player in.”
The former Lille, Dijon and Cannes star signed with the club last month but only this week received his visa and international clearance to come to Australia and begin his Roar career.
Aloisi confirmed Bautheac would play some part in the clash with the Jets, although it appears unlikely he will start against Ernie Merrick’s men.
*Lead image courtesy of Alex Kirchner.
