Coyne leads the way for Glory

Perth Glory defender Jamie Coyne has been named club captain for the new Hyundai A-League season, taking over from the departed Simon Colosimo.

The 27-year-old Perth native was named by coach Dave Mitchell at the Glory’s official season launch on Thursday night and said he was more than ready for the challenge of leading his side onto the park when Perth takes on Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium this weekend.

“To play for your home town team is a great feeling and to be given the honour of leading a club with such a long and successful history is something I’m extremely proud of,” Coyne said.

“I’ll do everything to ensure this is a successful new era for the Glory,” he said.

After playing 89 matches for the Glory over five seasons, including the club’s 2003/4 National Soccer League (NSL) championship-winning final, Coyne has enthusiastically endorsed the current crop of players as more than capable of achieving a place in the finals this season.

“The way I see it is what has happened in the past can’t be changed so no point looking back, it’s time to move on and look forward so why not start that now?” said Coyne.

“This is a fresh team with a fresh outlook and we’re committed to achieving our goals of making the top four in the first instance and then onto bigger and better things from there.”

Mitchell said Coyne had the right mix of tenacity and diplomacy to shoulder the added responsibility of being captain, saying he was confident Coyne would blossom in the role.

“Jamie is a terrific player, a Perth boy and loves the club. He has shown his dedication and loyalty to Perth Glory and that’s the sort of person I wanted leading the team,” Mitchell said.

“I think he has the right character on and off the field and will do a great job for us as captain.”

“He wants to take the job on with everything he has and I’m sure we’ll see the growth of a great leader this season and beyond,” Mitchell said.