Perth Glory have signed Ecuador international centre-back Luis Cangá on a one-season deal ahead of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign.
Capped three times by his nation at senior level, the 29-year-old has made more than 200 club appearances in the Ecuadorian top-flight and in 2022, represented Brazilian side Vasco da Gama.
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At 1.90m, Cangá is a towering defender with a level of experience Glory’s squad vitally needed in a new recruit after the off-season departures of Aleksandar Šuśnjar, John Koutroumbis, former co-captain Mark Beevers and the club’s best and fairest winner in 2022, Darryl Lachman.
“I am very happy to be joining a great club like Perth Glory and am looking forward to linking up with my teammates and working under head coach David Zdrilic,” said Cangá upon confirmation of his Glory contract.
“I’m totally committed and motivated to helping the club achieve its objectives this season and will be giving everything in each and every training session and game.
“I’m very excited to work hard and help bring success to the club.”
Cangá made his international debut in 2014 against Bolivia and featured twice more for Ecuador’s senior side against United States and a star-studded Brazil line-up including the likes of Neymar, Willian, Oscar and Phillipe Coutinho.
A two-time league champion in Ecuador’s LigaPro Serie A, Cangá won his first domestic title with Delfin SC in 2019 and repeated the feat with Aucas in 2022; both domestic trophies led to Canga featuring in the 2020 and 2023 Copa Libertadores campaigns.
Perth Glory football director Stan Lazaridis believes Cangá’s presence in the squad will be of tremendous benefit to the club’s contingent of young defenders and their development.
“Luis is someone who adds a huge level of experience and physicality to our defence,” Lazaridis said.
“He’s played international football, won titles at club level, is fierce and strong and is a good age at 29. His presence will help bring the best out of our younger defenders.”
Cangá’s Glory arrival comes after head coach David Zdrilic hinted at two new overseas signings before the end of the transfer window.
It’s already been a whirlwind of an off-season for the club, with the Ecuadorian the latest in a flurry of arrivals including Josh Risdon, Brandon O’Neill, Zach Lisolajski, Anas Hamzaoui, Nathanael Blair, Nicholas Pennington, Taras Gomulka, Adam Bugarija, Abdelelah Faisal, Lachlan Barr, Hiroaki Aoyama and Nikola Mileusnic.
Zdrilic says Cangá’s physical and technical attributes make him an exciting addition to the Glory squad ahead of his first season in charge of the WA club.
“Luis is a physically imposing defender who is also comfortable on the ball,” Zdrilic said.
“He’s played against some of the best players in South American football and that experience and know-how will be absolutely invaluable for us.
“We’re confident that he has the quality to make a major impression during the upcoming A-League campaign.”
