In a massive boost for Brisbane Roar, former captain Matt McKay has returned to the club where he spent six Hyundai A-League seasons.
In a massive boost for Brisbane Roar, former captain Matt McKay has returned to the club where he spent six Hyundai A-League seasons.
McKay has penned a two-year contract that will see him back in Brisbane until the end of the Hyundai A-League 2014/15 campaign as the Roar-s Australian marquee player.
“I-m very happy to be back in Brisbane and back at the Roar,” said McKay, who led the club to the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 Premiers Plate and Championship trophy.
“This club and this city is so close to my heart and I-m really looking forward to that moment when I pull on the orange jersey again and walk out onto Suncorp Stadium.”
Managing Director Sean Dobson was equally excited to welcome McKay back to his hometown club.
“We are delighted Matt has returned home, a goal we have been working towards for the past 18 months and the timing couldn-t have been better,” Dobson said.
McKay returns to the Roar with a host of experience under his belt, having played at Rangers (Scotland), Busan IPark (Korea) and Changchun Yatai (China) in his two years abroad.
The 30-year-old is also a seasoned member of the Socceroos squad, playing a key role in their qualification for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil next year with almost 50 national team caps to his name.
Brisbane Roar Head Coach Mike Mulvey was instrumental in the club-s efforts to bring the former captain home.
“Having a leader like Matt coming into such a competitive team will lift the bar across the whole squad,” Mulvey said.
“The fact that Socceroos like Matt are returning to the A-League leading into the most important World Cup for Australian football is testament to the growing strength of the competition.”
McKay will train with the rest of the Brisbane Roar squad at Ballymore Stadium tomorrow and will be available for interview at the conclusion of the session.
He will spend time with members and fans when Brisbane Roar take on Wynnum Wolves on Tuesday night at Carmichael Park, Tingalpa.
