Melbourne Heart have confirmed the departure of seven players following the end of the 2011/12 Hyundai A-League campaign, including Alex Terra, Rutger Worm and Maycon.
Melbourne Heart have confirmed the departure of seven players following the end of the 2011/12 Hyundai A-League campaign, including Alex Terra, Rutger Worm and Maycon.
Former South Melbourne, Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United player Kristian Sarkies will be among those to leave the club, joined by Kamal Ibrahim, Kliment Taseski and Nikola Roganovic.
Heart finished sixth this season to reach the finals for the first time, but went out at the first hurdle, suffering a 3-0 away loss to Perth Glory.
“All seven individuals … have each left an imprint on the club in their own unique way, making contributions which extend simply beyond the field,” the club said in a statement.
Brazilian forward Terra and Dutchman Worm both joined in 2010, ahead of the club’s inaugural season in the competition.
Terra, 29, arrived from Rio Branco, and netted seven goals in 44 appearances during his time in Australia.
He will be remembered for a spectacular bicycle-kick goal, scored against Perth Glory in January 2011.
Worm, 26, agreed the first transfer of his professional career to swap long-term club NEC Nijmegen for Heart. The wide midfielder struck twice in 47 Hyundai A-League appearances.
Maycon meanwhile managed just one goal in 14 appearances since joining from Brazilian club Nova Iguacu in 2011.
Heart’s Football Operations manager John Didulica praised the contribution of the outgoing players in establishing the team as a credible outfit.
And he blamed Sarkies’ injury problems for the AIS graduate’s failure to establish himself as a first-team regular – the midfielder made just 12 appearances during his two seasons with Heart.
“Sadly for Kristian he came to us with a broken leg which meant other players were able to move ahead of him and limit his match time,” Didulica said.
“An excellent character to have around the club and we hope he can continue his career elsewhere in the A-League.”
