New Zealand international defender Storm Roux has committed his future to Central Coast Mariners, signing a contract extension that will keep him in Gosford until the end of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Season.
Roux was off contract at the end of this season but extended for an additional two seasons under coach Paul Okon.
Roux arrived at the Mariners in 2013 and immediately worked his way into Graham Arnold’s starting side, making 25 appearances in his first season on the Central Coast where the Mariners finished third.
The 2013/14 season was Roux’s breakout campaign and his impressive performances resulted in a nomination for Hyundai A-League Young Footballer of the Year, selection for the New Zealand national team, and a call up to the Hyundai A-League All Stars side that played Juventus in 2014.
Since debuting for the club, Roux has grown from strength-to-strength and has been one of the first names on the Mariners’ team sheet thanks to his rock-solid nature in defence and danger in attack on the right wing.
During the 2016/17 pre-season, Roux completed a miraculous recovery from a triple injury that he sustained in February 2016 in time to walk out against Perth Glory in Hyundai A-League round one and has not looked back since.
“To be able to extend my contract here at the Mariners means a lot,” Roux said.
“This club gave me my chance in professional football at 20-years-old and I was thrown right into the starting team which was massive for me.
“For the past four years, I’ve played a lot of games for this club and to captain a couple of games for the Mariners when Monty has been out is a huge honour – this is very special and I just want to see this club get back to where it should be which is fighting for a top six finish.
“I think I took the first season for granted and thought that every season would be like that – then obviously we haven’t had it since and I’m desperate to get back to finals football, I miss it a lot and it’s something I want to be a part of next season,” Roux said.
The appointment of Paul Okon played a big part in Roux’s decision to re-sign.
“Paolo has come in this season and given our team direction and he’s a coach that I want to play for,” Roux said.
“Paolo will have a full pre-season under his belt, bring in the players he wants and we will compete.
“All the boys in this team feel as though we are building towards something, Paolo is a great coach with a great history as a player so he’s certainly taught me a lot as a player this season.
“Heading into the season I didn’t see myself as a captain of this side but Paolo has shown a lot of faith in me, he’s given me the armband in Monty’s absence and Monty has helped me with leadership qualities so it’s something that I can take on board and build on but I feel like every time I put that armband on I get more used to it – it feels good,” Roux said.
Speaking about the signing news, Okon said: “Storm has been at the club for a number of years now so he understands the club culture and values.
“Even at a young age he’s quite experienced having already played finals football with the Mariners.
“Storm has been an important member of the Mariners since he’s arrival at the club and he has shown enormous determination after his injury – a real desire to get back and put that Mariners jersey on.
“Moving forward the club sees Storm as an important member of the team and the expectations are high because he’s had this year coming back from an injury but next season we’re confident Storm Roux will have a bigger and better season.
“We want to play attacking football and to do that you need fullbacks to attack and Storm gives us that. He’s a big part of our plans for the future, he’s a New Zealand international and we would love for him to break back into that New Zealand team as a result of the Mariners doing well,” Okon said.
See how Roux and the Mariners went in their last outing against Brisbane Roar here
