Friday, 7 January 2005 9:00 PM
South Melbourne FC are pleased to announce the signing of former Olyroo Kosta Salapasidis for the upcoming 2005 VPL season.
The 26 year old Adelaide native will be a vital cog in SMFC’s midfield, with his attacking flair sure to excite the Bob Jane Stadium faithful this season.
“I’m ecstatic I joined a proud club like South Melbourne which I supported as a boy, the same team my father won a championship with in the 1960’s” says the former Parramatta Power, Wollongong and Adelaide City star. He also noted that “the club offers a brilliant environment to continue my playing career with its football set-up and I am excited about our first match against arch rivals Heidelberg later this month”.
Apart from a distinguished NSL career of 17 goals in 116 games, Salapasidis has enjoyed stints at clubs in Greece, Switzerland and Spain as well as playing an integral part of past Young Socceroos and Olyroo line ups.
SMFC coach John Anastasiadis is delighted at the club’s latest signing. “The experience and attacking penetration that Kosta brings is exactly what we were looking for” says Anastasiadis, “he has an excellent football pedigree having spent time abroad and in the national set up at youth level and we trust he will add another dimension to the sides attacking options.”
Salapasidis will commence training immediately and expects to be in full flight for the club’s opening VPL match against Heidelberg United on January 30 at BJS.