Madaschi to boost Perth SC
Perth SC have pulled off a recruiting coup by signing former Socceroos defender Adrian Madaschi.
The 31-year-old will line up for Perth against Stirling Lions in the National Premier Leagues WA fixture on Sunday.
Madaschi left Perth as a teenager to join Italian club Atalanta and spent more than a decade in Europe before returning to play in the A-League with Melbourne Heart.
He then spent a year in South Korea with Jeju United before returning home to WA late last year.
Madaschi trained with Perth Glory in the second half of the 2013-14 season in the hope of securing another A-League contract, but was overlooked.
He has now completed a full circle by returning to Perth SC, where he played his junior football.
Perth SC president Gary Marocchi said Madaschi’s signing was not only a coup for the club, but for the NPL WA competition.
“Adrian is an elite professional and an outstanding defender, and to have a player of his calibre running around in our competition is a major boost for the NPL,” Marocchi said.
“We welcome Adrian back home to Dorrien Gardens and I look forward to seeing him once again in a Perth SC shirt after all of these years.”
Perth SC coach Taki Nicolaidis said Madaschi’s signing would provide the first-team squad with a significant boost.
“Having an ex-Socceroo come into our squad speaks volumes about our club and where we want to head,” Nicolaidis said.
“Adrian’s experience will not only help strengthen our squad but he will also be able to pass on his knowledge and help the development of the younger players at our club.”
The Perth-Stirling fixture will be the inaugural Dylan Tombides Tribute Match.
The match has been named in honour of Tombides, who passed away from testicular cancer last month at the age of 20.
The teams will play for the Dylan Tombides Trophy each year on a home and away basis, with the winner to be determined on aggregate.
