Fresh from winning the A-League championship and premiership double, the A-League’s most successful club, Melbourne Victory, have signed the most capped keeper in the league’s history, Danny ‘Rhino’ Vukovic.
Although Lawrence Thomas has showed convincing signs between the posts for Victory this finals series, competition for all places is key if the team are to build on from this season’s success.
With the shock departure of ex-Socceroo Nathan Coe, is appears Vukovic will slot nicely into the Victory starting eleven for the upcoming 2015-16 season.
Vukovic’s resume is an impressive one. Having started his professional career with Parramatta Power back in 2002, he has since played more than 100 games for both the Central Coast Mariners and Perth Glory, not to mention a brief spell in Wellington Phoenix as well as abroad in Konyaspor and Vegalta Sendai respectively.
A foundation player in the league, Vuka is currently the A-League’s second most capped player behind the recently retired John Hutchinson, so this wealth of experience will prove extremely valuable to a Victory defence which has looked shaky at times.
No doubt Lawrence Thomas will provide adequate competition but in the end Vukovic’s presence between the sticks will be too great for the 23-year-old.
Vukovic also created history in 2011 after becoming the first and so far only keeper to score in the league with a 93rd minute penalty for the Phoenix against the now defunct North Queensland Fury.
Vukovic sights the birth of his first child as the main reason for moving back east but with the Perth Glory salary cap dramas the move may have an ulterior motive. As long as he can keep his hands away from referee Mark Shield the mighty Victory can expect another strong season.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
Yeah I think squizz is right about Coe being on more coin..coming from Europe when we signed him.. I was under the impression that MV actually cleared a bit of cap space bringing in vuk...He was led by his decision to be closer to family so his options were limited, in turn probably also giving us a bit of leverage.. Coe was a great shot stopper and good with his feet but often times a basket case from set pieces..although less so towards the end. I'm pretty happy with this signing, haven't been able to fault musky yet in the recruitment department.
Waz
Guest
I am Fuss and I may be wrong of course; if it's a dollar for dollar swap it's a smart move but if they've increased the GKs wages it's a potential liability. It's not a criticism of the move as such, I just thought Coe was one of the best keepers in the league already.
Squizz
Guest
Coe coming back from OS may well have been on more than Danny so I suspect Victory have traded up and saved some money.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
You're assuming Vukovic will be drawing a higher wage from the Salary Cap than Coe was drawing. I'd value Nathan Coe at $150k/yr wage and I'd value Vukovic at the same wage level. From what we know, MVFC are fair & reasonable with wages and don't pay overs.
Waz
Guest
Slightly odd that Victory chose to dispense with Coe unless there is something we don't know about? As a replacement this is as good as it gets mind you but in a salary capped league you have to wonder if the incremental gain in goalkeeping abilities is worth the increased salary!
Mister Football
Roar Guru
One has to feel for Thomas who has done everything right in the absence of Coe. But what a huge bonus it is for the Victory if they can keep Thomas while recruiting Vuka. If they can convince Thomas that his time will come, then the Victory have the keeper position tied down for a very, very long time.