Jets sign Ned Zelic. Amazing player, possibly the best defender we've ever produced, but bigger than Dwight Yorke? bahahaha.
ZELIC CONFIRMED AS NEWCASTLE MARQUEE PLAYER
Friday 29 April 2005
Hyundai A-League club Newcastle United Jets FC today announced their marquee signing of one Australia’s finest ever football exports Ned Zelic (pictured right), for the next two seasons.
Zelic’s return to Australia’s shores, ends over a decade playing his club football in countries such as Germany, England, France, Japan, and Austria.
The 33-year-old defender was in Newcastle for the announcement today, after the Jets had negotiated a transfer from his current Austrian club FC Wacker Tirol.
“I am excited to back after a 14-year absence,” said Zelic. “I still think I have a lot to offer the Australian sporting public and in the end I thought coming home now, was better than in 12 months time.”
Zelic, who last played his club football in Australia with Sydney Olympic in 1992, will commence training with his new teammates tomorrow. Newcastle want Zelic to play in their Club World Championship match on Saturday May 7 against Central Coast Mariners, although he will need to receive a clearance from the Austrian FA next week, for him to be eligible.
Most Australian football fans, will remember Zelic for his unbelievable goal that sent Australia through to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and more recently, his unfortunate walk out on the national team in 1999 and subsequent international retirement.
His arrival, along with that of former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke at Sydney FC, is another shot in the arm for the Hyundai A-League and will put Newcastle up amongst the favourites for the inaugural title, which starts in August 2005.
Newcastle United Jets owner, Mr Con Constantine, said that it was a proud moment not only for the Club but for the sports loving people of the Hunter as well… "right from day one I have been determined to put together a side that would make this region proud and that would be able to seriously challenge for the national championship. Ned’s signature is another important step along the path of turning this dream into a reality. The Hunter deserves the best and we are going to give it to them" said Mr Constantine.
Head Coach Jean Paul de Marigny also expressed understandable enthusiasm about the signing… "Ned is quality with a capital Q. For a coach he is more than a footballer but also a leader on the field as well as a mentor to the younger players. You cannot have played at the level Ned has, for such a consistent period, without being a player of extraordinary talent. The Newcastle Jets and our fans are very fortunate," said Mr de Marigny
Ned ZELIC - factfile
Born: 4th July 1971, Canberra, ACT
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Australian Schoolboy International 1988
Australian Institute of Sport 1988
Socceroo honours:
A–int: [1991-1997] 33 games (3 goals)
Other: [1991-1999] 7 games (2 goals)
All int: [1991-1999] 40 games (5 goals)
Underage Australian representative honours:
U/20 - 1989 World Youth Cup qualifiers
U/23 - 1992 Olympic Games finals (Barcelona)
Club career:
1987 Canberra Deakin (ACT)
1989 Sydney United (NSL) 8a (0g) - 7th
89/90 Sydney United (NSL) 2a (0g) - 7th
1990 Canberra Deakin (NSW)
90/91 Sydney United (NSL) 26a (0g) - 7th
91/92 Sydney Olympic (NSL) 19a (1g) - 2nd
92/93 Borussia Dortmund (Germany) 19a (0g)
93/94 Borussia Dortmund (Germany) 18a (1g)
94/95 Borussia Dortmund (Germany) 4a (0g)
95/96 Queens Park Rangers (England 1) 4a (0g) - 19th (relegated)
95/96 Eintract Frankfurt (Germany) 17a (1g)
96/97 Auxerre (France) 12a (0g) - 6th
97/98 1860 Munich (Germany 1) 13a (0g) - 13th
98/99 1860 Munich (Germany 1) 33a (1g) - 9th
99/00 1860 Munich (Germany 1) 23a (2g) - 4th
00/01 1860 Munich (Germany 1) 27a (0g) - 11th
01/02 1860 Munich (Germany 1) 6a (0g) - 9th
2002 Kyoto Purple Sanga (Japan 1) 1a (0g) - 5th
2002 Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan 1) 2a (0g) - 11th
2003 Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan 1) 22a (2g) - 6th
04/05 Wacker Tirol (Austria)
...it'd be great just to make the final and also finally crack chelsea :uhhuh: 
