The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers have signed goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis on a two year deal.
The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers have signed goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis on a two year deal that will see him in Red and Black until the end of the 2015/16 Hyundai A-League season.
A commanding goalkeeper with good distribution and a strong presence in the box, Bouzanis joins the Wanderers from Carlisle United in England.
Born in Sydney, this will be the 23 year old-s first contract in his hometown having moved to England in 2007 to join Liverpool.
Despite having spent the past seven years in Europe, Bouzanis said joining the Wanderers was a no brainer.
“I-m excited to join the Wanderers because they have an amazing fan base,” explained Bouzanis.
“They are the best fans in the Hyundai A-League and the recent success they-ve had at the football club is massive.
“I was playing for Carlisle and I got approached by Popa and when I heard that Western Sydney were interested it was a big thing for me because I-ve supported the team, I-ve seen how good a coach Popa is with the results that he-s got and it all just went from there.”
The Australian U23 representative has also played for Accrington Stanley (ENG), Oldham Athletic (ENG) and Aris (GRE) and says that a chance to learn under goalkeeping coach Ron Corry was not something he could turn down.
“The Wanderers is a club where you can win trophies as well as progress and develop as a player.
“I-ve worked with Ron Cory before when he was at the Australian Institute of Sport and he-s a top goalkeeper coach who I can learn a lot from.”
While the coaching set-up and professionalism at the Wanderers excited Bouzanis, he is also looking forward to working with Ante Covic.
“To work with such an experienced goalkeeper in Ante Covic who has played many matches and has been there and done that is something I-m looking forward to.
“There-s not many better goalkeepers in the A-League so to be around him and Corry can only be a good thing.”