Football –
Olyroo, Daniel Bouman, has joined the Central Coast Mariners for the A-League 2020/21 season.
Bouman was part of the team that helped the Olyroos qualify for the Tokyo Olympics and he has been training with Alen Stajcic’s Hyundai A-League squad throughout the season restart.
He has now put pen to paper on a contract for the new season which is slated to start in December.
The Dutch-born attacking midfielder, who spent his junior years playing club football in Sydney, moved back to the Netherlands with his family in 2014, and joined the Groningen youth setup in that same year.
A strong stint in the youth ranks at Groningen saw Bouman on the fringes of the first team, but a move to SC Cambuur gave him consistent experience around the senior squad and his side were on the verge of promotion before the pandemic struck.
A move back to Australia to further his career culminated in a training stint with the Mariners and then a senior deal for the upcoming season.
“It’s massive for me, to help me move forward in my professional career,” Bouman said.
“It’s what any kid wants when they are younger.
“I always dreamed of playing football professionally and it’s a bit surreal when you think about it, that it’s become a reality from such a young age.
“I used to watch football all the time and come to Mariners’ games every once in a while, so to be able to join this club is huge for me.
“The training period has been great for me to come in and work with the team, form a relationship with Staj and learn the way they want to play.
“The last couple of seasons here have been leaner years, but when I was younger, the Mariners were always a strong team and one that was near the top, and I know that is where this club deserves to be and I want to help the Mariners to get back up there.”
Stajcic praised the youngster for his willingness to work hard and his hunger to succeed and said Bouman would be a great addition to the squad moving forward.
“Dan has spent the last few years in Holland and has had to work hard and grind himself to get to where he is now.
“He has shown a great deal of professionalism as well as a desire and hunger to succeed and that has brought him to this point.
“Being part of the Olyroos’ side that secured qualification for Tokyo gives an indication of how highly regarded he is here in Australia and we’re very excited to have secured him for next season,” Stajcic said.
His signing builds on last fortnight’s announcement that former Mariner, Oliver Bozanic, has signed on for the upcoming season.
Having appeared 70 times for the Mariners during his first stint with the club, which included a championship and a premiership win, Bozanic’s is another signing that Stajcic is excited about.
“All of us are very excited to have a player with the calibre of Ollie joining our squad ahead of the new season,” Stajcic said.
“He is a player with plenty of time both in the A-League and further abroad and will bring a wealth of experience to the group, both on and off the field.
Bozanic is also keen to help the Mariners get back to the glory days of old.
“It’s really great to be back on the Coast and playing for my hometown club.
“I’m really excited to just get going and be a part of it.”
Source:
Press releases, Oct 21-30
Central Coast Mariners Media