Australia goalkeeper Federici heading home to A-League
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Goalkeeper Adam Federici is heading home to his native Australia after signing with Macarthur FC in a coup for the A-League expansion side.
Federici, capped 16 times for the Socceroos, returns Down Under after a two-year spell with Championship side Stoke City and nearly two decades in English soccer.
"Adam's knowledge and experience in the top European leagues will be invaluable to our squad," Macarthur coach Ante Milicic said in a statement on Thursday.
"The opportunity to strengthen our roster with someone of Adam's ability and professionalism doesn't come around often."
Federici left Australia as a teenager to carve out a career in England, predominantly with Berkshire-based side Reading.
"To be able to come back to Australia and play football, not only at a start-up club, but also only 90 minutes from where I grew up is something I could not pass on," said the 35-year-old.
Milicic, former head coach of the national women's team, has been on a recruitment drive to sign overseas-based Australians for southwest Sydney's Macarthur, who will join the A-League in the 2020/21 season.
Federici is the Bulls' third announced signing following former Socceroos winger Tommy Oar and midfielder Denis Genreau, a member of Australia's Olympic squad.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
