Costanzo, Rizzo and Bridge sign up for ACL
The Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners have finalised their squads for the upcoming AFC Champions League assault, with Angelo Costanzo signing with the Jets and Nick Rizzo with the Mariners, while Sydney FC’s Mark Bridge has moved to Chinese side Tianjin Teda on a four-month loan.
The Jets confirmed this afternoon, the signing of experienced Adelaide United defender Angelo Costanzo on a one-year deal, once the Reds have completed their Finals Series campaign.
In his time at the Reds, Costanzo has developed a reputation as a powerful defender and a fierce competitor which has made him a key component in Adelaide reaching the Hyundai A-League Grand Final in 2006/07 and the AFC Champions League Final in 2008.
His experience in Asia makes him an ideal recruit for the club as it embarks on its first foray into the AFC Champions League. The Hunter based club will take on Beijing Guoan at Beijing Workers Stadium one month to the day, and has strengthened its squad considerably since the conclusion of the Hyundai A-League 2008/09 regular season.
The Jets also confirmed the signing today of young Sydney FC defender Nikolas Tsattalios on a 6-month contract. The left-sided player has been training with the Jets since last week and will be part of the squad for the upcoming AFC Champions League 2009.
The 18-year-old has appeared six times in total for Sydney FC in the Hyundai A-League, making his debut at 17 years 225 days when he came off the bench against Perth Glory in Round 8 of the 2007/08 season. The gifted teenager also appeared for the Sky Blues in the AFC Champions League 2007 competition, giving him valuable experience ahead of the Jets- maiden journey into Asia-s most prestigious club competition.
The signing of Costanzo and Tsattalios added to the signing of three local products - Mitchell Johnson, Peter Haynes and Joel Wood - who all signed 6-month contracts with the club.
Central Coast Mariners meanwhile has boosted their squad for its maiden tilt in the AFC Champions League with the signing of former Perth Glory midfielder Nick Rizzo, plus elevating three of its youth league team - Matthew Lewis, Nathan Sherlock and Brady Smith to the squad.
Rizzo-s signing comes on the back of Adam Kwasnik returning to the club after an unhappy spell at Wellington Phoenix.
Rizzo, 29, was recently released by Glory after two seasons with the club where he made 26 appearances, scoring one goal.
The former Liverpool and Crystal Palace midfielder, Rizzo will link with his Mariners team-mates in the coming weeks to press his claims for a starting berth in the Mariners- historic first ever AFC Champions League fixture against Korean FA Cup winners Pohang Steelers at Bluetongue Stadium on Wednesday, 11 March.
Three of the Central Coast Mariners- standouts from the club-s inaugural National Youth League (NYL) campaign have been rewarded for their efforts with a call up to the Mariners- AFC Champions League squad, with Lewis, Sherlock and Smith each confirmed to be among those that will fly the Central Coast flag in Asia from March onwards.
Between them, Lewis, Sherlock and Smith have contributed 41 appearances to the Mariners- maiden NYL campaign and are now in line to contribute to another competition where the Mariners will appear for the first time.
Meanwhile, Sydney FC striker Mark Bridge has been loaned out to Chinese side Tianjin Teda for the round stage of the AFC Champions League.
The 23-year-old is already in China and underwent a medical exam today. He will be on loan to the Chinese Super League side for the next four months before rejoining his Sydney FC team-mates at the start of July.
Bridge looks set to make his debut for Tianjin when the Champions League kicks off next month and is likely to line up against Group H rivals, the Central Coast Mariners in the second match of the competition on March 18.