Adelaide United Snare Central Coast Mariners Defender Nigel Boogaard

Adelaide United has made a significant signing ahead of next season, after securing Central Coast Mariners defender Nigel Boogaard on a two year deal.

The Reds’ focus may be on the 14 rounds to go in the current A-League season, but the club has moved quickly to sign Boogaard, whose contract with the Mariners comes to a close at the end of the season.

Boogaard will join the Reds once the Mariners’ A-League season has ended, and the highly regarded 23 year old is excited by the prospect of running out for last season’s Grand Finalists for the start of next season.

“I’ve always respected the way Adelaide United both play football on the field and have done things off the field.

"The chance to move to Adelaide and join the club is something I’m really looking forward to,” Boogaard said from Gosford.

Boogaard has been a key figure in the Mariners’ defence, his breakthrough season for the Central Coast arguably coming in 2007/08, as he played an  important part in helping the Mariners reach the A-League Grand Final that year.

A versatile defender that can slot in anywhere across the back, Boogaard was highly sought after by the Mariners for their initial A-League squad, although bouts of glandular fever and osteitis pubis, saw him play limited games in a frustrating opening two seasons.

Moving to Adelaide United will not be all unfamiliar for Boogaard, who has played in underage Australian squads with current Reds Robert Cornthwaite, Kristian Sarkies and Scott Jamieson.

With Boogaard committing to the Reds for the next two seasons, he says it will be strange to come to Hindmarsh Stadium as part of the Mariners squad, when they take on Adelaide in Round 23, but his allegiance will still be with the Central Coast until his time in Gosford comes to an end.

“Obviously it’s a funny situation. On a personal level, I’d still like to win with the Central Coast Mariners, but I’d also like to see Adelaide finish the season strongly as well, so there is obviously mixed feelings there.

"But on a professional level I’m still with the Central Coast, and hopefully we can beat Adelaide when we meet,” Boogaard said.

Having spent the past five years being coached by experienced Central Coast boss Lawrie McKinna, Boogaard looks forward to continuing his development as a player under the guidance of Reds Coach Aurelio Vidmar.

“Hopefully I can come down there and learn as much as I can off Aurelio and his other coaching staff.

"He’s obviously got an illustrious career playing wise, and he’s done very well with Adelaide United so far on the coaching front, so hopefully I can come there and learn a bit and benefit from his coaching,” Boogaard said.

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