Melbourne-based Alexander Heidelberg United will have a legend in the ranks for their FFA Cup
quarter-final against Melbourne City, signing Greek international Kostas
Katsouranis.
The Victorian
National Premier League side confirmed the signing on Tuesday ahead of their
meeting with City on September 29.
Katsouranis, 36,
was part of the legendary Greek side to win the 2004 European Championship as
rank outsiders.
The midfielder
captained his country at the 2014 World Cup, where Greece qualified for the
second round by beating Cote d'Ivoire only to lose on penalties to Costa Rica.
Heidelberg coach
George Katsakis said "everyone around the club is going crazy ... no one
can believe it".
"When you
start to put things into perspective, he played for Benfica, all over the
world, to come to the Olympic Village for Heidelberg - it's amazing," he
told Fox Sports.
"Being a
servant of the Greek community, he's excited to see the patriotism that we have
in Australia. He wants to experience it. I'm hoping he'll relate to the
occasion and rise to it."
His presence is
likely to be a major drawcard for the match; the first between a grassroots
side and an A-League club both based in Victoria.
The club's modest
Olympic Village home ground will host the match, just 2km from the City
Football Academy base of their cashed-up opponents
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