City boss Bryan Gunn today slotted another big piece into his 2009-2010 jigsaw as the Canaries found a new No1 in their midst – ex-Melbourne Victory keeper Michael Theoklitos.
A lunchtime Press conference unveiled David Marshall's successor after last season's No1 made a swift exit to Cardiff City this summer – he and his agent deciding that life in league One really wasn't for them.
Theoklitos was reported this morning as being 'on trial' at Colney, but events swiftly over-took everyone as Gunn went global in his hunt for a winning formula and handed the six-foot Australian-born Greek a two-year deal.
It is, of course, not the first time that the Norfolk side have delved Down Under. Gunn was swift to haul Canary playing legend Ian Crook home to the UK when he first got the manager's gig last January.
And one can only suspect that City's reserve team chief was quizzed in depth as to the 28-year-old's abilities.
For the record, Melbourne are the current A-League Champions and are Australia's entry into this summer's Asian Championships – the Far East and Oceania equivalent of the European Champions League.
Theoklitos has been one of Victory's rocks in the midst of such success and has already been linked to a switch to Everton – presumeably on the nod of his fellow Aussie star Tim Cahill.
Out of contract on June 30 and, therefore, a free agent, the Melbourne-born keeper told reporters back in Australia last month that now was the time to spread his wings; to try and make a bigger name for himself in Europe.
He also has one eye on making it to South Africa for next summer's World Cup and needs to be where the action is – in Europe. For who, is the next question with the 6ft 1in keeper enjoying a dual nationality – enabling him to pick between the Socceroos or the Greek national side.
“I am looking to the UK. There are a couple of options,” Theoklitos told reporters last month, as all the speculation linking City to Charlton's Nicky Weaver ended.
“It's not a Premier League team,” he added. “It's just a matter of weighing things up, but playing overseas is something I have always wanted to do again.”
He is, funnily enough, no stranger to League One having played three games for Blackpool as a 21-year-old. Injury cut that trial spell short and he returned home to Melbourne.
“I was only 21 then and I am a different goalkeeper now that I am 28. I am much more mature, as a player and as a person,” he said, determined to give the whole Europe-thing another go. “If I was to retire without giving it another go I would be disappointed with myself.”
Theoklitos clearly also has one or two international dreams to realise.
“I definitely don't think it will harm my chances of being selected for the Socceroos,” he revealed, as he today stepped firmly into the European limelight and gave England Under-19 prospect Declan Rudd something to think about.
“Pim Verbeek has said that he thinks it is good for players to play at the highest level they can in Europe, and I have still got aspirations to represent my country.”
It was, he admitted, hard to leave the country of his birth. Crook's presence at Colney should at least give him one link to his former life Down Under.
“I won two championships there and that's something I won't forget. I was an inaugural player and it was great to be part of the growth of the game in my home city.
“But this is a new chapter in my life and it is something I very much want to do.
“Hopefully later on I can come back when I am in my 30s and finish my career in the A-League.”
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