SA-born Socceroo James Troisi targets A-League title challenge at new club Adelaide United
SA-born Socceroo James Troisi has targeted an A-League title challenge as he bids to prove his best years are yet to come after returning home to join Adelaide United.
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Belief Adelaide United will challenge for trophies and hunger to prove his best years lie ahead of him have lured James Troisi back to where it all began.
The SA-born Socceroo was presented as a Reds player on Tuesday and immediately stated his intention to ensure his hometown club was an A-League front runner this season.
Troisi said his career had come full circle, since he left local side Adelaide City as a raw teenager for English Premier League outfit Newcastle United.
But the 37-cap playmaker has no plans to wind down his playing days, after signing a two-year deal with the Reds.
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“It’s good to be back,” Troisi, 31, said.
“For me to be home and play in front of my family and friends, which I haven’t been able to do for 16 years … is fantastic.
“But in terms of my football, there will be no slowing down.
“I’ve always set the bar high and I’m not happy to just coast and go through the motions.
“My role will be a little bit different at the club.
“There’s a lot of younger boys, so I’ll be more of a role model or a mentor.
“But ultimately, I’d like to see the club in a final or trying to win it.
“There’s no reasons why we can’t.”
Troisi held informal talks with Adelaide director of football Bruce Djite in June, but negotiations ramped up in the past month.
Despite being linked with the Reds throughout a career which had also taken in Italy, Turkey, Belgium, Saudi Arabia and China, he said it was the first official approach from the club.
“Prior to Bruce there was never really any talks with Adelaide or an option for me to come home,” said Troisi, who notched five goals and eight assists for Melbourne Victory last summer.
“I always got asked the question, but there was never really that connection there.
“As soon as I found out Bruce got the job, first of all I called him to congratulate him and obviously we touched base a little.
“It took a little bit longer than expected (to finalise the move) ... but I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
The 2015 Asian Cup winner was excited to link up with fellow recruit Riley McGree in the Reds’ midfield, while inspiring the next generation of SA stars to dream big.
He was also relishing the opportunity to play under Dutchman Gertjan Verbeek, praising the new coach’s attacking philosophy.
But Troisi said regaining his Socceroos spot was “not at all” in his calculations.
Introducing wife, Bronte, and three-month-old son, Izea Wolf, to Adelaide life had been an early highlight of his homecoming.
“I’ve had a humble upbringing,” said Troisi, who also spent time as a junior at MetroStars,
Birkalla and West Adelaide.
“I was helping the old man the last couple of weeks in the backyard, digging and shovelling things.
“So you get back to reality, but that’s what it’s all about.
“I was in (living) Melbourne (previously), but it’s completely different.
“To be back home in front of family and friends … I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
Troisi was ineligible for this month’s FFA Cup final and expected to be eased back into match action, rather than rushed into the starting XI for Friday’s season-opener against Sydney.
Djite said his arrival added proven quality to Adelaide’s squad, which was nearing competition.
“I’m relatively satisfied with what we’ve been able to bring in considering the resources that we have,” Djite said.
“When I first came in, I had a shortlist of names and … Troisi and McGree were right near the top of that list and we were ale to get both of them.
“The squad is not finalised yet, but we’re very, very close.”
Djite expected a player from the Reds’ Chinese sister club Qingdao Red Lions to be signed by the end of this week.