Former Melbourne City defender Ben Garuccio has gone back to the future and re-signed for the club whom he joined as a 17-year-old eight years ago.
The full-back has spent the past two seasons in Scotland with Hearts, having initially left City to sign for Adelaide United.
The 25-year-old has signed a two-year deal.
Ben Garuccio. Credit: Mark Metcalfe
Garuccio made 45 appearances during his four seasons in Melbourne and as City's director of football, Michael Petrillo, said, "returns to us as a battle-hardened senior footballer. We know his European experience will have readied him to be a major asset.
"Patrick [coach Patrick Kisnorbo] has an in-depth understanding of Ben's attributes – playing alongside him during his first stint at the club – and we feel he's a perfect fit for our style, playing as a full-back or further up the field in a more attacking role."
Meanwhile, Melbourne Victory's W-League campaign will be boosted by the re-signing of 23-year-old Angie Beard, who is currently playing for KR Reykjavik in Iceland’s top-tier. She will return in time for the season start at the end of December.