A-League: Central Coast Mariners signing Luis Garcia believes he’ll have a ‘fantastic’ time at club

WHEN surprise signing Luis Garcia steps onto the field for the Central Coast Mariners this weekend, the A-League season will get a sprinkle of some much-needed glamour.

First photos of Luis Garcia in full Central Coast Mariners playing strip

BARCELONA, Madrid, Liverpool – and now Gosford.

When surprise signing Luis Garcia steps onto the field for the Central Coast Mariners tonight, the A-League season will get a sprinkle of some much-needed glamour.

But should the former Liverpool winger inspire his new bottom-of-the-ladder teammates to victory over the premiership-chasing Western Sydney Wanderers, it would perhaps be an even bigger surprise.

The Mariners proudly unveiled Garcia at his first training session with the club in Gosford on Friday. Having not played a professional game in more than a year, the 37-year-old looked understandably short of pace – but still showed glimpses of the vision and touch that once brought Anfield to its feet.

The A-League has undoubtedly suffered from a lack of star power this season and the reaction to Garcia’s signing shows why the Mariners have gambled on a retired FA Cup and Champions League winner.

“I came here with only one thing on my mind – to enjoy football again,” Garcia said.

“High expectations come with the job. I know when I’m on the pitch I have responsibilities and I’m happy with that, I’ve had it since I was very young.

“I don’t think I’m going to be top scorer of the league. But I think I’ll do fine. If I’m clever and play my game, and the coach helps me, with the players I have around me I can do well.”

Mariners coach Tony Walmsley confirmed Garcia will play some part in the game against the Wanderers, with the club expecting their biggest home crowd of the season. But he was also realistic about Garcia’s capacity to meet the game’s physical demands.

“Luis will give us leadership on the pitch, every training session and every game,” Walmsley said. “With an eye of protecting him from the rigours of the league, we need to manage his loads really carefully but he will have a big part to play. If Luis puts fans in every stadium we go and play at the contribution to the game is enormous.”

Garcia admitted even he will be anxious before the game on Saturday night but was clear in his desire to share his wealth of experience with the Mariners callow squad.

“Nervous, excited - the feeling you have every time. I had it before training this morning. I play with my friends in Madrid and I’m nervous. I’m a winner and every time I go on the pitch I want to win.

“It’s about the mentality. If you ask one of the young boys do you want to lose they will say no. “It’s true the scores haven’t been what the club expects but the last few games they have been better and sometimes a small mistake can make a big difference.

“I love it when you see kids that want to improve. I told them a couple of things in training and for a veteran player it is fantastic to have that feeling from young players. That’s why I think I’ll have a fantastic time here.”

Originally published as A-League: Central Coast Mariners signing Luis Garcia believes he’ll have a ‘fantastic’ time at club